On National Forest Martyrs Day 2022, Indian Masterminds pays homage to the Green Heroes with a photo feature capturing some of the day’s images. The history of this day dates back to 1730, when Amrita Devi Bishnoi along with her daughters and 350 other villagers were beheaded, while they were resisting the felling of ‘khejri’ tees in the Bishnoi village of Khejarli in the kingdom of Mewar. The villagers led by Amrita Devi hugged the trees to shield them with their bodies.
Today, the day is observed in memory of all foresters who laid down their lives on the line of duty while protecting our forests and wildlife. The Ministry of Environment, in 2013, chose September 11 to mark as the National Forest Martyrs Day, as it’s the anniversary of the Khejarli massacre.
REMEMBERING TEAM MEMBERS
Senior IFS officer Ramesh Pandey took to Twitter to salute the green soldiers. “My salutations to all our unsung heroes on this occasion. The scar of losing team members remains. Remembering Sukhpal Singh (Dudhwa) Khusi Ram Dubey and Kamlesh Upadhyay (Kashi) on this National Forest Martyrs’ Day, who sacrificed their lives in saving forests and wildlife.”
Kaziranga National Park in Assam felicitated the families of forest martyrs. Park officials felicitated wife of mahout Late Mahendra Karmakar and brother of forest guard Late Kailyangiri Adhikari, who laid down their lives on the line of duty. Earthen lamps were also lit in memory of the martyrs.
FILM RELEASED IN MARTYRS’ HONOUR
Karnataka Forest Department paid tribute to “all the brave souls who’ve guarded, saved, and strived for the forest” by releasing a film, True Green Heroes, on the occasion. Here is the link of the film:
RICH TRIBUTES WITH WORDS AND FLOWERS
Jammu and Kashmir Forest Department paid homage at the Forest Martyrs Memorial in Srinagar and Foresters Memorial in Jammu. Conservator of Forests, South Kashmir, tweeted an image with these words: “Today, we present our rich tributes and respects to our brave forest officers and field forest officials who are our unsung heroes and laid down their lives for the cause of the forests.”
West Bengal Forest Department also laid out special programmes to observe the day.
Kodagu Forest Department in Karnataka observed the day at Aranya Bhavana in Madikeri by placing wreaths at a memorial. Circle Conservator of Forest Takhat Singh Ranawat and DCF A.T. Poovaiah were also present on the ocassion.
Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam, tweeted a few photos along with these words: “A day to honour people who have given their lives to conserve India’s animals, forests, and jungles. Many lives have been kept on the line to guard and safeguard them, let’s honour and recognise everyone for their accomplishments.”
We wind up with an image of the Assam Forest Department’s ‘Van Swahid Divas’, held at the Forest School in Jalukbari, to remember the forest martyrs and their extreme sacrifice.
