Khejarli
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Khejarli
Khejardi |
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village
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Bishnoi
temple commemorating the Khejarli Massacre
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Khejarli
Location
in Rajasthan, India
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• Official
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342802
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This article has an unclear
citation style. The references used may be made clearer with a different
or consistent style of citation, footnoting, or external linking.
(September
2009)
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Khejarli or Khejadli is a village in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan, India, 26 km south-east of the city of Jodhpur.
The name of the town is derived from Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) trees, which were in abundance in the village.
In this village 363 Bishnois,
led by Amrita Devi sacrificed their lives in 1730 AD while protecting green Khejri trees considered sacred by the
community, by hugging to them, this incident is the first event of Chipko Movement
in the recorded history.[1][2][3][4]
Contents
- 1 History
- 1.1 The first Chipko movement
- 1.1.1 Amrita Devi sacrifices for saving trees
- 1.1.2 Mass movement to protect trees
- 1.1.3 363 Bishnois became martyrs
- 1.2 Aftermath and legacy
- 2 References
- 3 External links
History
Thakur Surat Singh, of Kharda
thikana, a small estate in Jodhpur pargana.
was granted the estate of Khejarli in the same pargana, by Maharaja Abhai Singh
of Jodhpur in 1726 AD, and he became the first 'Thakur of Khejarli',[5]
though tragedy struck the village within four years.
The
first Chipko movement
It is the place where Chipko movement
originated in India. It was a Tuesday, black Tuesday in Khejadli. 10th day of
the bright fortnight of the month Bhaadra
according to Indian lunar Calendar, (September) in 1730 A.D. Amrita Devi a mother of three
daughters viz. Asu, Ratni and Bhagu bai was at home with her daughters.
Suddenly, she came to know that many people had descended in their otherwise
sleepy village. It was a party of Giridhar Bhandari, a minister with Maharaja
Abhay Singh, Ruler of Marwar (Jodhpur) state who wanted to fell the sacred green Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) trees to burn lime for the construction of his new palace.
Since there was a lot of greenery in the Bishnoi
villages even in the middle of Thar Desert,
the king ordered his men to get the woods from Khejri trees.
Amrita
Devi sacrifices for saving trees
Amrita Devi (Beniwal)
protested against King's men attempting to cut green trees as it was prohibited
in Bishnoi religion. The malevolent feudal party told her that if she wanted
the trees to be spared, she should give them money as bribe. She refused to
acknowledge this demand and told them that she would consider it as an act of
ignominy and insult to her religious faith. She said that she would rather give
away her life to save the green trees. It is at that stage she spoke these
words:
Devanagari:"Sar sāntey rūkh rahe to bhī sasto jān" (If a tree
is saved even at the cost of one's head, it's worth it) [6]
Saying these words, she offered her
head. The axes, which were brought to cut the trees, severed her head from her
trunk. The three young girls Asu, Ratni and Bhagu were not daunted, and offered
their heads as well, and met the same end.\ Art By ajith bala
Mass
movement to protect trees
The news spread like wildfire.
Bishnois gathered and sent summons to 83 Bishnoi villages to come and decide on
the next course of action. Since the supreme sacrifice by those four had not
satisfied the royal party, and the felling of green trees was continued, it was
decided that for every green tree to be cut, one Bishnoi volunteer would sacrifice
his/ her life. In the beginning, old people voluntarily started holding the
trees to be cut in an embrace as in the Chipko movement
of 20th century in Uttar Pradesh (India).
363
Bishnois became martyrs
In this way many valiant old persons
gave away their lives, but it failed to have the desired impact. Moreover, the
Hakim (Royal party's leader) taunted the Bishnois that in this manner they were
offering unwanted old persons. Soon, young men, women, including recently
married ones and children were sacrificing themselves in a similar manner.
There was intense pandemonium. It
completely shook the tree-felling party, headed by their leader Girdhar Das
Bhandari (Hakim), they left for Jodhpur with their mission unfulfilled and told
the Maharaja about what had happened. As soon as he learnt it, he ordered
stoppage of the felling of trees.
By that time, Three Hundred and
Sixty Three (363) Bishnois, young and old, men and women, married and
unmarried, rich and poor had already become martyrs. Gotra wise number of these
martyrs was as under: Achara
(1), Badaderi (1), Badiyani (1), Chotiya (1), Degipal (1), Dudan (1), Geela (1), Goyal (1), Janwar (1), Javalia (1), Jhuriya (1), Kalirani (1), Khavi (1), Khichar (1), Kupasiya (1), Lamba (1), Maal (1), Ranwa (1), Seegar (1), Tadi (1), Vasu (1), Adina (2), Bhadiawas (2), Bola (2), Jhangu (2), Manjhu (2), Punia (2), Thalod (2), Bhanwal (3), Burdak (3), Chahar
(3), Dhatarwal
(3), Potalia (3), Rahad (3), Siyol (3), Badiya (4), Dhayal (4), Isram (4), Karhwasra (4), Bhangarwas (5), Dukia (5), Khava (6), Khileri (6), Lol (6), Nain (6), Sahu (6), Sinwar (6), Dhaka (8), Dara (9), Dudi (10), Kaswan (10), Khod (10), Khokhar (10), Panwar (10), Asiagh (13), Bana (22), Jani (15), Saran
(18), Babal (22), Beniwal (25), Bhadu (26), Godara
(37), Johar
(38)
Aftermath
and legacy
Honouring the courage of the Bishnoi
community, the ruler of Jodhpur, Maharaja Abhay Singh,
apologized for the mistake committed by his officials and issued a royal
decree, engraved on a copper plate ordering the following:
- All cutting of green trees and hunting of animals within the revenue boundaries of Bishnoi villages was strictly prohibited.
- It was also ordered that if by mistake any individual violated this order, he would be prosecuted by state and a severe penalty imposed.
- Even the members of ruling family did not shoot animals in or even near the Bishnoi's village
Although, Bishnois paid a huge price
for saving a few trees, this incident had inspired, and will continue to do so
in future, many others to fight and protect trees and wild life.[citation needed] Later the 'Khejarli massacre' found mention in Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, famous 19th-century two-volume work by Colonel James Tod.[7]
Today, the anniversary of the
massacre is observed each year at village,[8]
which has now become an important tourist destination not just for its history
but also for the way Bishnois of the area continue to fight against rampant
poaching in the area, two centuries on.[7]
In October 1996, Nihal Chand Bishnoi had sacrificed his life for protecting
wild animals. A film Willing to Sacrifice based on his story won the
main award of the Environment film at the 5th International Festivals of Films, TV and
Video Program ENVIRON'99 Bratislava,
Slovak Republic.
Bishnois are very particular in
following their principles. They don't kill animals but easily sacrifice their
life for preservation of animals and the trees.[citation needed] The best known case is of Salman Khan
where he was caught shooting animals. The case is under litigation in Indian
courts. Present day all governments and humanity understand importance of
ecology and preservation of nature that Guru Jambheshwar saw five hundred years ago.[citati
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