In Dr. Tajamul Haque’s untimely demise on 2nd May, India has lost a scholar policy maker, a champion of the causes of farmers, tribal, an advocate of land rights for women and dalits and a messiah for marginal farmers and tenants. With his departure, farmers lost a tireless, fearless advocate at the echelon of power corridors, while for ministers and secretaries, gone now is a highly knowledgeable yet an unassuming pragmatic advisor. Development sector and farmers’ movement would miss an empathetic protagonist, who was always just a phone call away. And for academia, did vanish an easily approachable peer, a smiling guide and an expert, who could effortlessly blend interdisciplinarity, research and practice with a rare mix of humility and brilliance. A Tribute to Dr. Tajamul Haque: A Land Rights Champion It was 1999 -- a hot, muggy April day in Kolkata. Roy Prosterman – my former professor, mentor, and Landesa co-founder – and I were returning from weeks of fieldwork in rural West Bengal to better understand the land rights challenges facing rural residents. In the wake of our time in West Bengal’s villages, we had scheduled meetings with several Indian academics, policy makers, and thought leaders familiar with the land rights topic to learn from them and explore whether Landesa might support Indian-led efforts for reform. |
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Center for Land Governance
Facilitating People Centered Land Governance