What is the Chipko movement?
August 29, 2007 by Eugene
Filed under Education and Environmentalism, Nature and Biodiversity
The Chipko movement is a non-violent movement started by Indian villagers in the 1970s and 1980s, to protest against the destruction of trees and forests, which were important resources that they depend on. The movement started in the Chamoli district in 1973 and spread throughout India. Chipko activists would protest against the cutting down of trees by hugging them and preventing the workers from doing their job. This action represents the name of the movement as Chipko means “embrace”. They are probably Asia’s first treehuggers.
An interesting thing about the movement was that its leaders and activists were mostly women from the rural villages, as they were directly affected by the deforestation. One major milestone for the Chipko movement was the 15-year ban on the cutting of trees in the Himalayan forests of Uttar Pradesh in 1980, which was ordered by the Indian Prime Minister after protests and appeals by the activists.
More resources on the Chipko movement and heritage can be found at the Nanda Devi Campaign website.
Sunderlal Bahuguna, a leading Chipko figure once said:
The solution of present-day problems lie in the re-establishment of a harmonious relationship between man and nature. To keep this relationship permanent we will have to digest the definition of real development: development is synonymous with culture. When we sublimate nature in a way that we achieve peace, happiness, prosperity and, ultimately, fulfilment along with satisfying our basic needs, we march towards culture.
Can we achieve development and still maintain our harmonious relationship with nature? Or in other words, can we achieve sustainable development? This is a challenge for us and some might say it is impossible to reconcile nature and humans. Try saying that to the Chipko villagers. My guess is that their reply would be, “Impossible is nothing. Just do it.”
Source: International Institute for Sustainable Development; India Together; Wikipedia. Photo credit: Ceti (The photo shows the surviving members of the original Reni squad at the Chipko 30th Anniversary 2004).
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