About Prafulla
Prafulla Samantara is an environmental activist and advocate for indigenous rights from Odisha, India. He is best known for his leadership in the fight against the displacement of indigenous communities and the destruction of forests, particularly from large-scale mining and industrial projects.
Samantara gained international recognition for his fight to protect the land rights of the Dongria Kondh, an indigenous tribe whose land was threatened by an open-pit bauxite mine proposed by the British multinational Vedanta Resources. The project would have destroyed 670 hectares of forest and polluted vital water sources for 8,000 people. Additionally, the deforestation would have encouraged poaching and further environmental damage in the region.
The Dongria Kondh’s struggle is both environmental and spiritual, as the mine was planned on their sacred Niyamgiri hills. Samantara dedicated twelve years of his life to this cause, fighting for the tribe’s rights through legal means. His efforts were honored with the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2017.