TIO BHOPAL
Unseen MP, the premier platform dedicated to documenting the cultural and historical landscape of Madhya Pradesh, hosted a profound history walk today centered on the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. The event brought together citizens, history enthusiasts, and survivors to move beyond the “accident” narrative and examine the systemic failures, regulatory gaps, and human cost of the 1984 disaster.
The walk served as a critical platform for deconstructing the tragedy’s timeline, starting from the inception of the Union Carbide plant in 1969 to the ongoing legal battles for justice. By integrating expert research with lived experiences, the event provided a space for participants to process the collective trauma that continues to shape the identity of Bhopal.
The discussion focused on several key pillars:
- The Accumulation of Failures: How cost-cutting and ignored warnings led to catastrophe.
- Corporate Ethics: A critical analysis of Union Carbide prioritising profit over human lives.
- The Journalist’s Lens: First-hand accounts from Shashi Keswani, the veteran journalist who led ground reporting during the incident.
- The Human Cost: Contributions from the Sambhavna Trust regarding the medical and social aftermath.
The Objective of Unseen MP
Unseen MP is driven by a singular mission: to put the ‘Seen’ in ‘Unseen’ MP. The organization seeks to challenge the narrative that Madhya Pradesh lacks depth, instead showcasing it as a land where heritage, nature, and community intersect. By transitioning from digital storytelling to Unseen MP Offline, the objective is to build a tangible community of explorers who connect with the state’s forts, forests, and untold stories in person, ultimately making Madhya Pradesh the #1 choice for tourism in India.
Meet the Hosts
- Arunika Mathur (Chief of Research & Heritage Expert): A historian from Miranda House (DU), Arunika has led 100+ walks since 2019. Her work focuses on reclaiming Bhopal’s identity beyond the tragedy, highlighting its unique history as a city nurtured by four generations of female rulers.
- Rounak Anand (Founder & Content Creator): A self-taught creator from MP, Rounak founded Unseen MP to document the “unseen” stories of his home state. His digital initiatives now reach over 6 million people monthly, bridging the gap between local culture and a global audience.
About Unseen MP: Unseen MP is a community-driven platform with over 2 lakh followers, dedicated to highlighting the heritage and culture of Madhya Pradesh. Through its “Offline” initiative, it facilitates in-person gatherings and heritage walks to foster a deeper connection with the state’s roots.
