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Satinath Sarangi

Satinath (Sathyu) Sarangi was born in Chakradharpur, Jharkhand, India, on September 25, 1954. Since 1984 he is living in Bhopal. He has been involved with the multiple activities run by a network of local, national and international groups, pursuing health and economic needs, fighting legal claims, providing medical support and reminding the world that the Bhopal catastrophy 1984 happened. Sarangi is the founder of several activist organisations. He is also the founder and manager of Sambhavna Trust.

Sarangi arrived to Bhopal the day after the gas release Bhopal disaster the night 2–3 December 1984. He immediately got engaged in issues on health care and the rights of the victims. Thus, he was one of those exposed to the violence of police and authorities. When other activists left Bhopal, he stayed on. Being well educated, he supported the victims and their organisations.

Already in December 1984, he was a founder member of Zahareeli Gas Kand Sangharsh Morcha (Poisonous Gas Episode Struggle Front), an organization of survivors of the Union Carbide disaster in Bhopal Bhopal disaster. In 1986, he founded the Bhopal Group for Information and Action (BGIA). In 1989, he made a campaign tour to USA, UK, Ireland and The Netherlands.

He was a member of the organizing committee for Bhopal session of the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal on Industrial and Environmental Hazards and Human Rights in 1992, and the National Organizing Secretary for the International Medical Commission on Bhopal in 1994.

In 1996, he finally could fulfil his dream of providing free and proper health care for the gas victims. This year, the Sambhavna Trust (or Bhopal People's Health and Documentation Clinic) was inaugurated. At the 20th anniversary in 2004, he proudly presented the new buildings and the garden to be. Sambhavna clinic also undertakes community health work. It is the only organisation currently researching the long-term effects of the Bhopal gas exposure.

Other important activities were the marches to Delhi and hungerstrikes in 2006 and 2008. In 2009 he participated in the Bhopal Europe Bus Tour. In his work, he interacts closely with survivors’ associations.

Source: Wikipedia