Mahavir Foundation 1997 11 London 10th Anniversary

Author(s): Mahavir Foundation
Publisher: Mahavir Foundation

Page 60

BISHNOIS
THE CRUSADERS OF CONSERVATION
By- Thakur Paramjit
to the spot and begged for apology from the Bishnois. he also promised that their religious sentiments would always be respected in the future. It was a unique incident of human sacrifice to save the environment. No such thing has ever happened either before or after that incident from that time onwards Bishnois from different parts of the country congregate every year at Khejadli, thirteen kilometres from Jodhpur to pay homage to the 363 martyrs
For Bishnois, the unpaid crusaders of conservation for the last five years, protection of flora and fauna is not mere idle talk but a sacred duty entrusted by one generation to the next. They are so dedicated to this noble cause that no hunter or poacher dare sneak into their domain. Their villages constitute a haven for innocent animals and birds.
Chipko movement (hugging trees to save them) attracted a lot of publicity some years ago. But it was something very insignificant as compared to the unmatched sacrifice and exemplary courage shown by Bishnois community three hundred years ago
The story of their legendary sacrifice to save massacre of green trees dates back to the time when Maharaja Ajit Singh then King of Marwar as building a place for himself Since firewood was needed to run the kilns, his men started killing trees in order to save the largest grove near their village, the Bishnois raised a strong voice of protest The wood cutter did not have enough courage to face them and they stopped chopping the trees. When the news reached the Kings Minister he became furious. He reached the sight and ordered his men to start cutting the trees. In order to stop them Amritadevi, an exceptionally brave Bishnois women embraced a tree trunk and her three daughters followed suit by clasping their hands around other trees. Fuming with rage the Minister ordered his axe man to cut the women along with the trees. Soon they were hacked to death sending shockwave to the people gathered their. For a moment other members of the community stood stunned, Bit then they ampathetically declared that they would not let the Minister have his way. Stepping into the shoes of Amritadevi each embraced a tree to save it and within no time as many as 363 persons had laid down their lives for a noble cause. As soon as the King heard about it, he was appalled. He rushed
Bishnois sect was founded by Guru Jambheshwar born in 1451, he led a simple life. He realised that man should learn to live in harmony with nature. In order to create this awareness amongst his people, he enunciated 29 principles. Thus his followers began to be known as Bishnois-Bish meaning 20 and nois meaning nine Protection of the environment became the central principle.
The Bishnois women wear dazzling bright dresses with ethnic jewellery. They wear typical chunky necklaces, heavy crescent shaped nath (nose ornament), anklets and rakhri on the forehead
(from India Perspectives, April 1995)
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