Amrita Devi – First Tree Hugger of Bishnoi Village: Gruesome Story
From Jodhpur we took a tour to Khejarli Bishnoi village 25 km south-east to the city. I had read so much about Amrita Devi Bishnoi of Khejarli village, famous for being the first to start tree hugging – Chipko Movement (the name got famous later) I included it in my itinerary of must see places in and around Jodhpur.
Khejarli village is a mute witness to the first documented and one of the greatest green movement in India. Amrita Devi, the brave lady of Khejarli, sacrificed her life in the year 1730 to protect the Khejri trees of her village. She belonged to Bishnoi community. Bishnois strictly forbid the harming of trees and animals. The religion was founded by Guru Maharaj Jambaji in 1485 AD in Marwar (Jodhpur) Rajasthan, India.
363 Shahid Nagar Jodhpur Rajasthan
Story of Gruesome killing of Amrita Devi
Silence at Khejarli Village of Bishnois
When we arrived at the site, there was absolute silence interrupted now and then by peacock calls. The caretaker of the place greeted us with folded hands. He showed us around the place and recalled the story he heard from his seniors.
The story of Gruesome killing of Amrita Devi, the first tree hugger, is like this:
In the year 1731, King Abhay Singh of Jodhpur was expanding and renovating his fort. He instructed his minister, Giridhar Bhandari to collect the Khejri wood required for the construction.
The wood had to be collected from Khejarli village where the trees grew in plenty. What the minister didn’t foresee was that there would be stiff opposition from the villagers belonging to the Bishnoi community, to the felling of the trees.
Amrita Devi Bishnoi – first tree hugger of Khejri tree in Khejarli Village
Old Khejri Tree
Amrita Devi, a female villager, and her 3 daughters were the first to oppose.
First Amrita Devi fell, then her daughters Asu, Ratni and Bhagu emulated her and were victims of merciless slaying of King’s men.
They hugged the trees and chanted, “seir, santhe runkh raheb, to bhee sasto jaan.” (it is still a small price to pay if at cost of my head the tree is saved).
A King’s order is an order and their heads rolled down. But the villagers were not scared, their place was taken by other villagers, then others and so it went on…
The news spread, when King heard the news he came rushing to Khejarli village to stop the merciless slaying of the villagers. By then 363 villagers had sacrificed themselves.
Amrita Devi Bishnoi, Khejarli village
I stood in a trance listening to the story from the guide, a lump in my throat…
King Abhay Singh immediately declared that no trees would be cut, he personally apologized to the villagers. The place where this Bishnoi movement took place was renamed Sahid Nagar (Martyr’s town).
Khejri tree leaves
Khejri Trees
The Khejri trees, Prosopis Cineraria (Mimosaceae), adapt very well to desert conditions.
Roots of Khejri trees grow a few hundred feet down into the earth to reach water. They have edible pods and leaves that are used for fodder. Even the bark is consumed in times of famine.
Khejri tree yields a pale to amber colored gum with properties similar of gum acacias, and used for medicinal purposes.
Bark and leaf galls are useful too, especially for tanning. Since all the parts of the tree are useful, locals, especially the Bishnois, revere it.
The other names for the tree are: kalp taru, king of desert, and wonder tree.
Khejri tree leaves
363 Shahid Nagar, Khejarli Village
So, this was the first Chipko movement (hug the tree to oppose cutting down) in Khejarli village of Rajasthan. Bishnois are known as the first environmentalists of India.
However, it is the second similar incident in 1973 in a remote village of Himalaya attracted more global attention and support. Chipko Movement, initiated by a group of Sarvodaya workers (followers of Mahatma Gandhi’s disciple Vinoba Bhave), originated in Chamoli.
Bishnoi temple in honor of victims of Khejarli Massacre
Cenotaph commemorating the Bishnoi villagers who sacrificed their lives in 1731 AD protecting trees
A board stands there today in honor of the martyrs. The faded yellow board (first picture) is the lone reminder to the present and the future of this gruesome massacre. And it also inspires to fight and protect trees.
Every year in September, Bishnoi community offer prayers to the martyrs. Villagers from other villages too pour in to offer their respects. There is no doubt places like this opens you up in a strange way!
National Award in Honor of Amrita Devi Bishnoi
Amrita Devi Bishnoi National Award for Wildlife Conservation is given in the remembrance of the contribution of Amrita Devi and 362 other villagers, including her young daughters for the conservation of Khejri tree.
The award is given for significant contribution and exemplary work done for the protection of wildlife in the country.
Sanctuary named in honor of Amrita Devi Bishnoi
Did you know there is a wild life sanctuary named after this brave lady? It is the Black Buck (Deer) Sanctuary in Jodhpur. It is located adjacent to Guda Bishnoi Lake.
How to Reach Khejarli Village
Take the route to Khejarli Village from Jodhpur via RJ SH61. The distance is approximately 25 km and time to travel is approx. 45 minutes. Jodhpur in Rajasthan is well connected by air, road and rail.
There are private taxi services and state run transport buses to the village. The hotel staff where you intend to stay can also help you.
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(This post was published first on Nov 13th, 2008.)
So beautifully penned down the pain. good post.
A King’s order is an order and their heads rolled down. But the villagers were not scared, their place was taken by other villagers, then others and so it went on… The news spread, when King heard the news he came rushing to Khejarli village to stop the merciless slaying of the villagers. By then 363 villagers had sacrificed themselves. I think “Chipko Movement” will be inspired from these villagers . Amazing story . Bishnoi society is very committed for their rituals .
Quite an interesting chapter from the pages of history. Did they love their trees more than their lives. People are truly difficult to stereotype .. sometimes facts are strangers than tales
Missed out on Bishnoi village during our trip to Jodhpur. Deeply regret not visiting this place after reading the lovely story. Thanks for sharing Indrani 🙂
Worth reading.Thanks for sharing the story. So sad to know about the courageous villagers who died for saving the environment.
Cheers,
Sriram & Krithiga
The Bishnois were indeed a courageous community to give their lives to save the trees.
That was a story we ought to know. Thank you for telling it to us, Indrani.
Thank you as I was unaware of this story and you have put the gist in so simple words.
Very Touching.
Very interesting read. The way you present the story is simply adorable
What a wonderful story it is Indrani. If only people still guarded trees that way!
wish we were all as concerned about environment, thanks for sharing
That’s a great story about hugging trees. Well sad but interesting. I didn’t know that story at all.
Thanks for stopping by and reading about Diesel. The mare we had Shadow, she came through the strangles ok.
Indrani, thanks for that lovely, heart-wrenching story. What faith, what courage, and as usual middlemen misusing the authority of a good king. You have said the story so well.
And of course, as usual, great pictures.
Wow…very interesting!!!
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wow, really interesting….nice to know about these trees. This post deserves to be on FORT mysore as well.
That was interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for such an interesting post! 🙂
Thank you for the lesson in history. It brought great respect to those who lost their lives!!
Incredible tree!
Your tales and photos are always just so FASCINATING!!
Hi Indrani! Sorry for the long delay in coming here, but the last two weeks were too hectic!
Finally I managed to get to your blog, and see some wonderful pictures! Loved the Demoiselle Cranes! Stunning! Almost as the flamingos in Lake Nakyuru, Kenya…
And this story is quite touching!!
Meanwhile Blogtrotter is back to Greece in November 2007! Hope you enjoy and have a great weekend!
Oh that’s so sad! And beautiful.
. . . wow – love the photo of the tree
Great story and great Pics Indrani.
Swarna, really sad – even the water that would have watered the tree would sell for more.
It is a beautiful story and a beautiful tree. But hearing the story and understanding the message it is meant to convey, I am most impressed by something that seems inconceivable: Is it really possible that on the one hand people would sacrifice their lives so easily, on the other hand people who could be related to them could so easily take those lives? Or is this a purely symbolic legend?
Maybe I shouldn’t ask.. the answer is obvious from the news everywhere. People are mass-murdered for things less valuable than a tree. (But rarely sacrificing themselves.)
That story brings on several lumps – every time. Makes me think – for all our writing and complaining about tree-felling – do we love them enough? – will we do the same if we encountered the situation?
That is fantastic! Thank you so much, I love when my bad habit of sitting in front of a computer pays off and I actually learn something 🙂
Lovely photos….. fascinating tale. Gruesome thing to have done. Brave though! I don’t suppose any of us would give up our lives for trees!
Amazing story. The first photo looks like two trees hugging each other.
I love it. Thank you for the story and explanation of where “treehuggers” came from….I like to fancy myself one of them.
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What an amazing looking tree!!
I love the trunk of that tree — it’s so unique!
And, thank you for sharing that story. 🙂
PSF – Cruel and Unusual Punishment
The tree is beautiful. It is a humbling story though. What amazing dedication these people had to their beliefs of what to stand up for.
A Govt water project sets the compensation price for 2884 trees – Khejri and 35 other species – at an average of Rs 750. (Bilaspur Water Supply Project – Resettlement plan)
We humans do persist with our weird ideas of development….
Wow, this is so interesting!
Was so touching to read about the chipko movement, the sacrifices, the misuse of King’s authority and the King’s gesture.
All volunteers who want to save trees, please raise your hand..!!
wow!
a wonderful post indeed! thank you for sharing such interesting information..
very interesting post as always Indrani ..I liked the way you narrated it
Hello !
Thank You for this lesson of History…
Very sad, isn’t it ?
That’s just beautiful. So well told and illustrated. I learn so much here.
Hi Indrani!
Good post..Atleast myths or such remembrances through history would help India be on the track it were..
I loved the photo of the tree (first one)..i just revel at the turns and twists they take as they grow…
Good One Indrani!
wishes!
devika
very interesting post today