50 years of #Chipko (March 26, 1974 - March 26, 2024) Today marks 50 years since Gaura Devi of Reni village in Chamoli district in #Uttarakhand & her fearless companions stared down the barrel of a gun, refusing to allow the contractors men & employees of forest dept to butcher the forest they called home. Gaura, along with 20 women & seven girls present with her on March the 26th, 1974 told the drunk forest guard that she would face bullets before any harm be done to the ecosystem that was crucial to their sustenance. Gaura, with the Rishi Ganga river flowing below her & Nanda Devi looming large beyond that, told the men not to cut the forest saying that it was their maika (maternal home). They claimed that cutting of the trees would cause their village to flood, as the forest served as a natural blockade for surrounding rivers. The act of ‘hugging trees’ was becoming common in nearby villages, yet it was this moment of defiance that catapulted ‘Chipko’ movement to a national & eventually, international stage. Renowned social activist Chandi Prasad Bhatt along with others made his way to Reni upon hearing the news. The ensuing national attention made it virtually impossible for those looking to profit from destruction of the forest. It is a testament to the power of non-violent & community-centric endeavors, & goes to show that more often than not, taking a stand against what is wrong is more than half the battle. Today, it remains the most prominent forest conservation movement to have emerged from Uttarakhand & its prevalence continues to ring loud & clear. Although Reni’s name is one that can never be forgotten because of the resounding impact that the Chipko movement had, what most people don’t know is that Reni today is almost inhabitable. This is because of multiple floods the area has faced over the past few years, with geologists suggesting that the residents should relocate. What makes this predicament unfortunate is that the damage done to Reni & countless villages in Uttarakhand has occurred due to man-made natural disasters. Deforestation, building of massive roads & hydro projects have left the mountains gasping for air. Will we need to wait for the next Gaura Devi before we realize that the same things that applied in 1974 apply today? We must protect our jal, jungle and jameen (forests, land and water) and learn to live in harmony within the ecosystem we are so lucky to be a part of. Finally, let’s draw some inspiration from Gaura Devi’s efforts while accepting that holding onto nostalgic victories alone will not solve the massive challenges we face today. With the climate crisis exacerbating matters, its in many ways a herculean challenge to humanity & all else that's a part of the fragile ecosystem. Yet, let us celebrate the fearless courage of the women of Reni & try invoking a bit of Gaura in our own selves. Perhaps that would be the most apt remembrance on the 50th anniversary of the Chipko movement of Uttarakhand!
Seems like we all need to repeat this again, the entire city is in ruins after so much construction almost everywhere, as far as one can see, we are just silently watching the valley turning into a concrete valley
Reading a bit of Madhav Gadgil these days, and it goes into the reason for people to protest in this particular manner or a much maligned tree hugger. Chipko was a watershed moment and that’s what it remained. The denuded Himalayas and single species forests with still being the norm. The best possible way out of it, is to amend the forest act and give due rights to the natives than the sarkari babus.
I am taking the liberty to give a twist to the Name of this momentous Movement....CHIPKO...ChupKyon?
I had the privilege to visit Reni and nearby area in the company of Bhunesh Bhatt, the down-to-earth son of one of the Key protagonists of CHIPKO movement- Chandi Prasad Bhatt Ji- who I fondly call Chacha ji, in 1984. Bhunesh was then Project Officer, Garhwal, UP NEDA, and the Company I worked for had got the coveted contract to install Wind Battery Chargers, primarily for Security Posts in the upper reaches like Niti and Mana among other tough locations requiring days of hiking with my backpack loaded with the CKD Battery Charger & tools weighing over 20kgs besides 10 ft long 3 inch GI Pipe as mast. I was amazed how the movement had touched the lives if an entire generation which proudly showcased the 'saved' forests that in turn protected them from natural calamities. I strongly recommend an interesting & informative book- Basti Basti Parvat Parvat- an awe-inspiring travelogue of the elder Bhatt published by National Book Trust for insights of Devbhoomi as Uttrakhand is nicknamed.
Some of the most resilient people are women, more so women in the hills, Kumaon or Garhwal, they're alike, resilient and determined to make things better, improve humari dharohar, as you've rightly mentioned with jal, jungle aur jameen. Long due women get the support in strengthening the society they're deserving of! Quite a well put up article sir!
Can't digest that this happened 50 years ago. And, the cutting down of trees is still going on.
Need of the hour we need a #NewChipko movement all over India.
One Chipko Movement is needed in Jageshwar too
On both fronts environment sustainability and women empowerment the women from hills have always shown the way despite not much education but wisdom. Their detrimental role of having a separate statehood of Uttarakhand has brought new life on most of the social and financial indicators.
Founder and Director, Exploring Womanhood Foundation| IUCN Commission Member CEC| UNDP Member| Catalyst 2023| Owner and CEO EWC clothing brand | POSH certified trainer | Foxstory listed 100 under 40 | IUCN Member WCPA |
5moSir.. as per chipko andolan details there is no mention or reference which said "drunk forest guard" was there. Can you post the link or any cut out about drunk forest guard. How we can write wrong things...