Man mobilizes thousands to save India’s jungles

India’s noted environmentalist, Sunder Lal Bahuguna came up with Chipko (hug the trees) movement, through which he could move thousands of individuals to contribute their efforts in saving the forests of the country.

Sunderlal was born in 1927 in Uttarakhand’s Tehri village. He joined the freedom struggle at the age of 13 and was also imprisoned for it at 17. He was also into politics later, but it was only in 1949, he was inspired to begin social work, after meeting social activists Mira Behn and Thakkar Bapa. Fortunately, he also had an ample support from his wife Vimala Bahuguna for whatever he did.

“Initially, I believed politics was a way to make a substantial change in society. But Vimala inspired me to look deeper. With her support and the guidance of a few others, I realised that to make a real change, I would need to step out from my bubble, and live among the masses in the rural and remote parts of the country. I needed to understand their everyday issues and whether at all government policies helped them,”Sunder Lal said.

The 92-year-old initially aimed to go against the caste system, by launching a school for manual scavengers. He was committed to it, even though he faced a huge flak from all his close circles and upper castes. Not stopping there, he also enabled temple entry for Harijans, inspired from Mahatma Gandhi’s principles.

11 years later, Sunder Lal found his calling. “It was during my work there that I became more aware of the depleting condition of our life source, the forests,” he adds.

Responding to Vinoba Bhave’s call, Sunder Lal in 1960, has joined padayatras across the hills to propagate his message across seven districts. It was then he was able to understand the reality of ecological degradation in the upper catchments of Himalayan rivers, mostly due to rampant deforestation.

He could draw the attention of thousands of individuals across the country, to the imminent danger of floods in the Himalayas, in 1972, and thus was successful in laying the foundation for the ‘Chipko’ Movement.

“Today, the Himalayas are calling you. Wake up my son, do not allow my auction. Protect me from being slaughtered,” is one of the many insightful quotes that inspired thousands to answer his call.

Dhoom Singh Negi, one of the followers of Sunder Lal said, “I met him around 1964, and since then, his memories have been imprinted in my heart. I remember how he would repeatedly tell us to not wait for tomorrow. ‘Do what you will today and not wait for tomorrow!’ he would say. The way he would dedicate himself with all humility, to people and nature, inspired all of us to follow.”

To educate people about the significance of harmonic living, Sunderlal began long foot marches along the hilly regions. Starting with a 120-day walk in 1973, he participated in 2,800 km walk in 1975 in Uttarakhand and a 4,870 km walk from Kashmir to Kohima from 1981-83.

The Uttar Pradesh government then had to take a strong stand, owing to Sunderlal’s efforts. The government which had been felling trees for commercial purposes had to stop doing it, due to the compassionate fight of Sunderlal.

“Among other things, the Chipko Movement was also one of the first movements in India which witnessed an uprising of women. Women from villages, who usually spend their lives indoors, stepped out with the weapon of compassion to protect mother nature. It was extremely empowering,” Vimala said.

Bowing down to his efforts, reputed institutions like UNEP, ILO United Nations University as well as FAO granted him several accolades. Identified as India’s most prominent environmentalists, he was joined late Richard St Barbe Baker. Popularly known as the Man of Trees, Baker spread the call of the Chipko Movement across 108 countries.

In 1986, Sunder Lal also received the Jamnalal Bajaj Award for Constructive Work. He also rejected Padma Vibhushan in 1981, saying, “I would remain unfit for such an award till the flesh and blood of Mother India, in the form of precious topsoil from the Himalayas, flows down to the sea due to tree felling.”

Sunder Lal has reached out to the most remote parts of the country and made a mark for himself, thus paving a way for many to consider it as a legacy.