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{{short description|Indian environmental activist and farmworker (1970–1995)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nilesh Naik
| image = Nilesh Naik.jpg
| caption = A photograph taken during Naik's [[cremation]] wearing a floral [[garland]] in 1995
| monuments = Nilesh Naik Memorial, Keri, Ponda, Goa, India
| birth_name = Nilesh Mohan Naik
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1970|5|22|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Savoi-Verem]], [[Goa]], India
| resting_place = [[Thapar Group|Thapar]]-[[DuPont]] factory site, Keri, Ponda, Goa, India
| resting_place_coordinates = {{Coord|15|27|39.69|N|74|0|47.21|E|display=inline,title}}
| death_cause = [[Murder]] (gunshot wounds to the chest)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1995|1|23|1970|5|22|df=y}}
| death_place = Keri, [[Ponda, Goa|Ponda]], Goa, India
| known_for = {{plainlist|
* Goa's first environmental [[martyr]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1FW6AAAAIAAJ&q=Nilesh+Naik+Nylon|title=Social Policy|date=November 10, 1995|publisher=American Institute for Social Justice|via=Google Books}}</ref>
* India's first direct environmental martyr}}
| occupation = {{hlist|[[Environmental activist]]|[[farmworker]]<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GHMGDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT75|title=Global Business, Local Law: The Indian Legal System as a Communal Resource in Foreign Investment Relations|first=Amanda|last=Perry-Kessaris|date=April 22, 2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317128076 |via=Google Books}}</ref>}}
| movement = Anti-[[nylon 6,6]] movement
}}
'''Nilesh Mohan Naik''' (22 May 1970 – 23 January 1995) was an Indian [[environmental activist]] and farmworker belonging to the [[scheduled tribe]] community. He was [[shot to death]] during the [[Nylon 6,6]] agitation at Keri plateau, [[Ponda, Goa|Ponda]]. He is popularly known as [[Goa]]'s first environmental [[martyr]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Dupont |url=https://www.livinghistoriesgoa.com/dupont |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=Living Histories Goa |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Nylon 6,6 agitation: Tributes offered at martyr's memorial |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Nylon-66-agitation-Tributes-offered-at-martyr%E2%80%99s-memorial/170363 |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=oHeraldo|date=28 January 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A shredded project - India Environment Portal {{!}} News, reports, documents, blogs, data, analysis on environment & development {{!}} India, South Asia |url=http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/content/9062/a-shredded-project/ |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in}}</ref>

==Early and personal life==
Nilesh Mohan Naik was born on 22 May 1970 to Rekha Gawde at [[Savoi-Verem]], Goa. He belonged to the [[scheduled tribe]] community<ref name=":3" /> and had three brothers, including Naresh Mohan Naik and Mahesh Naik. On 27 October 2020, Naresh, aged 40, died suffering injuries from a [[road accident]] at Savoi-Verem.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=Savoi-Verem local dies, two others injured in accident |url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/SavoiVerem-local-dies-two-others-injured-in-accident/166914 |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=oHeraldo}}</ref>

==Martyrdom==
Around 1980s, the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) acquired land at Bhoot Khamb, [[Ponda, Goa|Ponda]] for the production of [[Nylon 6,6]]. The {{INRConvert|6|b|year=1980}} project was started by American multinational company, [[DuPont]] in collaboration with Indian business conglomerate, [[Thapar Group]]. Despite the usage of two hazardous chemicals, [[hexamethylenediamine]] and [[adipic acid]], the project was declared as "pollution free". Later the locals became aware of the environmental hazards which would pose danger to the [[water resources]] and bagayats plantations thereafter beginning a long-drawn [[Political demonstration|agitation]] that lasted for several years.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Leading from the front: Dr Dattaram Desai |url=https://www.thegoan.net//leading-from-the-front-dr-dattaram-desai/11939.html |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=The Goan EveryDay |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o7W5AAAAIAAJ&q=nilesh+naik+nylon+66 |title=Multinational Monitor |date=1995 |publisher=Corporate Accountability Research Group |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=Edelman |first1=Marc |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s_0wDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT519 |title=Global Land Grabbing and Political Reactions 'from Below' |last2=Hall |first2=Ruth |last3=Jr |first3=Saturnino M. Borras |last4=Scoones |first4=Ian |last5=White |first5=Ben |last6=Wolford |first6=Wendy |date=2017-08-15 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-351-62240-0 |language=en}}</ref>

On 14 October 1994, the plant was attacked by the villagers which cost the authorities almost {{INRConvert|10|m|year=1994}}. On 17 January 1995, Dr. Dattaram Desai, [[convener]] of the Anti-Nylon 6,6 Citizens Action Committee and two other activists were arrested, stripped and assaulted at the police station.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=byZ_AAAAMAAJ&q=nilesh+naik+nylon+66 |title=Fish Curry and Rice: A Source Book on Goa, Its Ecology, and Life Style |date=2002 |publisher=Goa Foundation |isbn=978-81-85569-48-2 |language=en}}</ref> On 18 January 1995, the church supported, All Goa Citizens Committee for Social Justice and Action (AGCCSJA) wrote to the then Goa Governor, [[Gopala Ramanujam]] expressing their distress over the government's move to subdue the opposition against the project.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Shiva |first=Vandana |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v_PsAAAAMAAJ&q=Nilesh+Naik+dupont |title=Ecological Costs of Economic Globalisation: The Indian Experience |date=1997 |publisher=Research Foundation for Science, Technology & Ecology |language=en}}</ref>

On 23 January 1995, a busload of U.S. DuPont officials along three police jeeps were greeted by 70 protesters mainly women and children that were sitting on the road that lead to the factory. When the women refused to let the officials pass, the police present, advised the DuPont officials to return at [[Panjim]] wherein they met then Goa Chief minister, [[Pratapsingh Rane]] and demanded to take a strict action on the activists. Around 4:30 pm, two busload of [[Goa Police]] opened fired at the protesters without any prior warning to disperse, Naik was shot at [[point blank range]] while trying to save a woman from police atrocities and died from [[gunshot wounds]] to the chest soon after he was admitted to a nearby hospital,<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=DuPont |url=https://www.multinationalmonitor.org/hyper/issues/1995/03/mm0395_11.html |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=www.multinationalmonitor.org}}</ref> while others suffered minor injuries at Bhoot Khamb, Ponda.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=protest against multinational nylon plant intensifies after shootings |url=https://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/1995/02/03/protest-against-multinational-nylon-plant-intensifies-after-shootings&post_id=46735 |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=ucanews.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Wapner |first1=Paul Kevin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OqdNvioIOzAC&pg=PA139 |title=Principled World Politics: The Challenge of Normative International Relations |last2=Ruiz |first2=Lester Edwin J. |last3=Falk |first3=Richard A. |date=2000 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-7425-0065-5 |language=en}}</ref>

Following his death, the protesters as an act of vengeance assaulted the police, stripped some of them and chased them into the woods. Next they headed towards the company's office and burnt down everything. The company later shut down its services in Goa and relocated at [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Low |first=Nicholas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IlnYdli67h4C&pg=PA317 |title=Global Ethics and Environment |date=2002-09-11 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-134-64249-6 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Dantas |first=Norman |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5C9uAAAAMAAJ&q=Nilesh+Naik+Nylon+6,6 |title=The Transforming of Goa |date=1999 |publisher=Other India Press |isbn=978-81-85569-45-1 |language=en}}</ref>

==Cremation==
The morning after Naik's murder, his body was taken to the [[Ponda, Goa|Ponda]] bus station wherein a crowd of around 400 people were assembled to escort his body to his native village at [[Savoi-Verem]] and then to the factory site where he was [[cremated]]. The body was displayed in an open van, garlanded with flowers, around late afternoon the numbers bulged to more than 4,000 people gathered at the factory site. The leaders of the Anti-nylon 6,6 negotiated with the Thapar-DuPont Ltd. (TDL) security force to evacuate the site and factory officials were apprised that their presence would provoke violence, they later agreed to leave the site, escorted by the committee members.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CbPrAAAAMAAJ&q=Nilesh+Naik+dupont |title=Revista del sur: publicación de la Red del Tercer Mundo |date=1995 |publisher=Instituto del Tercer Mundo |language=es}}</ref>

Many eminent [[Goans]] spoke at Naik's funeral, thereafter he was hailed as the first martyr of the Goan environmental movement.<ref name=":4" /> The throng present, later renamed the plateau in his honour but before his [[pyre]] was set on fire, a large explosion was witnessed at the factory site and a massive cloud of smoke rose from the TDL administrative complex, where the [[electricity generator]] was blown away.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Wielenga |first=Bastiaan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iu5IAQAAIAAJ&q=Nilesh+Naik |title=Towards an Eco-just Society |date=1999 |publisher=Centre for Social Action |language=en}}</ref>

The company officials were shocked over the issue that followed to the demise of Naik, said TDL manager, Sam Singh. He also further stated that they had no plans moving out of Goa. After several meetings with DuPont and Thapar officials, the government remained quiet on the Nylon 6,6 issue, although Goa Chief minister, Rane eliminated many administrative obstacles for the factory but complained that the opposition were against the development of Goa.<ref name=":4" />

==Aftermath==
On 23 January 1995, Chief minister, Rane ordered a [[judicial inquiry]] into the shooting and rewarded {{INRConvert|25|k|year=1995}} to Naik's family.<ref name=":2" /> The then [[Goa Legislative Assembly]], Leader of Opposition, [[Surendra Sirsat]] stated that no [[mass movement (politics)|mass movement]] can be suppressed by the police.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sampat |first=Preeti |title=The Goan Impasse: Land Rights and Resistance to SEZs |url=https://www.academia.edu/12839559}}</ref> The managing director of the plant, Virendra (Sam) Singh mourned the death of Naik from the police shooting and was willing to meet up with the locals to clear up the misunderstanding that took place.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MmvtAAAAMAAJ&q=Nilesh+Naik+Nylon |title=Trade Union Record |date=1995 |publisher=All-India Trade Union Congress |language=en}}</ref>

On 26 January 1995, [[Republic Day (India)|India's 46th Republic Day]], the activists unfolded the national flag at the Thapar-DuPont factory as a gesture of their opposition after a shutdown was imposed on 24 January 1995 to protest the shootings that took place. The church groups and [[environmentalists]] of Goa deemed the Thapar DuPont Nylon 6,6 plant as an "unwanted guest". According to the [[Goa Police]] sources, they had first burst [[tear gas]] shells to disperse the protesters blockade at the road. But it backfired and engendered the crowd to go on a rampage which resulted in lighting up a police van and three jeeps, assaulted several policemen, kidnapped four of them and stripped some of them. They also stated that the violent mob also plundered a company's office at the nearby [[Ponda, Goa|Ponda]] town.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Do Protests Work? {{!}} |url=https://goastreets.com/do-protests-work/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=goastreets.com|date=30 October 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sampat |first=P |title=Right to Land and the Rule of Law: Infrastructure, Urbanization and... |url=https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1618&context=gc_etds |journal=Academicworks.cuny.edu}}</ref>

On 27 January 1995, Dr. Desai told the media at [[Panaji]] that the protests will now be stepped up to provide a clear message of solidarity to DuPont.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4eCwAAAAIAAJ&q=Nilesh+Naik+Nylon+6,6 |title=Economic and Political Weekly |date=1995 |publisher=Sameeksha Trust |language=en}}</ref> The project initially was set to produce nylon [[Staple (textiles)#Filament fiber|filament]] and industrial tire-cord [[yarn]] and promised 600 jobs to the locals. M. K. Jos of the citizens committee stated that the jobs promised was simply not worth for the {{INR}}6 billion project.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a-ttAAAAMAAJ&q=Nilesh+Naik+Nylon+6,6 |title=Manorama Year Book |date=1996 |publisher=Manorama Publishing House. |language=en}}</ref> Jos further stated that the church groups were mobilizing people for a "unified drive" against the American multinational company since the 1980s when the two companies had planned to start their factory in Goa.<ref name=":2" /> It is also said that chief minister, Rane and other politicians of the Goa Legislative Assembly had favoured the project as it was expected to become the state's largest industrial infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pinto |first=Ambrose |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ejbWQvCo1FwC&q=Nilesh+Naik+Nylon |title=From Democratic Socialism to Neo-liberalism: The Story of India's Democracy |date=2014 |publisher=Indian Institute of Advanced Study |isbn=978-93-82396-12-3 |language=en}}</ref>

A panel of [[legislators]] who had made a study on the project, recommended it to be ended due to its multiple effects posing danger to the environment.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Watch |first=Corporate |date=2005-06-10 |title=Dupont Company Profile |url=https://corporatewatch.org/dupont-company-profile/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=Corporate Watch |language=en-GB}}</ref> A village local, Dolu Babu Kolekar stated that after decades residing at the village, the newly built plant had been a blockade to religious sites present. [[Claude Alvares]], an environmentalist said the factory plant is nearby [[Mangueshi]] which happens to be Goa's foremost famous Hindu temple complex and the [[Old Goa]] church complex which is about {{cvt|15|km}} away, he further added that it's also close to the Opa water works which was Goa's vital source of drinking water during the 1990s.<ref name=":2" />

==Legacy==
A ''[[Samadhi (shrine)|samadhi]]'' (a square stone [[memorial]], typically 6 feet across) was constructed in Naik's name at Bhoot Khamb plateau, [[Ponda, Goa|Ponda]] known as the Nilesh Naik Memorial, which included a [[tombstone]] bearing the [[epitaph]] "Martyr of the anti-Nylon-66 agitation Nilesh
Mohan Naik". On 29 January 2021, at Naik's 26th [[death anniversary]], the villagers of Querim and [[Savoi-Verem]] along with the members of the [[Nayak (title)|Naik]] clan paid floral tributes at the memorial, they also demanded the [[Government of Goa]] to build a hall or ''Ravindra Bhavan'' in his name, stating that it'll be essential for neighbouring ''[[panchayats]]'' such as Verem [[Vagurbem]], [[Volvoi]] and Querim, Ponda.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bad Chemistry For Dupont |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/1995-03-26/bad-chemistry-for-dupont-intl-edition |access-date=2022-11-10 |newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=27 March 1995 }}</ref>

A village local, Dinesh Naik also stated that there's ample of vast land available at the Querim [[plateau]], Ponda some of which could be utilised to construct the hall. He further added that every year the locals remember Naik but no government representatives visit the memorial.<ref name=":1" /> Since Naik's death, significant organizations including the [[Catholic Church]] and the then [[Goa Legislative Assembly]] opposition party, [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], had shown their full support behind the campaign.<ref name=":4" />

Naik is also remembered thrice a year when the [[national flag]] is hosted on [[Republic Day (India)|India's Republic day]] (26 January), [[Independence Day (India)|India's Independence day]] (15 August) and [[Goa Liberation Day]] (19 December) at his memorial in Bhoot Khamb plateau, [[Ponda, Goa|Ponda]].<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":5" />

==See also==
* [[Floriano Vaz]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://mandgoa.blogspot.com/2009/01/nilesh-naik-goas-first-green-martyr.html?m=1 Nilesh Naik - Goa's first green martyr remembered]
* [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IhGPUKtHNA4&feature=youtu.be RG Priol at Nylon 66 martyr site, Nilesh Naik was shot dead in police firing]
* [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pEwJENK2zTI&feature=youtu.be Goan Youth Sacrifice His Life For Goans Against Nylon 6,6 Plant At Keri Ponda]
* [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YE32zATO6pA&feature=youtu.be 25th death anniversary of late Nilesh Naik | nilon66 case | report by Dinesh Naik | MyTV reports]

{{Subject bar
|portal1 = India
|d-search = Q115135482
|portal2 = Asia
|portal3 = 1990s
|portal4 = Biography
|portal5 = Agriculture
|portal6 = Hinduism
|portal7 = Environment
|portal8 = Socialism}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Naik, Nilesh}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:1995 deaths]]
[[Category:1990s protests]]
[[Category:Indian environmentalists]]
[[Category:Youth activists]]
[[Category:Farmworkers]]
[[Category:Activists from Goa]]
[[Category:Environmental killings]]
[[Category:1995 murders in India]]
[[Category:Indian Hindus]]
[[Category:Mass shootings in India]]
[[Category:20th-century Hindus]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian farmers]]
[[Category:People from North Goa district]]
[[Category:People shot dead by law enforcement officers in India]]
[[Category:People murdered in India]]

Nilesh Naik - Revision history

Asissantra: adding a details