A tribute to ‘Chipko’ heroine Gaura Devi who died 27 yrs ago

In these times when the issue of felling trees to carry out “development” in cities has re-emerged in a big way, the role of Chipko heroine  Gaura Devi, who was a living legend in this Himalayan region, in conserving trees needs to be looked at once again.It is extremely relevant today to understand the value of each tree.

This effective and strong woman passed away in   July 1991 at the age of 66 in Uttarakhand's mountain village of Reni.The story of her courage and conviction  has been told to children in the hill region down the years.She  is almost seen as a modern day “Jhansi ki Rani” whose bravery in the face of odds, despite being an illiterate woman, has  become legendary.Her name and fame has travelled far and wide and people all over the world know her as the pillar of the Chipko movement of Uttarakhand region.

Gaura Devi was not educated in the conventional sense of the term but had great traditional wisdom.  Born in 1925 in a tribal Marchha family of Lata village in Neeti valley of Chamoli district, she was only trained in her family's traditional wool trade. She was married off at a young age into a family which had some land and was also in the wool trade.

At the age of 22, Gaura Devi became a widow with a two-and-a-half year old child to bring up. She took over the family's wool trade and brought up her son Chandra Singh alone. She was actively involved in the panchayat and other community work.She was asked to be the president of the Mahila Mangal Dal. It was the first of its kind to be established. Its responsibilities were ensuring cleanliness in the village and the protection of community forests.

People in the region were already aware of the Chipko movement. Gaura Devi always referred to the forests as their gods. People of Reni village protested when the government authorised the felling of the trees in the belt and gave the job to contractors.

On the historic day of March 26, 1974, forest officials along with some labourers started moving towards the forests. A young girl saw them and she went running back to report to Gaura Devi. That day there were no men in the village. All of them had gone to Chamoli.Twenty seven women and girls from Reni village led by Gaura Devi saved their communal forest from clear felling, beginning a decade of Chipko direct actions by women throughout the Uttarakhand region.

Gaura Devi led the first all-women action to save their community forest and mobilised the women of this region to protect their natural heritage.During the activist phase of Chipko in the 1970s, the courage and vigilance of Uttarakhandi women saved many forests and earned them a hallowed place in the history of the global environmental movement.

From this action, Chipko was to emerge as a peasant movement in defence of traditional forest rights, continuing a century-long tradition of resistance to state encroachment.After Reni, in 1975, the women of Gopeshwar, in 1978, of Bhyundar Valley (threshold of Valley of Flower), of Dronagari-Paitoli in 1980, took the lead in protecting their forests. In Dronagari and Paitoli, the women opposed their men's decision to give a 60 acre Oak forest to construct a horticulture farm. They also demanded their right to be associated in the management of the forest. Their plea was that it is the woman who collects fuel, fodder and water. The question of the forest is a life and death question for her. Hence, she should have a say in any decision about the forest. Now they are not only active in protecting the forests but are also in afforesting the bare mountain-slopes.

The Chipko Movement had led to the emergence of a series of environmental groups and movements across the country, making the people aware of the need to conserve the environment and biodiversity.    Chipko itself inspired environmentalists both nationally and globally and contributed substantially to the emerging philosophies of ecofeminism and deep ecology and fields of community-based conservation and sustainable mountain development.

However, even after so many years of Gaura Devi’s efforts, the women of this region have not been yet given their due. Their participation in tourism and other commercial activity in the valley is limited. If we look back at the Chipko movement, we can say confidently that the women of Lata, Reni and other nearby villages deserve a dignified and prosperous life.  When they are given that, only then will Gaura Devi’s soul rest in peace. An also when the people of this state commit themselves to saving their tress, forests and environment.

It can be said that one woman whom future generations in Uttarakhand are not likely to forget is Gaura Devi.