Echoes of Chipko: Protests that changed Himalayan forest policy

By Bharat Dogra 

One of the most inspiring struggles I have covered in nearly five decades of development journalism was the movement to save Himalayan forests in Tehri Garhwal during the late 1970s.

Fresh out of college, I had boundless enthusiasm for reporting such initiatives. The greatest gift I received from this coverage was the lifelong friendships with activists and villagers, ties that have continued across generations of our families.

When I first began visiting Tehri Garhwal, the Chipko movement had already made news in other parts of Uttarakhand (then a part of Uttar Pradesh), largely focusing on local forest rights and small-scale village enterprises. But in Tehri Garhwal, in nearly a dozen campaigns between 1977 and 1980, the ecological dimension of forest protection came to the forefront.

These struggles succeeded in saving vast stretches of Himalayan forests from commercial exploitation, even though large-scale felling for development projects continued. They also contributed significantly to the rise of new social movements in the region and beyond.

At the core were Gandhian activists who believed in non-violent struggle. Sunderlal Bahuguna and Vimla Bahuguna led from the front, supported by dedicated colleagues like Kunwar Prasun, Dhum Singh Negi, Vijay Jardhari, and Pratap Shikhar. Village women such as Sudesha Devi, Bachni Devi, and Saumpa Devi emerged as fearless leaders, braving adverse conditions, even jail, to protect forests. Folk poet-activist Ghanshyam Sailani inspired many with his songs, while Gandhian disciple Sarla Behen provided moral guidance.

These activists linked ecology with justice. Kunwar Prasun, for instance, was deeply committed to the rights of Dalits and other oppressed communities. Chipko activists also stood with forest workers, championing their welfare alongside environmental protection.

Epicentres of Resistance

Henvalghati, along the Rishikesh–Chamba road, particularly villages like Jajal and Nagni, became a hub of resistance, while Badiyargad in the higher interior areas emerged as another. In 1977, when contractors weakened pine trees through excessive resin extraction, activists protested and symbolically applied mud to tree wounds. Investigations confirmed their complaints, leading to corrective measures.

The greater challenge, however, was the large-scale auctioning of forests for commercial felling. Activists pleaded with officials to reconsider, pointing out the dangers of landslides, floods, water scarcity, and fodder shortages. When ignored, villagers pledged to launch Chipko actions.

Women played a central role—tying sacred threads to trees, fasting in solidarity, and hugging trees when loggers arrived. In Salet forest, Kashmiri migrant workers employed by contractors abandoned the work after being moved by villagers’ courage. In Advani forest, a 13-year-old boy, Kunwar Singh, fasted until his father abandoned plans to side with tree-fellers. On January 31, 1978, when police arrived to support contractors, villagers, women, and children embraced the trees for hours, forcing withdrawal. Jubilant slogans echoed: “The Himalaya has awakened today, the cruel axe has been chased away.”

Despite such victories, officials persisted. In February 1978, auctions were held in Narendranagar. Villagers and women protesters entered the hall peacefully, forcing contractors to flee. Many were jailed for 15 days, yet their resolve only grew stronger.

By December that year, activists successfully resisted attempts to cut 742 auctioned trees in Amarsar forest. Soon after, Badiyargad became the next battleground, with over 2,000 trees marked for felling. Despite arrests and repression, people launched fasts, processions, and the unique “one roti per family” campaign to sustain activists camping in the forests.

In January 1979, Sunderlal Bahuguna began a 24-day fast in Badiyargad. Arrested on January 22, he inspired widespread protests until the government banned green felling in Badiyargad and Amarsar on January 31.

Expanding the Struggle

The struggle soon spread to forests in Laasi, Khuret, and Loital near Ranichauri, where villagers repeatedly thwarted contractors. Plans to fell nearly 9,000 trees in Loital were abandoned after protests led by Yogesh Bahuguna. Encouraged by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s sympathy for Chipko’s cause, the government eventually announced a wider moratorium on green felling in Uttarakhand.

In later years, new threats arose from the Tehri Dam Project, under which thousands of trees were to be felled in Henvalghati. Once again, mobilization led by Kunwar Prasun forced the government to reduce the numbers drastically. Alongside, activists promoted regeneration of degraded forests, with promising results.

These movements not only inspired opposition to the Tehri Dam but also gave birth to the Beej Bachao Andolan, led by Vijay Jardhari and Kunwar Prasun, to conserve traditional seeds. The Chipko message spread nationwide—Pandurang Hegde, inspired by his time in Tehri Garhwal, launched the Appiko movement in Karnataka, saving forests in the Western Ghats.

Lasting Legacy

The Chipko and Appiko movements remain powerful examples of people’s commitment to protect nature. Despite subsequent destruction in the name of development, their legacy endures.

As I revisit Tehri Garhwal even today, I am reminded of the extraordinary sacrifices of villagers and activists who defended trees with unmatched courage and resilience. Their struggles continue to inspire, especially when the fragile Himalayan environment faces mounting threats and disasters.

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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Planet in Peril, Protecting Earth for Children, Man Over Machine, A Day in 2071 and Guardians of Himalayas: Vimla and Sunderlal Bahuguna