Seven Weeks for Water 2015, week 2: "Carrying our cross for water justice: stories from the subaltern communities - Indian context", by Rajendra Sail

The Cross: The central theme of the Lent season, also the core of our faith as Christians. Jesus told his disciples: “Take up your cross and follow me”. Let us look at the fundamental philosophy of the Cross. We often claim that being a Christian means “following Jesus Christ”, conveniently forgetting that the true calling is: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?” (Mathew 16:24-26)

Thus, following Jesus Christ and being a true Christian involves sharing in the pain and suffering of the struggling people, which can be summed up in a Hindi word – SAMVEDNA* (‘Sam’ meaning “becoming one” and ‘vedna’ meaning “agony and pain”; thus describing “empathy” not “sympathy”). The Cross symbolizes “SAMVEDNA OF CHRIST”.

The World of Water Today

We are living in an era of liberalization, privatization and globalization (LPG), which encompasses, impacts and engineers almost all aspects of our lives – be they political, social, religious, cultural, community, not to talk of all-pervasive economic life. But globalization is a new name for the same-old capitalism with all its inherent ingredients (and contradictions) intact, beginning with the basic principle of exploitation of both nature and humanity, followed by endless pursuit of profits, greed and affluence for a few at the cost of survival itself and sustenance for a majority of the populace. What then is new? The basic needs of humanity and nature are now the main source of profit – food, water, health, education, security, etc.

- *Adv. Rajendra Sail is a founding member of an ecumenical social change organization: Raipur Churches Development & Relief Committee (RCDRC) which was inspired by the SAMVEDNA Theology in the midst of sharing the pain and suffering of the struggling people in Chhattisgarh (Central India). He is also a former President of PUCL, (People’s Union for Civil Liberty), Chhattishgarh.

The bottled water market has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing and competitive markets worldwide -- a multibillion dollar industry. The global leader in this lucrative industry Nestlé Waters’ annual sales of bottled water alone total some CHF 10 billion.

The ways we look at water

From the people’s point of view, water is a birth-right! It cannot be given or taken away by anyone, as it comes with being born, and is part of one’s being. Thus, it becomes one’s duty and responsibility to protect it, preserve it, share it, use it as per the basic-minimal needs, and to say NO to private control. For the people, Water is part of life, to be controlled, shared and cared for collectively with the community.

From God’s point of view, water is part and parcel of creation, with a purpose. Thus, it is part of nature, and is the natural right of all living creatures; not only humans but also animals, fish of the sea and birds in the air and every living creature that moves on the ground, all vegetation, plants and trees; even the earth and the sky. Thus, water is not merely a human right; but a universal natural right.

The capitalist/corporate world views water as more lucrative than gold, meant primarily for expansion of their empires for profiteering. Thus, privatization and commercialization of natural resources like water has been on the anvil of capitalist/corporate world for almost three decades now. For them, the maxim is to provide basic human needs through markets for a price to be paid by the consumer. In their vocabulary/dictionary, ‘citizen’ is a ‘consumer’; ‘water’ is a ‘commodity’; and ‘market’ is the ‘supplier’.

Stories of Struggles for Water Justice:

Of all the people’s struggles for water as a right to life and livelihood, Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) stands out as one of the most sustained, peaceful and democratic movements in India, which recently observed 25 years since its massive people’s demonstration rally and public meeting held at the 700-year-old town of Harsud on 28th September 1989, in which about 60,000 people’s resolve reverberating to the sky has not yet died down: BANDH NAHIN BANEGA, KOI NAHIN HATEGA (The Dam will not be built; no one will move out of the abode!).

People have started asserting their birth right/natural right to life and livelihood, and struggling peacefully and democratically to take collective control over natural/mineral resources, and use it judiciously, based on one’s need (not greed), and to preserve, protect & provide for each-other’s basic need, including all creatures of the world. The community concept is based on the maxim: from each according to his/her ability, to each according to his/her need. With abundance of natural and mineral resources that a community-based society has at its command, there is enough to satisfy everyone's needs.

Some theologians trace the origin of community life based on caring and sharing to the first Christian Communes mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles. The lifestyle of the community of believers then is described in terms of “collective ownership”/ “common property” (without individual possessions), and uses the phrase "distribution was made unto every man according as he had need" (Acts 4:32–35)

It is also time to recall the famous saying of Mahatma Gandhi, an apostle of nonviolence: “The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed.”

Let justice flow like water (Amos 5:24):

In the Bible, there is no more apt a description of water, equating it with justice and righteousness, than the mighty stream in Amos 5! The entire ethos of these verses, the backdrop and the scenario of those times, is exactly the same as today’s. However, what is promising for a better future is expressed in the end when the prophet talks about Israel’s restoration. Hope for the future of humankind!

“They will plant vineyards and drink their wine;

They will make gardens and eat their fruit.

I will plant Israel in their own land,

Never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them”, says the Lord your God! (Amos 9: 13-15)

In the context of suffering and struggling people today, I would only like to live in this hope, and say AMEN! And, towards this end, we commit ourselves!

Thoughts for Reflection:

1. Examine the maxim of ‘profit over people’ in the case of privatization and commercialization of water – the basic source and resource of life in all its forms

in the whole creation of God!

2. The community concept is based on the maxim: From each according to his/her ability, to each according to his/her need. Find the theological basis of this concept.

Questions for Discussion:

1. How do you look at water? As a people’s birth-right and/or God given natural right? Or a commodity for privatization and commercialization for profit making?

2. What signifies people’s struggles for water justice? Listen to the songs and slogans from your country/region. What is the theology undergirding these songs and slogans?

Ideas for Action:

1. How do we express our SAMVEDNA with those billions of people who have no

access to water (or who are deliberately denied access to water)?

2. Identify the struggles for justice in your country/region. Prepare a programme for interaction/live-in experience and exposure to the area where people are suffering and struggling for water justice.