Access the hindi version here.
- Indira Gandhi’s request for Padma Shree was humbly refused by environmentally concerned and determined Bahuguna.
- Following this, after Indira’s tough stand the UP government had to impose a complete ban on the cutting of trees in the Himalayas.
On 26thJanuary 1981,Central government announced to honor Sunderlal Bahuguna with Padma Shree for his leadership in the Chipko Movement. His companions were happy with this news, but Bahuguna refused to accept the Padma Shri for not imposing a complete ban on cutting green trees in the hills. Anticipating the future impacts of deforestation in the region and determined for finding permanent solution for the issue, Bahuguna humbly turned down the request from the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who had been an avid supporter of the movement.
When people questioned his decision, he specified saying, ‘Earth is our mother, as long as the green trees are cut down and mother earth’s blood (soil, water) keeps flowing away, how can I take the award?’. Following Bahuguna’s rejection of the Padma Shri, Indira Gandhi took a tough stand as the Prime minister and the UP government had to completely ban the commercial cutting of the green trees in the Himalayan Region.
Despite the assurance of a ban on commercial logging, the state government did not stop the cutting of trees. Meanwhile, Indira Gandhi, who was deeply influenced by the Chipko movement, took power at the center. She established a committee to strategize on stoppingtree-loggingin the Himalayan region and based on their recommendation the Forest Conservation Act was launched.
After changer of power in the central and state government, the governance attitude towards Chipko and forest conservation also changed. The state government was biased towards the capitalistic gains received by tree-logging in the Himalayan region and supported the policies which were established while India was still under British rules. Many efforts were made to brand Chipko activists as anti-people by sponsoring journalists. Even some of Bahuguna’s close companions from the movement shifted to the government’s side but Bahuguna was adamant on his stand to protect the true gifts of forests, soil, water, and fresh air. Their demand was complete ban on commercial tree-loggingand more power to locals.
Sunder Lal Bahuguna was assured a complete ban on commercial logging by the then Uttar Pradesh government led by Ram Naresh Yadav, after a 24-day fast to save green pine trees from being cut down in Badiyargarh but by then, workers were already instructed by the contractor cut trees in Lasi and Khuret. Bahuguna, with the help of locals and his dedicated companions, saved the trees from being cut at both the places.
Meanwhile the power ingovernance changed both at the state and center and attitude towards the Chipko and Sunder Lal Bahuguna again changed.In Uttar Pradesh, Banarasi Das became the Chief Minister and at the Center Chaudhary Charan Singh became the Prime Minister. Forests again became an important means of revenue.
Bahuguna went to Delhi and tried to explain his point to Chaudhary Charan Singh, but he refused to speak with him stating Bahuguna opposed the Forest Minister (UP Forest Minister Srichand). Attempts to manipulate media towards favoring the government’s capitalistic agendas were also made. Journalists were sponsored and sent on paid tours to the hills to report news showing localities are not supporting Bahuguna, but he did not give up. Vishwanath Pratap Singh became the Chief Minister of UP after Banarasi Das and like Das adhered to the capitalistic policy of earning revenue from commercial logging. Meanwhile, when Bahuguna refused the Padma Shri, Indira Gandhi summoned Vishwanath Pratap Singh to Delhi in regard to commercial logging in the Himalayas. Vishwanath Pratap Singh argued that commercial logging is the primary source of revenue for UP.Indira Gandhi told the state government, they can continue earning revenue from commercial logging, but she will stop central funding to the state of UP if they did so. This strong stand of Indira Gandhi led to the implementation of the Central Forest Act in 1980 to ban commercial logging in the hills, restricting cutting of green trees above 1000 meters.
Pradeep Bahuguna 