The Chipko movement, also known as the Chipko Andolan, was a nonviolent movement started in 1973 in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand. The protestors who hugged trees to protect them from loggers gave the movement its name since the word “chipko” literally means “hugging”. This environmental movement was launched by rural Indian peasants, notably women, in the 1970s. The primary objective of the Chipko movement was to defend forests and trees from government-sponsored logging. This article will explain to you about Chipko Movement which will be helpful in preparing the Environment Syllabus for the UPSC Civil Service exam.

Chipko Movement - Background

• The first recorded event of Chipko, however, occurred in 1730 AD in village Khejarli, Jodhpur district.
• Here 363 Bishnois, led by Amrita Devi, sacrificed their lives while hugging green Khejri trees.
• The trees were considered sacred by the community, and they braved the axes of loggers sent by the local ruler, and is now seen as an inspiration and a precursor for the Chipko movement of Garhwal.

What is Chipko Movement?

• It is a social-ecological movement that used Gandhian methods of satyagraha and nonviolent resistance by hugging trees to keep them from falling.
• The modern Chipko movement began in the early 1970s in Uttarakhand's Garhwal Himalayas, with growing concern about rapid deforestation.
• On March 26, 1974, a group of peasant women in Reni village, Hemwalghati, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, India, took action to prevent tree cutting and reclaim their traditional forest rights, which were threatened by the state Forest Department's contractor system.
• Their actions sparked hundreds of similar grassroots actions across the region.
• By the 1980s, the movement had spread throughout India, resulting in the development of people-sensitive forest policies that put an end to open felling of trees in areas as far flung as the Vindhyas and the Western Ghats.

Chipko Movement - Causes

• The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh saw a rise in development after the Sino-Indian border conflict was resolved in 1963, particularly in the rural Himalayan areas.
• Many international logging corporations looking for access to the region's abundant forest resources were drawn to the interior routes constructed during the conflict.
• The government's policy prevented the villagers from managing the lands and denied them access to the lumber, despite the fact that the rural villagers relied heavily on the forests for subsistence—directly, for food and fuel, and indirectly, for services like water purification and soil stabilization.
• Commercial logging operations were frequently poorly managed, and the clear-cutting of forests reduced agricultural yields, caused erosion, depleted water supplies, and increased flooding in a large portion of the surrounding communities.
• This served as the cause for the Chipko Movement.

Chipko Movement - Participants

• The widespread involvement of female villagers was one of Chipko's most noticeable features.
• Women were most directly impacted by environmental degradation and deforestation as the foundation of Uttarakhand's agrarian economy, and as a result, they could relate to the difficulties the easiest.
• Academic circles have argued vehemently over how much this engagement affected or resulted from Chipko's beliefs.
• Despite this, a number of female and male activists, like Gaura Devi, Sudesha Devi, and Ghanasyam Raturi, a Chipko poet whose songs are still well-liked in the Himalayan region, played important roles in the struggle.
• In 1982, Chandi Prasad Bhatt received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, and in 2009, Sunderlal Bahuguna received the Padma Vibhushan.

Chipko Movement - Sundarlal Bahuguna

• The leader of the Chipko movement is the well-known Gandhian Sundarlal Bahuguna (1927–2021).
• He is also credited for creating the Chipko tagline "Ecology is the Permanent Economy."
• He spread the idea that ecology and ecosystems are more significant later, in the 1970 Chipko movement.
• Additionally, he believed that nature and economy should coexist.
• Sundarlal Bahuguna educated the locals by emphasizing the value of trees in the environment since they prevent soil erosion, bring about rain, and produce clean air.
• Bahuguna also played a role in Prime Minister Gandhi's decision to implement the 1980 green-felling ban.

Chipko Movement - Impact

• After a decade of fierce protests, the Chipko Movement produced results in 1980.
• Additionally, the government put a 15-year prohibition on cutting down trees in Uttar Pradesh's Himalayan forests.
• Additionally, forests in the Vindhyas and the Western Ghats were included in the prohibition on green-felling.
• Along with this movement, it aided in raising awareness of forest rights and the power of grassroots activism to shape public policy.
• Additionally, India's forest cover increased somewhat between 2015 and 2017, as reported by the yearly State of Forests Report 2017.
• It was a major source of inspiration for the massive Appiko campaign in the Western Ghats, which helped to galvanize support for other anti-environmental destruction initiatives.

Conclusion

The Chipko Andolan also stands out as an eco-feminist movement. As the group most directly affected by the lack of firewood and drinking water caused by deforestation, women formed the nucleus of the movement. Protest is an invaluable and powerful agent of social change. Following in the footsteps of the Chipko movement, rapid deforestation in 2017 over the century-old trees that formed almost a canopy in Jessore Road of the district of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, also sparked a massive movement that resulted in a campaign by the local populace to save 4000 trees.

FAQs

MCQs

1. The Chipko Movement was primarily concerned with the protection of which natural resource?

A. Water
B. Forests
C. Wildlife
D. Soil

Answer: (B) See the Explanation

2. In which year did the Chipko Movement begin?

A. 1947
B. 1965
C. 1973
D. 1985

Answer: (C) See the Explanation

3. Who was one of the prominent leaders of the Chipko Movement?

A. Mahatma Gandhi
B. Jawaharlal Nehru
C. Sunderlal Bahuguna
D. Indira Gandhi

Answer: (C) See the Explanation

4. Which form of protest was adopted by the Chipko Movement activists?

A. Hunger strikes
B. Tree hugging
C. Road blockades
D. Petitioning

Answer: (B) See the Explanation

5. What was one of the major environmental issues highlighted by the Chipko Movement?

A. Air pollution
B. Water scarcity
C. Deforestation
D. Industrial waste

Answer: (C) See the Explanation

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the significance of the Chipko Movement in the context of environmental conservation in India.

Answer: The Chipko Movement holds significant importance in India’s environmental history. It was not just a protest against deforestation but also a larger statement about the need for sustainable development. Led by local communities, particularly women, the movement brought attention to the adverse effects of deforestation, such as soil erosion, water scarcity, and the depletion of resources critical for rural livelihoods. The movement's non-violent nature and its success in halting commercial logging in sensitive areas made it a powerful symbol of grassroots environmental activism. Its legacy continues to inspire modern environmental movements in India.

Q2: Analyze the role of women in the Chipko Movement and how it reflects the relationship between gender and environmental activism.

Answer: Women played a central role in the Chipko Movement, as they were directly impacted by the depletion of forest resources. The destruction of forests led to shortages of firewood, fodder, and water, which primarily affected women, who were responsible for gathering these resources. Leaders like Gaura Devi mobilized women in their communities to physically protect the trees through non-violent methods like tree hugging. The movement highlighted the close relationship between women and the environment, where women emerged as key environmental defenders. This intersection of gender and environmental activism remains relevant today, with women continuing to lead environmental movements worldwide.

Q3: Evaluate the impact of the Chipko Movement on India’s forest conservation policies.

Answer: The Chipko Movement had a profound impact on India’s forest conservation policies. It led to increased awareness about the ecological and social importance of forests, prompting the government to enact more stringent laws on forest conservation. One of the most significant outcomes was the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, which imposed restrictions on the felling of trees in sensitive areas and brought forest management under stricter regulation. The movement also encouraged the adoption of community-based forest management practices, recognizing the role of local communities in sustainable forest use. Overall, Chipko is credited with laying the foundation for India’s modern environmental policies.

Previous Year Questions from Chipko Movement

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2018

Question: The Chipko Movement was aimed at the protection of which of the following?
A. Water bodies
B. Wildlife
C. Forests
D. Agricultural land

Answer: C

Explanation: The Chipko Movement was aimed at the protection of forests from commercial deforestation and logging.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2019 (GS Paper 3)

Question: Discuss the role of the Chipko Movement in shaping India’s environmental conservation efforts. How did it influence subsequent environmental movements?

Explanation: The Chipko Movement played a pivotal role in shaping India’s environmental conservation efforts by raising awareness about the importance of forests for ecological balance and the livelihoods of local communities. The movement’s success in stopping deforestation in the Himalayan region inspired similar environmental movements, such as the Appiko Movement in Karnataka. It also influenced national policies, leading to the enactment of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The Chipko Movement is considered one of the first major grassroots environmental movements in India, and its legacy continues to inspire conservation efforts across the country.