Bishnoi Movement : Aim, Origin, Success

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.

Bishnoi Movement

Overview of Bishnoi Movement

Topic	Details
Date	12 September 1730
Location	Khejarli Village, Marwar Region, Rajasthan
Leader	Amrita Devi Bishnoi
Consequences	The main consequences included: After this incident, the Maharaja of Jodhpur apologized and issued a royal proclamation that forbade the felling of trees in any Bishnoi community. The Government of India and The Government of Rajasthan honored the courageous spirit of Amrita Devi with the “Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award” and “Amrita Devi Bishnoi Smrithi Paryavaran Award” respectively, for contributing to the protection of wildlife and environment conservation. This movement and sacrifice also inspired the infamous Chipko Movement of the 20th century.

Bishnoi Community

The Bishnois are considered the first environmentalists of India. They are nature-friendly people. The brave-hearted spirits and courageous deeds shown by the Bishnoi’s that day left an indelible mark on the history.Their memories will always bear the scars of this movement.

The Bishnois of Rajhasthan

• The Bishnoi community has been conserving the region’s environment.

• The Bishnoi community is mostly located in Western Rajasthan, Northern India, and the Thar Desert region. In India, there are reportedly 6,00,000 Bishnoi Panth adherents.

• In the fifteenth century, Jambhoji, a resident of a village near Jodhpur, had a vision that people’s interference with the natural environment was what caused the region’s drought and the suffering that ensued.

• After that, he became a monk known as Swami Jambeshwar Maharaj, which was also the beginning point of the Bishnoi sect. The Bishnoi community was thus established in 1485 AD.

About the Bishnoi Sect

• The Bishnoi Sect was founded by Guru Jambheshwar (1451–1536), also known as Jambhaji.

• Jambeshwar announced a set of 29 rules. Of his 29 rules, 10 were directed towards personal hygiene and maintaining good health; 7 were for healthy social behavior; 4 were for the worship of God; and the remaining 8 were prescribed to save biodiversity. This includes a ban on killing animals and cutting green trees, thus providing protection to all life forms.

• It included principles like “Jeev Daya Palani,” which meant being compassionate to all living beings, and “Runkh Lila Nahi Ghave,” which strictly prohibited the cutting of green trees.

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.

Success of the Historic Bishnoi Movement

• Bishnoi from Khejarli and other villages came to join this agitation and hugged the Khejri trees one by one to protect trees being cut at the cost of their heads.

• When Maharaja Abhay Singh heard the news, he immediately ordered to stop the massacre and apologized for the act.

• A royal proclamation was issued that forbade the felling of trees in any Bishnoi community.

• Until then, 363 people had been martyred in the massacre.

• The primary reason for the Bishnoi community’s opposition to tree cutting was found in their cultural beliefs, which are outlined in their sect’s principles to support the preservation of animals and trees.

• Another reason was closely related to their rural livelihood, as they depended on the forest for the supply of fuelwood and fodder.

• The Government of India and the Government of Rajasthan honored the courageous spirit of Amrita Devi with the “Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award” and the “Amrita Devi Bishnoi Smrithi Paryavaran Award,” respectively, for contributing to the protection of wildlife and environmental conservation.

Bishnoi Movement – FAQs

1. Who was the founder of Bishnoi?

Swami Jambeshwar Maharaj, also known as Jambhaji,.

2. What was the Bishnoi Movement?

It was one of the first organized movements of ecological conservation led by a lady named Amrita Devi Bishnoi, along with other Bishnois living in the Khejarli Village, to protect their trees from the soldiers sent by the Maharaja of Jodhpur by hugging them.

3. How did the Chipko Movement start with Bishnoi?

The Bishnoi Movement and sacrifices made by the residents of Khejarli Village inspired the infamous Chipko Movement of the 20th century.

4. What was the slogan during the Bishnoi Movement?

Amrita Devi Bishnoi’s famous slogan was “A chopped head is cheaper than a felled tree.”.

5. When was the Bishnoi Movement held?

12 September 1730

6. Who led the Bishnoi Movement?

Amrita Devi Bishnoi led this historic movement.

7. Where did the Bishnoi Movement take place?

The Bishnoi movement originated from Khejarli Village, Marwar Region, Rajasthan

8. Why were the soldiers cutting the trees from the forest near Khejarli village?

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.

9. What is the name of the award formed by the Government of India to honor Amrita Devi Bishnoi?

Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award was formed in honor of Amrita Devi Bishnoi.