The CHIPKO movement was first started by a village man called SUNDERLAL BAHUGUNA. He was born and brought up in the Himalayan region of Tehri Garhwal. When he was just a boy, he was inspired by the struggle for freedom led by Mahatma Gandhi. Another important influence in Sunderlal's life was his mother PURNA DEVI. He saw how his mother worked hard for hours, expect no reward. He was inspired by her quiet courage and by the courage of hundereds of women working like his mother. So he put his heart and soul into the upliftment of the women of hills.
For this concern he started the CHIPKO movement because he saw that many women went to the forests to collect faggots and one day there was no faggot for them to collect. So they had to walk long distances in search for faggots. Sunderlal knew that this was the work of human beings who must have cutted trees for selling them in the markets. So because of cutting down of trees, the Himalayan forests were no longer seen.
Sunderlal thought that he, with the help of other people must stop this cutting of trees. So he talked with the people around him and especially the women who collected faggots. Everyone supported Sunderlal. They thought that they should hug the trees so that whoever comes to cut the trees had to cut them first.
Everyone in the village understood what Sunderlal meant and they remembered a story of a group of people called BISHNOIS, who lived in Rajasthan. They also did the same thing when the king had ordered the cutting down of trees for wood. The Bishnoi women had stood aroung the trees and hugged them and did not allowed the cruel soldiers cut them with their swords. Moved by their great sacrifice, the king decided not to build his palace.
After listening to this story every women of the village said that they also want to save the trees by hugging them and not let other people cut them.
The CHIPKO movement made a great deal of difference. the news of their courage spread along many people and they also thought that if they will not save the trees then who will save them. Songs and stories were also written to inspire the young and old.SUNDERLAL BAHUGUNA's name as an environmentalist and an active worker for the environment came to be known not only all over the country but also all over the world.
SO BY THIS STORY WE CONCLUDE THAT WE ALL SHOULD SAVE TREES AND NOT HARM OUR ENVIRONMENT….
Love,
Shreyansi