Amrita Devi Bishnoi was an environmentalist who died in 1730 while protecting Khejri trees in Rajasthan. Her sacrifice became a symbol of nature conservation and inspired later movements such as Chipko.
Life and work
Amrita Devi Bishnoi was a member of the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan and is noted for her environmental activism. In 1730 she led villagers in hugging Khejri trees to stop soldiers of Maharaja Abhai Singh of Marwar from felling them.
During the confrontation known as the Khejarli massacre, Amrita Devi and other villagers were killed while peacefully protecting the trees, making her sacrifice a prominent example of resistance to deforestation.
Legacy and memory
The Amrita Devi Bishnoi National Award was created by the Government of India to honour individuals or communities for significant contributions to wildlife protection.
Her bravery continues to be cited as an inspiration for later environmental movements, including the Chipko Movement.
Based on: the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0) — facts from that source; edited and translated by Times of Rajasthan.