In James Cameron?s Avatar, circa 2154, the prize ore that Earthlings are hunting on Pandora is called unobtainium, a suitable name for something that?s supposed to solve our planet?s energy crisis. In a unique case of reality cross-referencing a film, it has been reported that the 8,000 strong Dongria Kondh tribe?which is going to be affected by Vedanta?s bauxite mining project at Niyamgiri?have actually appealed to Cameron to help them stop mining in their mountain neighbourhood. An advertisement in Variety proclaimed, ?Appeal to James Cameron. Please help the Dongria.? In addition to having a brilliant imagination, Cameron also appears to be gifted with premonition; the story-line of Avatar has an uncanny resemblance to the events in the Niyamgiri Hills in Orissa.
In the reality series, the minister of environment?s role resonates that of lead Jake Sully?s character (ironically a paraplegic), who has joined the hands with the ?Na?vi? or natives to fight the big bad industry, so determined to destroy their natural habitat and way of life. The NC Saxena committee (the closest parallel to which is the team of military scientists on Pandora that advises against the project after learning of all its atrocities), after investigating the alleged violations, also recommended the rejection of the project. The movie makes an interesting observation about what the natives are offered in exchange for their sacred land. ?They?re not going to give up their home. For what? A light beer and blue jeans?? This, however, is an oversimplification of the reality (how could it not be, it?s a James Cameron movie!). In the reality series, the government is offering a lot more?access to education, infrastructure and opportunities to integrate into the mainstream. And who?s to say that the tribals shouldn?t have access to light beer and blue jeans, should they want it.
Avatar in its Bollywood-esque ending, swept us away with a fairytale solution, complete with rainbows and rebirth. Reality, however, affords no such luxury. While the machine-gun toting Colonel Quaritch (played by Anil Agarwal) was disposed of in one clean move, leaving the Na?vi to live happily ever after, the government is still in a quandary over balancing tribals? rights with development. Cameron cast his vote in favour of the Na?vi, side-stepping the unresolved energy dilemma. What remains to be seen is whether this ending manifests itself in reality or remains an unpalatable solution to the Vedanta crisis for the government, for whom the Niyamgiri hills remain unobtainium.
feedit@expressindia.com