On the Birth Anniversary of India's Legendary Environmental Warrior
"Kya hain jangal ke upkaar, Mitti paani aur bayaar" (What are the blessings of forests? Soil, water, and air). These poetic words, made famous by Sundarlal Bahuguna, continue to echo through the valleys of the Himalayas, carrying the same urgency today as they did decades ago. As we commemorate the birth anniversary of this extraordinary environmental crusader, born on January 9, 1927, his legacy offers vital lessons for our ongoing battle against environmental degradation.
From Freedom Fighter to Environmental Guardian
Born in the small village of Maruda in Tehri district, Uttarakhand, Bahuguna's journey into activism began remarkably early. At just 13, while most children his age were focused on schoolwork, he was already challenging the oppressive rule of the Tehri principality. His early years were shaped by the tumultuous period of India's freedom struggle, particularly the tragic events of May 30, 1930, when the king's forces fired upon unarmed protesters.
Bahuguna's transformation from a freedom fighter to an environmental guardian wasn't a dramatic shift but a natural evolution of his commitment to justice. His philosophy, deeply rooted in Gandhian principles, viewed environmental conservation not as a separate cause but as an integral part of social justice and human dignity.
Beyond Chipko: A Life of Principled Activism
While Bahuguna is most celebrated for leading the Chipko movement of the 1970s, his environmental activism was just one facet of a much broader social vision. Well before Chipko, he had spent 25 years fighting against untouchability, promoting women's education, and leading anti-liquor movements. His commitment to these causes wasn't merely theoretical – he lived his principles, sharing meals and shelter with Dalit communities at a time when such actions were socially taboo.
The support of his wife, Vimla Bahuguna, proved instrumental in shaping his path. At her encouragement, he chose to abandon parliamentary politics for grassroots activism, founding the Parvtiya Navjivan Mandal to focus on education and social upliftment.
Living His Values
Perhaps what made Bahuguna most remarkable was his absolute commitment to practicing what he preached. He famously refused to eat rice, citing its water-intensive cultivation as environmentally problematic. When constructing his ashram in Silyara, he worked alongside a single mason, carrying stones and building materials himself. These weren't publicity stunts but expressions of his deep-seated belief in sustainable living.
A Legacy for Today
As we face increasingly severe environmental challenges, Bahuguna's approach offers valuable insights. His 5,000-kilometer foot march across the Himalayan belt from Kashmir to Kohima demonstrated his understanding that environmental issues transcend regional boundaries. His opposition to the Tehri Dam project, while ultimately unsuccessful in stopping the dam, raised crucial questions about development's human and environmental costs.
The Continuing Resonance
Today, as climate change threatens the very Himalayan ecosystem Bahuguna fought to protect, his message resonates with renewed urgency. The movement he helped build has spawned numerous environmental initiatives, from Pandurang Hegde's Appiko movement in Karnataka to Vijay Jardhari's Beej Bacho Andolan for seed conservation.
Looking Forward
On this birth anniversary, the best tribute to Sundarlal Bahuguna isn't just remembering his achievements but continuing his work. As he demonstrated through his 94 years of life (until his passing from COVID-19 in 2021), environmental activism isn't just about protecting trees – it's about preserving the delicate balance between human needs and natural resources.
The slogan that opened this piece – about forests' gifts of soil, water, and air – wasn't just poetry. It was Bahuguna's way of simplifying complex environmental science into a message everyone could understand. On his birth anniversary, as we face unprecedented environmental challenges, his approach of combining scientific understanding with grassroots activism offers a valuable blueprint for environmental advocacy in the 21st century.
His legacy reminds us that true environmentalism isn't about grand gestures but about daily choices and sustained commitment to living in harmony with nature. As we celebrate his birth anniversary, perhaps the best way to honor his memory is to embrace his philosophy of simple living and steadfast advocacy for environmental protection.