The relationship of Women and Mother Earth is deep. Mother Earth nurtures the whole Earth and Mothers nurture human beings. We all grew up with the ‘tender loving care’ of our Mothers. Mothers ensure healthy food in sufficient quantity, good water, good air and protection from all harm. They develop a very intimate link with Mother Earth as they sustain their babies and the whole family.

From time immemorial, gathering, growing, preparing and providing food was mostly the Mother’s responsibility. Droughts and floods, natural calamities, proliferation of filth, deforestation, pollution of water and air, etc. affect the family, and therefore is felt first and foremost by women.

The history of the Bishnoi community in the Thar desert of Rajasthan is classic. Their Guru Jambheshwar (1451-1536) taught them to nurture and protect all life – human, animal and plant, at all cost. Their villages bloomed in the Thar desert. In 1730, the King of Jodhpur sent soldiers to fell big trees to build his palace, only available in Bishnoi villages. Amrita Devi and her daughters hugged the trees to stop the soldiers. They were killed. The word spread, more women, men and children followed their example. It is on record – 363 Bishnoi people were killed that day. But they saved their trees. The whole community actually solemnly celebrated their achievement of saving their brother/sister trees.

The sub-Himalayan region was full of giant trees. Commercial felling of trees during the last century denuded the mountain slopes. Landslides, soil erosion and floods ravaged the villages of the area which depended on agriculture and cattle. Women took care of their cultivation, livestock and children. They soon realized the link between the denuding of the forests and their precarious existence. The Government continued auctioning trees, and the villagers could not stop the commercial loggers. On 25 March, 1974, Gaura Devi of Reni village with 27 village women hugged the trees to prevent wood-cutters from chopping them. The loggers shouted and abused the women, threatening them with guns. Gaura Devi faced the gun and challenged them to shoot her instead of cutting down trees. They kept vigil all night guarding their trees. As the word spread, many more joined. The contractors had to leave. After sustained and widespread struggle, in 1980, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi banned felling of trees in the whole sub-Himalayan region for fifteen years till the green cover was fully restored. After the Gandhian Sunderlal Bahuguna’s epic 5000 kilometre trans-Himalaya foot-march, in 1982-83, the Chipko message and action spread across the region and India.

Empower women, and ensure the health of Mother Earth!

Rappai Poothokaren, SJ

The author is a former Director of Gurjarvani centre for communication and currently an environmental activist at Sevasi, Vadodara.