https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Protecting Our Natural Wealth with their Lives

India commemorates National Forest Martyr’s Day on September 11, a homage to forest officials who lost their lives while protecting the country’s forests and wild-life.
Indian Masterminds Stories

From the infamous ‘Khejarli massacre’ which took place in 1730 to a recent death of a forest guard who was stranded to death by an elephant while patrolling the Beriwada forest range of Rajaji Tiger Reserve, India tops the chart of the deadliest countries for the protectors of forests. But at the same time, this reflects the commitment of the forest personnel in the country and the courage they show towards their line of work.

Today on 11 September, National Forest Martyrs Day is being commemorated all across the country in order to pay due respect to those who lost their lives while protecting our forests and wildlife.

PROTECTING THE FORESTS

Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Dr Saket Badola, who is currently the Head-TRAFFIC, WWF India, said “This day has a historical reference as in 1730s when the Bishnoi women resisted felling of khejri trees. It is important for us to highlight the challenges and threats which forest rangers are facing and also a way to communicate to the people that we need to support them if we need to save our biodiversity.”

“However,” he added “there are several reasons behind their death while protecting forests and the wildlife. First of all, the cases of illegal mining. While resisting the mining mafia, the forest officers have to face the brunt of it. Secondly, the timber mafias are another threat. Apart from this, poaching, human-wildlife conflict and patrolling are other reasons due to which forest ranger lose their lives.”

KHEJARLI MASSACRE

Even before the famous Chipko Movement which took place in 1980s, a brave act was shown by the Bishnoi’s who sacrificed their lives to protect the forests in the 18th century in Rajasthan.

The historic event took place when the then Maharaja Abhay Singh of Jodhpur wished to build a palace in Jalnadi now called Khejarli village. For this, he asked his soldiers to cut off the sacred khejri trees coming in the way of construction.

KHEJARLI MASSACRE

However, as the trees were sacred and of a lot more importance to the people, their leader Amrita Devi Bishnoi stood in the way of the Maharaja’s army to protect the trees. Despite strict instructions from the Maharaja, the brave Bishnoi women didn’t budge. She was attacked and killed by the soldiers. Her three daughters and a large number of other women from the areas met the same fate. Before dying, they all uttered the prhase,”A felled tree is more important than a chopped head.”

As many as 363 Bishnoi women were martyred on that particular day and due to the sacrifice of the protestors, the order of felling the trees was recalled by the remorseful kind.

SAVING FOREST RANGERS

Mr. Badola emphasized that “We need to make the lives of forest rangers safe and easy. For this, we need to make them equipped which necessary tools and support they require. In case of human-wildlife conflict, they should get a proper gear through which they can protect themselves from the attack of animals. This can also help them in patrolling. Infrastructure support is also important at the same time. Apart from this, proper training of these officers is essential so that they can survive in the worst conditions.”

As India is commemorating the Forest Martyrs Day, many Indian Forest Officers (IFS) also took to Twitter to pay their homage to the fellow officers who lost their lives while protecting the forests. Here are a few of the Tweets:


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT