Chipko Movement turns 45: Non Violent Andolan which taught us the value of trees

Mumbai, March 26: Today is the 45th Anniversary of the Chipko Movement. The Google Doodle '45th Anniversary of the Chipko Movement' title is made from the title of 26 March to refresh the memories of 'Chipko movement' associated with saving trees and environment. The Chipko movement was initiated by farmers to oppose the deforestation in Uttarakhand. They were annoying at the trees cut by the hands of contractors of the state forest department and claiming their claim on them.

The movement started in 1973 in Chamoli district. It reached every quarter of Uttarakhand within a decade. The leader of this movement was Sunderlal Lal Bahuguna. Under this movement, people used to cling to trees and prevent them from cutting. Sunderlal Bahuguna is also known as Vrikshamitra due to this reason. Women played a key role in this movement.

The highlight of this movement was that most of the women were standing in the woods, which were shown in the doodle. This means that most women were involved in the movement.

Not only this but to tell you that the leader of the Chipko movement, the well-known environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, was involved in the hard work of a lady Gauradevi.

Devi and her group of men and women villagers sprung into action, using Gandhi’s method of non-violent protest to protect the forest. On the day the trees were to be cut, however, the men of Rani had been called away, leaving only the women to confront the loggers. Gaura and 27 women marched into the forest that day, protecting the trees by hugging them. If the loggers wanted to cut the trees, she said, they would have to go through the women first. For three days and three nights, the women hugged the trees, spreading their message of humans tied to the environment, stating that to ruin the forest is to destroy humanity’s chances of survival. On the fourth day, the ax-bearing men left. It was a great victory for Gaura Devi and her group who became known as the Chipko Movement.

Their victory not only saved the forest but was the first all-female environmental protection movement.