50 Years of Chipko Movement
Kartavya Desk Staff
#### GS Paper 1
Syllabus: Women/Environment Movement in Indian Society
Source: DTE
Context: The Chipko movement, which originated in the 1970s in the Himalayan villages of Reni and Mandal, marked its 50th anniversary recently.
What was the Chipko movement?
The Chipko movement was a non-violent protest that began in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand (then Uttar Pradesh), India, in 1973. Led by environmental activists such as Sundarlal Bahuguna and Gaura Devi, among others, the movement aimed to prevent the felling of trees in the Himalayan region. The name “Chipko” comes from the Hindi word meaning “embrace,” as villagers hugged the trees to prevent their cutting.
The original Chipko movement dates back to 1730 when Amrita Devi Bishnoi and over 300 others from the Bishnoi sect sacrificed their lives protesting the felling of Khejarli trees in Rajasthan.)
Impact of Chipko Movement:
Impact | Description
Environmental Awareness and Conservation | Raised awareness about deforestation and the importance of conserving forests.
Push to Eco-Feminism | Eco-feminism is a philosophical and political movement exploring the links between ecological issues and women’s experiences.
It recognizes the importance of traditional knowledge, often held and transmitted by women, in promoting sustainable practices.
The Chipko movement exemplifies the collective involvement of women in forest conservation, reflecting the principles of Eco-feminism
Local Empowerment | Empowered local communities, particularly women, in protecting natural resources.
Policy Changes | Contributed to the formulation of policies for forest conservation and sustainable resource management.
Inspiration for Similar Movements | Inspired similar movements globally, emphasizing nonviolent direct action and community involvement.
Global Environmental Movement | Became a symbol of the global environmental movement, highlighting grassroots activism.
Recognition of Women’s Role | Challenged traditional gender roles, recognizing women’s crucial role in conservation.
Economic and Cultural Impact | Helped preserve traditional livelihoods and cultural practices linked to the environment.
Education and Research | Spurred interest in environmental science and sustainable development research.
Forest Protection and Regeneration | Protected forests from destruction, aiding in regeneration and ecological benefits.
Other such movements include:
Movement | Year | Place | Leaders | Aim
Save Silent Valley Movement | 1978 | Silent Valley, Palakkad district, Kerala | Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP), Sughathakumari | Protection of Silent Valley from a hydroelectric project
Jungle Bachao Andholan | 1982 | Singhbhum district, Bihar | Tribals of Singhbhum | Against replacing natural sal forest with Teak
Appiko movement | 1983 | Uttara Kannada and Shimoga districts, Karnataka | Pandurang Hegde (facilitator) | Opposition to felling and commercialization of natural forests and ancient livelihood
Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA) | 1985 | Narmada River, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra | Medha Patker, Baba Amte, Adivasis, farmers, environmentalists, human rights activists | The movement against the construction of large dams on the Narmada River
Tehri Dam Conflict | 1990s | Bhagirathi River, Tehri, Uttarakhand | Sundarlal Bahuguna | Protest against displacement of town inhabitants and environmental consequences of weak ecosystem
Save Dehing-Patkai | 2020 | Assam | Adil Hussain, Randeep Hooda, Joi Barua, Jadav Payeng, members of AASU, AAMYU | Opposition to opencast mining in Dehing-Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary
Save the Sundarbans | 2020 | West Bengal | Response to cyclone Amphan, aiming to protect the Sundarbans from further environmental degradation and provide support to affected communities
Need of ‘New Chipko Movement’ at the time of environmental crisis.
• “We will endure sticks and bullets but save our trees” – these were the kind of slogans and spirit with which we had conducted the chipko movement in the 1970s and 1980s. A similar spirit needs to be displayed and all sections of society have to unite to prevent further degradation of the environment.
• People should rise and demand from the government their right to live. Apart from saving trees, this time there is a need to fight for clean air, and pure water too.
• There is a need to have a separate environmental vision document by the government, especially for Urban India. Given the recent events, political parties should expect the environment to become a focal campaign point, at least in cities.
• There is also a need for an environmental roadmap from the administration and the executive.
• It is important to study the steps taken by other countries. For instance, SO2 pollution declined by 75% in China over the last decade while in India it increased by 50%. In China, the SO2 controls were imposed on coal power plants while in the case of India, the measures are delayed until 2022 in some cases.
Conclusion
The Chipko Movement in the 1970s proved as a tipping point for environmental causes not just in India but the rest of the world as well. There is a need for a “Chipko 2.0”, this time led by the coordination of society and political class.
About Sunderlal Bahuguna (1927-2021):
He spearheaded the Chipko movement in the 1970s to protect trees in the Himalayas, popularizing the slogan “*ecology is permanent economy.” He advocated for the integration of ecology and economy, emphasizing their interconnectedness. Bahuguna protested against the Tehri Dam project, undertaking a 56-day fast. He also led a 4,800 km padayatra from Kashmir to Kohima to raise awareness about Himalayan issues. Bahuguna supported women-led movements against the liquor mafia and championed the Beej Bachao Andolan to preserve Himalayan biodiversity. He received the Padma Vibhushan in 2009* for his environmental activism.
Mains Links:
‘Women’s movement in India has not addressed the issues of women of lower social strata.’ Substantiate your view. (UPSC 2018)