Question

In Rajasthan, conservation of forest and wildlife has been a religious act for …………….. community.

Answer 1

Hint: In a tiny desert village near Jodhpur, a tribal community resisted the cutting down of khejri trees by the king’s men. They sacrificed their lives to protect the sacred trees. The department of Environment and forests declared September 11 as the National Forest Martyrs day.

Complete answer:In Rajasthan, Bishnoi is a tribal community that considers wildlife protection as a religion. In 1730 Amrita Devi Bishnoi sacrificed her life for the protection of khejri trees. It is a well-remarked case study of forest conservation. She hugged the tree and dared the king’s men to cut her first before cutting the tree. The king’s men cut the tree along with her without bothering. About 363 Bishnoi people lost their lives while protecting the sacred khejri trees. The Amrita Devi Bishnoi wildlife protection award was initiated in the memory of people who lost their lives for protecting the sacred trees. Their lives instead of allowing the desecration of their environment. This is a saga for supreme sacrifice that has a cascading effect on the environmental movements across India.

Note: Bishnois are considered as the first environmentalists of India. They introduced the concept of tree huggers and tree-hugging. They were the first ones to organize proponents of eco-conservation, green-living, and wildlife protection. No other tribal community has given this level of importance to environmental protection and care. The famous ‘Chipko movement’ was inspired by the brave act of Amrita Devi Bishnoi.