Chipko Andolan
March 26, 1974.
Chipko movement did not start today.Well, not technically. But the landmark moment in the movement's history came on this day in 1974 when a group of local peasant women in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, India prevented the felling of trees by hugging them. At a time when there was hardly any environmental movement going on India or any other developing nation, for that matter, this movement captured the attention of the world.
Among the pioneers of the movement were Chandi Prasad Bhatt (who was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay award for the same) and Sundarlal Bahuguna (who first 'politely' refused the Padma Shree in 1989 but was recently awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2009.)
The movement was a great success as it resulted in bans on commercial felling of trees in the Himalayan forests. It is regarded as a socio-economic revolution since it brought the control of the forests and its resources to the local people from the hands of a babu who did not care anyway.
Among the pioneers of the movement were Chandi Prasad Bhatt (who was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay award for the same) and Sundarlal Bahuguna (who first 'politely' refused the Padma Shree in 1989 but was recently awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2009.)
The movement was a great success as it resulted in bans on commercial felling of trees in the Himalayan forests. It is regarded as a socio-economic revolution since it brought the control of the forests and its resources to the local people from the hands of a babu who did not care anyway.
Read the wiki link for more about Sundarlal Bahuguna:
During the Anti- Tehri Dam protests he said:
"We in Himalaya are facing a crisis of survival due to the suicidal activities being carried out in the name of development... The monstrous Tehri dam is a symbol of this... There is need for a new and long-term policy to protect the dying Himalaya. I do not want to see the death of the most sacred river of the world - the Ganga - for short-term economic gains."
--Sunderlal Bahuguna
The dam was completed in 2006.
-- Post by Khanderao
During the Anti- Tehri Dam protests he said:
"We in Himalaya are facing a crisis of survival due to the suicidal activities being carried out in the name of development... The monstrous Tehri dam is a symbol of this... There is need for a new and long-term policy to protect the dying Himalaya. I do not want to see the death of the most sacred river of the world - the Ganga - for short-term economic gains."
--Sunderlal Bahuguna
The dam was completed in 2006.
-- Post by Khanderao
