Kinkri Devi
Encyclopedia
Kinkri Devi was an Indian activist and environmentalist, best known for waging a war on illegal mining and quarrying in her native state of Himachal Pradesh
. She never knew how to read or write and learned how to sign her name a few years before her death.
She became well known for her poverty, which was eventually eased by a US-based charity organisation of Himachal Pradesh later in life after reading a Punjabi newspaper account of her living conditions.
in 1925. Her father was a substinance farmer of the Dalit
, or untouchable caste
. She began working as a servant during her early childhood and married bonded laborer Shamu Ram at age 14. Ram died of typhoid fever
when she was 22.
While working at her new job as a sweeper, Devi noticed the massive quarrying in some parts of Himachal Pradesh's hills, harming the water supply and destroying paddy fields. At this point Devi decided to take on the mining herself.
against 48 mine owners. She accused that the quarriers were being reckless in their mining of limestone, though the group denied all allegations against them, claiming she was simply blackmailing them.
Her suit got virtually no response, so Devi went on a 19 day hunger strike outside the court. When the court decided to take up the issue, Devi had become a national celebrity. The court ordered in 1987 a stay on mining and imposed a blanket ban on blasting in her beloved hills. The mine owners appealed to the Supreme Court of India
, who rejected their appeal in July 1995.
Interest was taken upon her by then first lady Hillary Clinton, and that same year Devi was invited to attend the International Women's Conference in Beijing. She was asked to light the lamp in the beginning of the ceremonies, and spoke of the cause she was fighting against and how ordinary people can make an impact.
Despite the Supreme Court's ruling, illegal mining still continued in the hills and forest preserves, though on a decreased scale. Besides her environmentalism, one of Devi's other endeavors was campaigning for the creation of a degree-granting college in Sangrah. She claimed that while it wasn't right for her to study, she didn't want "others to suffer the way I did for want of education."
Himachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh is a state in Northern India. It is spread over , and is bordered by the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir on the north, Punjab on the west and south-west, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the south, Uttarakhand on the south-east and by the Tibet Autonomous Region on the east...
. She never knew how to read or write and learned how to sign her name a few years before her death.
She became well known for her poverty, which was eventually eased by a US-based charity organisation of Himachal Pradesh later in life after reading a Punjabi newspaper account of her living conditions.
Early life
Devi was born in the village of Ghaton in the Sirmaur districtSirmaur district
Sirmour is the most south-eastern district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is largely mountainous and rural, with 90% of its population living in villages...
in 1925. Her father was a substinance farmer of the Dalit
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
, or untouchable caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
. She began working as a servant during her early childhood and married bonded laborer Shamu Ram at age 14. Ram died of typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
when she was 22.
While working at her new job as a sweeper, Devi noticed the massive quarrying in some parts of Himachal Pradesh's hills, harming the water supply and destroying paddy fields. At this point Devi decided to take on the mining herself.
Activism
A local volunteering group, the People's Action for People in Need, backed Devi as she filed a public interest lawsuit in the High Court of ShimlaShimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
against 48 mine owners. She accused that the quarriers were being reckless in their mining of limestone, though the group denied all allegations against them, claiming she was simply blackmailing them.
Her suit got virtually no response, so Devi went on a 19 day hunger strike outside the court. When the court decided to take up the issue, Devi had become a national celebrity. The court ordered in 1987 a stay on mining and imposed a blanket ban on blasting in her beloved hills. The mine owners appealed to the Supreme Court of India
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
, who rejected their appeal in July 1995.
Interest was taken upon her by then first lady Hillary Clinton, and that same year Devi was invited to attend the International Women's Conference in Beijing. She was asked to light the lamp in the beginning of the ceremonies, and spoke of the cause she was fighting against and how ordinary people can make an impact.
Despite the Supreme Court's ruling, illegal mining still continued in the hills and forest preserves, though on a decreased scale. Besides her environmentalism, one of Devi's other endeavors was campaigning for the creation of a degree-granting college in Sangrah. She claimed that while it wasn't right for her to study, she didn't want "others to suffer the way I did for want of education."