Sunderlal Bahuguna, a prominent Gandhian and the leading force behind the Chipko movement, recently passed away due to Covid-19. Sunderlal’s relentless efforts towards protecting the environment drew significant global attention to environmental preservation and ecology. The Chipko movement he initiated was especially known for its unique form of nonviolent protest, with villagers embracing trees to protect them from being cut down.
Understanding the Chipko Movement
The Chipko movement originated in Uttar Pradesh’s Chamoli district (now Uttarakhand) in 1973 as a non-violent agitation. The term ‘Chipko’ is derived from the word ’embrace,’ which signifies how villagers hugged the trees to prevent them from being hacked. This movement is best remembered for the collective mobilisation of women to conserve forests and change societal attitudes towards their status.
One of the major successes of the Chipko movement was creating awareness about forest rights and demonstrating how grassroots activism can impact policy-making regarding ecology and shared natural resources. As a result of this movement, a ban was enforced on commercial felling of trees above 30 degrees slope and above 1,000 msl (mean sea level) in 1981.
Sunderlal Bahuguna: A Life Dedicated to Ecology
Sunderlal Bahuguna (1927-2021) initiated the Chipko movement to protect trees on the Himalayan slopes. He is famously known for coining the Chipko slogan ‘ecology is permanent economy.’ After the success of the Chipko movement during the 1970s, he propagated the idea worldwide that ecology and ecosystems are crucial.
Bahuguna believed in the harmonious coexistence of ecology and economy. He campaigned extensively against the construction of the Tehri Dam on River Bhagirathi, a project with potentially disastrous environmental consequences. In protest, he undertook one of India’s longest fasts after Independence, over 56 days.
Other Environmental Initiatives
Besides leading the Chipko movement, Bahuguna walked 4,800 km from Kashmir to Kohima in the early 1980s, aiming to raise awareness about the entire Himalayan region. He also supported women-led movements against the liquor mafia in the hills and the Beej Bachao Andolan, an initiative to protect the Himalayan agricultural biodiversity from being destroyed by the chemical-intensive Green Revolution. For his contributions to environmental conservation, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2009.
Continuing Legacy of Major Environmental Movements in India
The legacy of Sunderlal Bahuguna lives on, inspiring new generations to advocate for environmental protection. His work laid the foundation for many later environmental movements in India, propelling a powerful force for change that continues to shape the country’s ecological policies and practices to this day.
