UNSEEN & UNSUNG NATIONAL FOREST MARTYR WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIFE
Every year on 11 September, National Forest Martyrs Day is marked and observed in India. It is a day to pay tribute to those unseen & unsung forest hero who sacrificed their lives against Deforestation
HISTORY OF NATIONAL FOREST MARTYR DAY AGAINST DEFORESTATION
The date of September 11 was chosen by the Ministry of Environment and Forest as on this date in 1730, the infamous Khejarli massacre took place. During this tragic incident, soldiers started cutting Khejarli trees, considered a sacred trees by the Villagers.
According to belief during the cutting of these trees, a woman named Amrita Devi offered her head in place of the sacred Khejarli tree. Angry over the act of meaningless cutting of trees, 350 people in that village rose in protest and offered their lives in place of trees.
On hearing about this massacre, the shocked king instantly ordered his soldiers to stop killing the people and apologized to those who belonged to the Bishnoi community. Along with his apology, King Maharaja Abhay Singh made a declaration stating that no cutting of trees and killing of animals will take place in areas that are around the Bishnoi villages.
IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL FOREST MARTYR DAY AGAINST DEFORESTATION
Every year many of forest workers and rangers even today loses their lives while protecting India’s wildlife, national parks, forests, animal sanctuaries, etc. And it happens because of incidents like robbery, poaching, smuggling, terrorism and similar things done by criminals.
Thus this day also works as an awareness campaign about all the forest workers and to all of those people like Sunder Lal Bahuguna & Gaura Devi ( It is the Khejarli tree which initiated Chipko Movement ) who work towards protecting our wildlife and environment.
NFMD – Results
As a results of such type of celebrations ,people are getting more aware about the importance of Conservation of Natural Resources. Hence, Forest cover of India, although increased in the coming years, but still required more attention.
NFMD – CONCLUSION
Nurture The Nature To Save Future
