March 24, 1973
At the end of 1972, the “Chipko,” or” tree-hugging” movement was started in Uttar Pradesh, India, inspired by the mythical story of Amrita Devi who died while trying to save a tree that loggers were cutting down in order to build a new palace. Their goals were protection and conservation of forests, judicious and equitable use of trees by villagers, protection of ancient village forest rights, cessation of granting more favorable forest contracts to outside companies. On this date, when the axemen showed up in Mandal to fell trees that would be used to make cricket bats and tennis rackets for the export market, , they were met by hundreds of villagers who blocked their paths and prevented them from entering the forests. They used slogans and songs: one of their oft-repeated chants was “Let us protect and plant the trees/Go awaken the villages/And drive away the axemen”. Eventually the Forest Department canceled the outside company’s contract and awarded the allotment to the local cooperative.
