Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) activist Ashish Mandloi died at his residence in Chhota Barda in Badwani district of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday.
Mr. Mandloi (38), who was associated with the struggle for the last 20 years, suffered a cardiac arrest.
His funeral was attended by thousands of displaced villagers, tribals and activists.
Personal loss: Medha
On the occasion, NBA leader Medha Patkar said she had suffered a personal loss. “Ashish immortalised the spirit of a true activist by literally living the slogan, sangharsh hii jeevan hai [struggle is life].”
Mr. Mandloi was a key NBA activist in the Nimad and Pahad (hilly tribal areas) region of Madhya Pradesh.
Every displaced family in the affected villages knew him by name.
He was instrumental in exposing inaccuracies in government surveys for rehabilitating displaced families and in unearthing the scam in the fake registries of land and bogus official claims of alternative rehabilitation.