The National Fishworkers Forum [NFF] of India has mourned the demise of its beloved leader and one among the tall stalwarts of the fishworkers movement, T Peter.
According to Narendra R Patil, Chairperson, NFF, coming from the background of a fishing village, the son of Thomas and Clarie Bell dedicated his life and defined his role of engaging with, and for, the struggling communities.
Peter’s relentless efforts of working with the small-scale traditional fishing community and advocating for their rights across India spans over four decades. He served the community with the basic conviction that it is their voices that should be at the forefront while demanding their rights.
He was handed over responsibility at various levels organisationally – leading Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation [KSMTF] at the district and state levels as the District, State Secretary and President; NFF as the General Secretary; Executive Member of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples; Syndicate Member of the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies. He performed the responsibilities handed over to him with great passion and dedication. This was also visible at various forefronts with former leaders like Fr Thomas Kochery, Ram Bhau Patil, Harekrishna Debnath, Matanhy Saldanha and many others in the anti-trawling struggle, Struggle against joint ventures, against diluting of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), etc.
Struggles for him were not confined to fishworkers solely, but were in solidarity with various people’s movements locally, regionally and nationally, with the Narmada Bachao Andolan, the-anti-Coca-Cola struggle, tha anti-endosulphan movement, the anti-Kudankulam struggle, tha anti-Sterlite struggle, among the many other struggles. This definitely is something which made Peter stand out as a trade union leader beyond the realms of the party. His simplistic and distinct lifestyle was something which was peculiar, symbolic as well as political.
His engagement with the journalists and other media needs special mention. This always helped the movement in disseminating information and the position of the movement. In fact, one would really think that if Peter would not have been a people’s leader, he would definitely have been a journalist. His enthusiasm to engage with the new media to reach out to the larger public has always been something to learn from. He was also the editor of Alakal, the fortnightly which served as the mouthpiece of KSMTF. The negotiations which he facilitated organisationally with various political parties in power as well as with the opposition with political clarity and conviction, reflected his political acumen and sharpness to address the fishworkers concerns.
The pandemic has paved way for the untimely departure of our dear comrade. His last days of extensive campaign and work was focussed on the proposed upcoming shipping corridor in the coast and building up alliances to fight against this draconian project in the garb of Sagarmala which would be displacing thousands of fishworkers from their lives and livelihoods. He also was seriously engaged in bringing and building up a policy for protecting the fishworkers and the coasts.
As we all are coming to terms with this untimely loss, NFF also stands with Peter’s family and remember them for their dedication in giving us Peter to take forward the aspirations of the fishing communities. It will be from Peter’s energy, optimism and politics of a new world is possible’ that will lead and help us to carry the aspirations and vision of the fishworkers forward.
ICSF 2020