Category
Talk
Artists
Pankaj Sekhsaria
Date
October 20th 2024.
Pankaj Sekhsaria’s The Great Nicobar Betrayal has ignited widespread attention to the controversial mega-infrastructure project slated for Great Nicobar Island. This project, which threatens to devastate the region’s delicate ecosystems and uproot indigenous communities, is at the heart of the book’s deeply researched essays. Through his own writing and contributions from experts such as Aathira Perinchery and Janki Andharia, Sekhsaria meticulously documents the far-reaching environmental, social, and legal consequences of this ambitious yet reckless development plan.
The book has already sparked meaningful debate among environmentalists, policymakers, and concerned citizens. It highlights how short-sighted political and economic decisions, masked as progress, are putting one of India’s most pristine and biodiverse regions at risk. Sekhsaria’s work also underscores the intersection between disaster capitalism and environmental degradation, pointing out that the displacement caused by the 2004 tsunami has paved the way for a corporate land grab that threatens to alter the island forever. By shedding light on the voices of scientists, activists, and local communities, The Great Nicobar Betrayal continues to fuel vital discussions around the need for sustainable development and the protection of vulnerable ecosystems.