IDR Interviews

‘Waterman of India’, Rajendra Singh, shares insights on how the availability of water improves all aspects of life in India, and why the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to bring about a revolution in the country.

Known for his pathbreaking work in the development sector, Vijay Mahajan talks about inequality, the direction our society is headed in, and how the ‘idea of India’ cannot be realised by the state alone.

A physician and public health specialist, Dr John Oommen shares insights from more than three decades of working on community health among Adivasi peoples, and reflects on why we need to rethink the dominant development paradigm.

A lifelong crusader against manual scavenging, Bezwada Wilson talks about building a Dalit-led grassroots movement to liberate the community from this practice.

Recognised for bringing cadres of young professionals into grassroots development, Deep Joshi reflects on why we need to build a more fraternal society and implores us to reconsider how we respond to development challenges.

World-renowned scientist and biodiversity expert shares invaluable wisdom on the overlaps between indigenous and scientific knowledge, and how both can shape national and global policy.

In 2019, activist and humanitarian Stan spoke to us about people’s movements. He recounted how they grow and are sustained in the context of his fight against the human rights violations faced by Adivasi peoples.

Life and leadership lessons shared by a visionary anti-child labour activist, on changing social norms at scale, building inclusive movements, and taking on the establishment.

The remarkable story of an Adivasi lawyer and social activist who has led peoples’ movements against state development policies, and sought redress for human rights violations of his people in conflict-ridden regions of Maharashtra.

The oppression of Adivasi peoples in their own lands, at the hands of outsiders, led a young student activist from Bombay to spend the next four decades of his life fighting for land and labour rights.