Keshav Nankar Biography
Courtesy of Anti-Slavery International
Keshav Nankar was born into a bonded family. When he was two years old his father died, thereby transferring the remaining debt to his wife and child. When he was six he went to school but, despite being a bright student, his employer demanded that he leave school in his second year and work full-time grazing animals.
At 16 Keshav became a bonded labourer in his own right. His decision to marry further bound him to his landlord. Despite having worked for 10 years, he had no money because his labour went to repaying his father's debt and he had to borrow 700 rupees (£10) from his master to pay the bride-price. There was no written agreement for the loan and he was only given food for his work.
After seven years. Vidhayak Sansad came to Keshav’s district where it identified 300 bonded labourers, 40 of whom were in his village. In July 1983 the Pandits released him. In revenge, the landlords organised a labour boycott in the area and refused to employ any of the former bonded labourers. The Pandits organised food for them and their families so they would not have to re-enter the cycle of bonded labour.
Keshav organised a campaign in his village demanding work for all of the ex-bonded labourers at minimum wage. His success led him to become a labour activist organising the people in his area and he set up a cooperative growing watermelons which is still operating. Thanks to his activism, the workers in his area are receiving a fair wage and a meal in return for their labour.
He is currently the chairman of the union Shramajeevi Sanghatana, and an executive member of Samarthan and Vidhayak Sansad. He has ensured that his children, who are now in school, do not return to a life in debt bondage.
Last updated on Friday, September 26, 2008.
