Remembering the Leader

A meeting was organized by Kerala Swathantra MatsyathozhilaliFederation (KSMTF) at Mannam Memorial Hall, Trivandrum on 4-1-2010 tocondole the sad demise of Shri Harekrishna Debnath, the greatest and beloved fishermen leader of India. Many fishermen leaders and fish workers were attended the meeting to express the grief on the death of Shri. Harekrishna.

Shri. V.Vivekanandan, Advisor, SIFFS had delivered the Harekrishna remembrance speech. He described Harekrishna as the ever-time greatest fishermen leader who have worked for the sector. He said that the legendary leader was a striking force in the fight against the present deep sea fishing policy of Government of India. His leadership in the anti CMZ struggle has forced the Government of India to withdraw the draft CMZ notification, he added. The modified CRZ notification expected to come out shortly and would benefit the coastal people in a larger way, he hoped. With the withdrawal of CMZ notification due to the anti CMZ Campaign led by Harekrishna, Government of India was forced to acknowledge the rights of fishermen and Central Government has now come forward to publish a draft bill on “the traditional coastal and marine fisher folk (protection of rights)”. Shri. Vivek recalled his close association with Harekrishna which has helped a lot to work with fisher folk in new areas in the North Western region. Born in Bangladesh, Harekrishna was a student leader of Awami League of Mujeeb Rehman of Bangladesh. Harekrishna was sent to India by Mujeeb Rehman as his emissary to Smt. Indira Gandhi. Thereafter he stayed in India to work among the common fishermen of India. He worked as the General Secretary of National Fisher workers Forum and he became the NFF Chairperson later. He was the first Secretary General of WFFP. His professionalism and straightforwardness only enhanced Harekrishna, the phenomena. His contributions to the fisheries sector.

Shri. T. Peter, Secretary, NFF pointed out that by honouring Shri.Harekrishna and his legendary memory may not merely fulfill our responsibility, but his inspiration to the younger generation to aspire to reach the standards set by him. The coastal people of India have lost a strong voice fighting for the coastal environment. T.Peter recalled, the leadership of Harekrishna for the anti CMZ campaign in all the coastal states which led to the Victory of the fisher folk of the country. Harekrishna’s effort to bring all traditional and small scale fishermen group within a single umbrella will always be remembered. Harekrishna was most importantly a humanist and his simplicity has attracted all those whom he had associated in his successful public life. The fisher folk of the nation are always indebted to Herekrishna for his vision and perspective to the fisheries sector.

Shri. Maju Varghese remembered his close association with Harekrishna and stressed the irreparable loss due to the sad demise of Harekrishna.

Shri. S. Ravindran Nair, Retd. Joint Director of Fisheries, Kerala, Shri.M. Ambrose, Shri.Ajayakumar , Shri.Anto Elias(KSMTF), Sr. Mercy Micheal and many others spoke on the occasion.

Let his soul rest in peace and his spirits may continue to guide us always.

PRESS RELEASE
The Chairperson of the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF), Mr. Harekrishna Debnath, passed away in Kolkota at 11 am on 30 December 2009 at the age of 60.

Harekrishna has been a great supporter of traditional fishing communities in India and outside. He has worked dauntlessly over the past over two decades to organize fishing communities in India under the banner of the NFF, and to give them a voice to project their aspirations and sufferings to concerned governments. Most recently he led the Macchimar Adhikar Rashtriya Abhiyan in 2008, a two-month yatra that traversed the entire coast of India from Kutch to Kolkota, mobilizing support for better implementation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification and for scrapping the controversial draft Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) Notification. These efforts led to the withdrawal of the CMZ Notification, a major victory for fishing communities.

Harekrishna was a member of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB). He also contributed significantly to the struggles of fisherpeople worldwide, as the General Secretary of the World Forum of Fisherpeoples (WFFP).

The NFF has lost a great leader of the fishworker movement. Harekrishna has been a great inspiration and he will always be remembered by the fishing community of India. Every minute of his life was dedicated to the fishing community. His fight has fostered greater resolve among fishworkers to fulfill his dreams and to continue thestruggle for social justice.