Hello Shalini Madam!
It's such a memorable day today. It's 31 July 2026. It's two years completes since Shalini Rajneesh took over as Karnataka Chief Secretary. She has such an impressive record as an IAS officer that she has been described as a rare star in IAS in one online video :
https://youtu.be/pktl3DWfnmY?si=AsQ4X34T22WuHeGJ
Indeed Shalini Rajneesh is rare star in IAS. Her online TEDEX video addressing packed auditorium at Christ College in Bengaluru is a testimony to her rarity in works and rarity in elequance as well. Here is her video:
https://youtu.be/8VcNOks4tOg?si=643-6xU-CNmEbipX
Shalini stands for Justice, equality and all the remaining values enshrined in the Constitution of India. She is even candid to admit that if there were no disputes in society there would be no need for Courts with Peace as normal in this video:
https://youtu.be/EM5S6gplf_k?si=GfiDEYuVX1nkPdYG
Her online videos reveals that during her training she had an exposure to tribal, farmers and soldiers. She has commanded over Belgaum floods and Communal riots in Mangalore during her various stages of posting.
Her efforts to hold government officers accountable in Karnataka through Sakala has won her laurels nationally and even internationally.
We are so proud of her achievements and accolades. We are so proud of her breakthrough in Public Administration, Psychology, Literature, books she has authored and mastery over Kannada even though hailing from North India.
We are so happy that she speaks to students across spectrum in colleges in Karnaraka igniting dream and aspirations to aim higher in life, sometimes even higher than the sun. Truly amazing!
While we admire her for all this we realize that there is a rare defect in her training. The consequence of that rare defect is manifested in Kasarkod-Tonka village in Honnavar Taluka of Uttara Kannada District of Karnataka. That rare defect is that she hasn't spoken about her exposure to fishers of India. She never went in a canoe to fish in Sharavathi river. She never tasted river's nutritious fish. She never got to pay attention to fish breeding sites and cycles minutely. She never understood its marine ecology nor ecological history. If she had yhen she would unleash Port violence on fisheries of Honnavar. Never. Never. Never.
This imaginings is about exactly what Shalini Rajneesh missed. And we won't address her as Dr. Shalini Rajneesh as a minor prick as exchange for nightmare she has spelled to people of Kasarkod-Tonka.
Just imagine Shalini Rajneesh was born in Kasarkod-Tonka in Honnavara in 1960. Imagine her as crying baby facing mighty winds, stormy waves, thunderous rains, water dripping through mud tiles on rooftop.
Just imagine Shalini Rajneesh as toddler playing under blazing sun and joyfully running after tiny white crabs on Tonka beach; on way home picking up a coconut.
Just imagine Shalini Rajneesh grows up into her adolescence and joins her parents fishing trade in canoes navigating waves of Arabian Sea and Badgini. Imagine Shalini getting well versed not just in fish trade but also getting connected to the surrounding ecology that involves fish breeding and learns that good fish needs good water.
Imaging young Shalini as 17 years old girl in 1977. She is in house and suddenly there is a roar of the waters. Sharavathi river that flew into Arabian Sea four kilometers to South of her house changes course and invades Shalini's land, house, everything under water. Shalini being from fishing community like everyone else is an expert swimmer. She plunged in the water and saves her life. Imagine the entire village that Shalini spend 17 years going under water. The courage of fishers caused no casualties of the floods. People however turned into ecological refugees. As she being smarts understood that Sharavathi changed its flow due to construction of dam holding water as form of progress.
Change of course of Sharavathi river has been the major ecological factor that defines life in Kasarkod Tonka-1 and Tonka-2 ever since. These are 6,000 people in search of home in 1977.
Imagine government of Karnataka understanding the plight of Shalini and her villagers hardships without a House to make a home and allotting land one year later in 1978. People purchase the land. Hence the land in Kasarkod-Tonka is a private land inhabitated by people is a private land. Not a Port land.
Port land on government maps is the land located to the South of Sharavathi river's original mouth flow before 1977 floods which is 04 kilometers South of current mouth of Sharavathi river. River changed its mouth. Government maps did not incorporate on the ground physical change in geography since 1977. Such horrendous is this cartographic crime. Just imagine if Shalini had to be born in Tonka she would uphold dreams people of Tonka high in the sky, above the sun and not push the entire village into despair created by Karnataka administration.
Just imagine if Shalini was born in Tonka-Kasarkod she would strenly hold hand of her husband Rajneesh Goel who served as Chief Secretary of Karnataka till July 30, 2024 when plans were getting formed to unleash police violence on people of Kasarkod in January 2024. Rajneesh Goel allowed cartographic crime to dictate forms of development and progress. Here is the video as to how this police repression was unleashed by Karnataka administration headed by Rajneesh Goel in January 2024:
https://youtu.be/GhYXkFNGqws?si=jLWtdkZB-2FYnDyj
Involvement of the office of Chief Secretary in Kasarkod- Tonka in supporting Honnavar Private Port Limited is revealed clearly on record in letter dated 21 May 2025 written by Karwar Deputy Commisioner Laxmi Priya to Chief Executive Officer, Karnataka Maritime Board. She specifically recorded involvement of Chief Secretary in police violence on Kasarkod-Tonka villagers on February 25, 2025. Honnavar Port issue was "discussed in every meeting chaired by Honorable Chief Secretary", letter notes:
https://bharatmukti.blogspot.com/2026/07/karwar-deputy-commissioner-records.html?m=1
And who was the Chief Secretary those days? Its none other than Shalini Rajneesh. Just imagine if Shalini was born in Kasarkod-Tonka; she would fight for her fisher people tooth and nail instead of trumpeting the cause of private company engaged in destroying not just a livelihood and ecology massively but also destroying the very culture and identy of fisher people. Imagine if Shalini Rajneesh was amongst fisher folks like Roja Tandel or Parvati Tandel or Apeksha Tandel. Yes, just imagine! Shalini would tear apart dreams of progress and development through all pervasive, a destructive Port-led mess.
Imagine if Shalini was not as distant to fishers of Kasarkod as she is now. Imagine women and men, children and youth talking - and just imagine - sharing meals daily with Shalini. Just imagine how nice it would have been. This did did not happen on February 25, 2025. On that day full administration came cracking down violently on Kasarkod village. Men and women in Khaki had forgotten their name badges and buckle numbers somewhere. They were not hanging on their chests, their shoulders. That day police turned beasts. Beating up people, arresting, hurling into police vans. Till date Shalini Rajneesh has not condemned this police violence. Here is online video of 2025 Kasarkod arrests:
https://youtu.be/E47KqgG5F6I?si=CUe6GenAkY4ZhYlK
First time it was proved that violence had no gender. Two women were commanding violence against Kasarkod-Tonka villagers. One woman was the Chief Secretary, Karnataka. The second one was Deputy Commisioner, Karwar. Their efforts yielded results. 24 men were detained in police custody for 24 days in Dharwad. 15 women who were arrested were left on the road mid-night. Government hospitals were very careful to avoid record of injuries due to police inflicted violence on their bodies. So sanitized were the public health system. Ahh just imagine if Shalini Rajneesh was amongst the women to share comraderies on 25 February 2025 night!
26 February 2025 Karwar district administration carried on survey under police protection of the houses and coconut trees that needs demolished to make way for the 15 metrs wide road over the existing houses. All together 180 houses are to be razed to the ground to make approach road to the Port Construction site. If Shalini Rajneesh was a fisher of Kasarkod she would have called a bluff for sure! Yet, it's not.
And we would simply listen to her in awe the way she would tear into the two EIA reports and absence of public hearing before Environmental Clearance. Imagine Shalini Rajneesh was born in fishing family of Kasarkod-Tonka! She would not treat Kasarkod-Tonka and all of us here as alien enemies to be purged up for the greater glory of HPPL.
Just imagine Shalini Rajneesh was born in Kasarkod-Tonka in Honnavara in 1960. Imagine her as crying baby facing mighty winds, stormy waves, thunderous rains, water dripping through mud tiles on rooftop.
Just imagine Shalini Rajneesh as toddler playing under blazing sun and joyfully running after tiny white crabs on Tonka beach; on way home picking up a coconut.
Just imagine Shalini Rajneesh grows up into her adolescence and joins her parents fishing trade in canoes navigating waves of Arabian Sea and Badgini. Imagine Shalini getting well versed not just in fish trade but also getting connected to the surrounding ecology that involves fish breeding and learns that good fish needs good water.
Imaging young Shalini as 17 years old girl in 1977. She is in house and suddenly there is a roar of the waters. Sharavathi river that flew into Arabian Sea four kilometers to South of her house changes course and invades Shalini's land, house, everything under water. Shalini being from fishing community like everyone else is an expert swimmer. She plunged in the water and saves her life. Imagine the entire village that Shalini spend 17 years going under water. The courage of fishers caused no casualties of the floods. People however turned into ecological refugees. As she being smarts understood that Sharavathi changed its flow due to construction of dam holding water as form of progress.
Change of course of Sharavathi river has been the major ecological factor that defines life in Kasarkod Tonka-1 and Tonka-2 ever since. These are 6,000 people in search of home in 1977.
Imagine government of Karnataka understanding the plight of Shalini and her villagers hardships without a House to make a home and allotting land one year later in 1978. People purchase the land. Hence the land in Kasarkod-Tonka is a private land inhabitated by people is a private land. Not a Port land.
Port land on government maps is the land located to the South of Sharavathi river's original mouth flow before 1977 floods which is 04 kilometers South of current mouth of Sharavathi river. River changed its mouth. Government maps did not incorporate on the ground physical change in geography since 1977. Such horrendous is this cartographic crime. Just imagine if Shalini had to be born in Tonka she would uphold dreams people of Tonka high in the sky, above the sun and not push the entire village into despair created by Karnataka administration.
Just imagine if Shalini was born in Tonka-Kasarkod she would strenly hold hand of her husband Rajneesh Goel who served as Chief Secretary of Karnataka till July 30, 2024 when plans were getting formed to unleash police violence on people of Kasarkod in January 2024. Rajneesh Goel allowed cartographic crime to dictate forms of development and progress. Here is the video as to how this police repression was unleashed by Karnataka administration headed by Rajneesh Goel in January 2024:
https://youtu.be/GhYXkFNGqws?si=jLWtdkZB-2FYnDyj
Involvement of the office of Chief Secretary in Kasarkod- Tonka in supporting Honnavar Private Port Limited is revealed clearly on record in letter dated 21 May 2025 written by Karwar Deputy Commisioner Laxmi Priya to Chief Executive Officer, Karnataka Maritime Board. She specifically recorded involvement of Chief Secretary in police violence on Kasarkod-Tonka villagers on February 25, 2025. Honnavar Port issue was "discussed in every meeting chaired by Honorable Chief Secretary", letter notes:
https://bharatmukti.blogspot.com/2026/07/karwar-deputy-commissioner-records.html?m=1
And who was the Chief Secretary those days? Its none other than Shalini Rajneesh. Just imagine if Shalini was born in Kasarkod-Tonka; she would fight for her fisher people tooth and nail instead of trumpeting the cause of private company engaged in destroying not just a livelihood and ecology massively but also destroying the very culture and identy of fisher people. Imagine if Shalini Rajneesh was amongst fisher folks like Roja Tandel or Parvati Tandel or Apeksha Tandel. Yes, just imagine! Shalini would tear apart dreams of progress and development through all pervasive, a destructive Port-led mess.
Imagine if Shalini was not as distant to fishers of Kasarkod as she is now. Imagine women and men, children and youth talking - and just imagine - sharing meals daily with Shalini. Just imagine how nice it would have been. This did did not happen on February 25, 2025. On that day full administration came cracking down violently on Kasarkod village. Men and women in Khaki had forgotten their name badges and buckle numbers somewhere. They were not hanging on their chests, their shoulders. That day police turned beasts. Beating up people, arresting, hurling into police vans. Till date Shalini Rajneesh has not condemned this police violence. Here is online video of 2025 Kasarkod arrests:
https://youtu.be/E47KqgG5F6I?si=CUe6GenAkY4ZhYlK
First time it was proved that violence had no gender. Two women were commanding violence against Kasarkod-Tonka villagers. One woman was the Chief Secretary, Karnataka. The second one was Deputy Commisioner, Karwar. Their efforts yielded results. 24 men were detained in police custody for 24 days in Dharwad. 15 women who were arrested were left on the road mid-night. Government hospitals were very careful to avoid record of injuries due to police inflicted violence on their bodies. So sanitized were the public health system. Ahh just imagine if Shalini Rajneesh was amongst the women to share comraderies on 25 February 2025 night!
26 February 2025 Karwar district administration carried on survey under police protection of the houses and coconut trees that needs demolished to make way for the 15 metrs wide road over the existing houses. All together 180 houses are to be razed to the ground to make approach road to the Port Construction site. If Shalini Rajneesh was a fisher of Kasarkod she would have called a bluff for sure! Yet, it's not.
And we would simply listen to her in awe the way she would tear into the two EIA reports and absence of public hearing before Environmental Clearance. Imagine Shalini Rajneesh was born in fishing family of Kasarkod-Tonka! She would not treat Kasarkod-Tonka and all of us here as alien enemies to be purged up for the greater glory of HPPL.
Ahh, we wish Shalini was born in Kasarkod-Tonka! Our lives would have been so much fun!
Shalini Rajneesh has another full year in office before she retires at end July 2027. We invite her to come and stay with us for a month at least. To understand and know that we are not the enemies of progress and development but it's just that our definitions are more like the definition given by Prime Minister of India from who we hear "sabka Sath, sabka vikas". Current policy of Karnataka government in Honnavar is "HPPL ka Sath, baki sabka vinash".
This is true, very true Shalini Rajneesh. All the boulders that big and very big trucks carried and dumped stones has defaced and vandalized the beach. And turtles are in actual sorrow for the Port company has installed solar lights at night scientifically known as Artificial Lighting At Night (ALAN) to ensure Olive Ridley Turtles don't turn up to lay the eggs so that turtle eggs plantation theory gains credibility. Turtle plantation theory holds that local people of Kasarkod get tutle eggs from far-away places and plant them on Kasarkod- Tonka beach in order to defeat the Port project. This theory is put forth by HPPL. Such a cruel bunch of guys around here.
Shalini Rajneesh has another full year in office before she retires at end July 2027. We invite her to come and stay with us for a month at least. To understand and know that we are not the enemies of progress and development but it's just that our definitions are more like the definition given by Prime Minister of India from who we hear "sabka Sath, sabka vikas". Current policy of Karnataka government in Honnavar is "HPPL ka Sath, baki sabka vinash".
This is true, very true Shalini Rajneesh. All the boulders that big and very big trucks carried and dumped stones has defaced and vandalized the beach. And turtles are in actual sorrow for the Port company has installed solar lights at night scientifically known as Artificial Lighting At Night (ALAN) to ensure Olive Ridley Turtles don't turn up to lay the eggs so that turtle eggs plantation theory gains credibility. Turtle plantation theory holds that local people of Kasarkod get tutle eggs from far-away places and plant them on Kasarkod- Tonka beach in order to defeat the Port project. This theory is put forth by HPPL. Such a cruel bunch of guys around here.
And we want to tell you something more. All the electric poles and electric wires are uprooted and submerged in sands. You must visit us to see the real dangerous beach spectacle.
More to tell you that the Port portion constructed is washed off in the waters. Other portion of Port Construction work has placed big bounders and huge Grey stones in our fishing waters of Sharavathi destroying fish breeding sites permanently. It's terrible.
Just imagine if Shalini Rajneesh was born in Kasarkod-Tonka village in Honnavar! What a life it would have been! What a voice she would have been! She would have never been brainwashed by Raghavebdra Reddy and some more Reddys as Board of Directors of HPPL. Yes, she would have stood as tigress in defence of Kasarkod-Tonka.
Let's keep imagining without limits. Let's imagine under the sun. Let's imagine above the Sun. Let's imagine Shalini Rajneesh is born in Kasarkod-Tonka!
Let's dare imagine ever to defend Karsarkod Tonka forever!
We truly support you Shalini Rajneesh. We expect support from you rather than getting Port to bulldoze our lives. Hope and pray that your third years in office of Chief Secretary would make difference to fisher people of Tonka-Kasarkod, Honnavar.
Sebastian Rodrigues
General Secretary
National Federation of Small-Scale Fishworkers (NFSF)
Phone: 9923336347
