About the Bishnoi Movement

Objectives of the Bishnoi Movement

• Ensuring an environmentally friendly community life through the preservation of biodiversity.
• Encouraging good personal hygiene practices for a healthy lifestyle.
• Campaigning against the deforestation of trees.
• Safeguarding biodiversity and promoting responsible animal husbandry.

Origin of the Bishnoi Movement

• It was one of the first organized movements for ecological conservation, wildlife protection, green living, and nature.

• The Maharaja of Jodhpur, Abhay Singh, wanted to build a new palace, for which he needed some wood. Therefore, he sent soldiers to collect the wood of khejri (acacia) trees from the forest region near the village of Khejrali on September 12, 1730.

• Bishnois were living near the place, but when they saw that the soldiers had begun to cut down the trees, a lady named Amrita Devi Bishnoi started hugging the trees to save them. Her slogan was “A chopped head is cheaper than a felled tree.”

• Soon after, her three daughters, Asu, Ratni, and Bhagu, also stood by their mother.

• The other inhabitants of the village rallied around the trees as well, putting their arms around the trunks in support.

• But the soldiers did not stop and started beheading the Bishnois. The soldiers continued to axe the trees down without paying heed to the requests of the people.

The Bishnoi Movement is one of the most important movements in India. This movement was started more than 300 years ago, during the 1700s (18th century). The movement is called the “Bishnoi Movement” because around 363 Bishnois died in the movement while saving trees. These people were the first to give up their lives to protect trees, back when the world wasn’t even aware of climate change.

Read below this article to find out some interesting facts about the historic Bishnoi movement, including its origin, objectives, and success.