Khejarli
Encyclopedia
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..
. 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' , though tragedy struck the village within four short years.
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.
) 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)
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
Vignesh The Prince
of 20th century in Uttar Pradesh
(India).
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)
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. Later the 'Khejarli massacre' found mention in Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, famous 19th-century two-volume work by Colonel James Tod
.
Today, the anniversary of the massacre is observed each year at village, 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. 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. 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.
Jodhpur district
Jodhpur District is a district of the state of Rajasthan in western India. The city of Jodhpur is the administrative headquarters of the district.As of 2011 it is the second most populous district of Rajasthan , after Jaipur.-History:...
of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, 26 km south-east of the city of Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
. The name of the town is derived from Khejri (Prosopis cineraria
Prosopis cineraria
Prosopis cineraria is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is native to arid portions of Western and South Asia, such as the Arabian and Thar Deserts...
) trees, which were in abundance in the village.
In this village 363 Bishnois
Bishnois
The Bishnois are known as the conservationists to whom the preservation of animal and vegetable life is a religion and has been so from the early 15th century. Their spiritual mentor, Guru Jambheshwar was a wise ecologist. He formulated Bis + noi = Bisnoi tenets from which the community derives...
, 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
Chipko movement
The Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan is a social-ecological movement that practised the Gandhian methods of satyagraha and non-violent resistance, through the act of hugging trees to protect them from being felled...
in the recorded history..
History
Thakur Surat Singh, of Kharda thikana, a small estate in Jodhpur parganaPargana
A pargana is a former administrative unit of the Indian subcontinent, used primarily, but not exclusively, by the Muslim kingdoms.Parganas were introduced by the Delhi Sultanate, and the word is of Persian origin. As a revenue unit, a pargana consists of several mouzas, which are the smallest...
. 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' , though tragedy struck the village within four short years.
The first Chipko movement
Chipko movement
The Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan is a social-ecological movement that practised the Gandhian methods of satyagraha and non-violent resistance, through the act of hugging trees to protect them from being felled...
originated in India. It was a Tuesday, black Tuesday in Khejadli. 10th day of the bright fortnight of the month Bhaadra
Bhaadra
Bhaadra or Bhadrapada is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar , Bhaadra is the sixth month of the year, beginning on 23 August and ending on 22 September. Known as Purattaasi, it is the sixth month of the Tamil solar calendar...
according to Indian lunar Calendar
Hindu calendar
The hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar. Nepali calendar, Bengali calendar, Malayalam calendar, Tamil calendar, Telugu calendar, Kannada...
, (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
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
Abhay Singh, Ruler of Marwar
Marwar
Marwar is a region of southwestern Rajasthan state in western India. It lies partly in the Thar Desert. In Rajasthani dialect "wad" means a particular area. The word Marwar is derived from Sanskrit word 'Maruwat'. English translation of the word is 'The region of desert'., The Imperial Gazetteer...
(Jodhpur
Jodhpur
Jodhpur , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is located west from the state capital, Jaipur and from the city of Ajmer. It was formerly the seat of a princely state of the same name, the capital of the kingdom known as Marwar...
) state who wanted to fell the sacred green Khejri (Prosopis cineraria
Prosopis cineraria
Prosopis cineraria is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is native to arid portions of Western and South Asia, such as the Arabian and Thar Deserts...
) 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
Thar Desert
The Thar Desert |Punjab]] province. The Cholistan Desert adjoins the Thar desert spreading into Pakistani Punjab province.-Location and description:...
, the king ordered his men to get the woods from Khejri trees.
Amrita Devi sacrifices for saving trees
Amrita Devi (BeniwalBeniwal
Beniwal , also Veniwal Venhval Benhival Vainiwal Bhainiwal Bahinwar is a clan or gotra of Jats in Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in India. They were rulers in Jangaldesh. They are Jats. Beniwals are also Jat Sikhs in Punjab...
) 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
Devanagari
Devanagari |deva]]" and "nāgarī" ), also called Nagari , is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal...
:"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)
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
Vignesh The Prince
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 movementChipko movement
The Chipko movement or Chipko Andolan is a social-ecological movement that practised the Gandhian methods of satyagraha and non-violent resistance, through the act of hugging trees to protect them from being felled...
of 20th century in Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
(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
Goyal
Goyal is one of the eighteen gotras of the Agrawal community and is a common family surname amongst the Indian community in India and abroad. In some parts of England, the word Goyal refers to deep gully or ravine. However, there is no connection between the English word and this Indian...
(1), Janwar (1), Javalia
Jewlia
Jewlia is the gotra of Jats found in Sikar district, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Jaipur, Ajmer, Tonk and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, India...
(1), Jhuriya (1), Kalirani (1), Khavi (1), Khichar
Khichar
Khichar or Khichad is gotra of Jats found in Jhunjhunu, Churu, Nagaur, Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and Sikar districts in Rajasthan state in India. Veerbhan Khichar was the founder of Sikar city in Rajasthan. They are also found in Sirsa and Fatehabad districts in Haryana. Khichars are believed to be...
(1), Kupasiya (1), Lamba
Lamba
Lamba may refer to:* Lamba , Punjabi Khatris or Sanatan Khatris ,or Jat and Yaduvanshi Ahirs surname or linage.* Lamba , a Baloch tribe living in Balochistan* Lamba , an uninhabited island in the Shetland Islands...
(1), Maal (1), Ranwa
Ranwa
Ranwa , also Rinwa, is a gotra of Jats found in Sri ganganagar, Churu, Sikar and Jhunjhunu districts in Rajasthan, India. Due to being the horrible warriors they were called Ranwa....
(1), Seegar
Seegar
Seegar is a gotra belonging to the Jats. Members of the Seegar gotra are mainly found in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in India....
(1), Tadi (1), Vasu
Vasu
In Hinduism, the Vasus are attendant deities of Indra, and later Vishnu. They are eight elemental gods representing aspects of nature, representing cosmic natural phenomenon. The name Vasu means 'Dweller' or 'Dwelling'...
(1), Adina (2), Bhadiawas (2), Bola
Bola
Bola, from Spanish and Portuguese meaning ball, may refer to:* Bolas, throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of interconnected cord* Bola , a volcano on the island of New Britain in Papua New Guinea* Bola, Togo...
(2), Jhangu (2), Manjhu
Manjhu
Manjhu is a small village in district Jamshoro. The population strength of this village is approximately 450-500. The population contains a heavy part of tribe Lanjar and, Khosa, khaskheli, Panhwar, Mir Bahar, Baladi. It is situated beside railway station Unarpur and is at about two kilometers...
(2), Punia (2), Thalod (2), Bhanwal (3), Burdak
Burdak
Burdak is a surname found in the countries of Eurasia, Australia and United States. In India, Burdak is a clan of the Jat people and Bishnois.-History:...
(3), Chahar
Chahar (clan)
Chahar also known by variations like Chahad, Char and Chaharag, is a gotra or clan of Jats in India. People belonging to this clan are found in the states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh...
(3), Dhatarwal (3), Potalia (3), Rahad (3), Siyol (3), Badiya (4), Dhayal (4), Isram (4), Karhwasra
Karwasra
Karwasra or Kadwasra is a gotra of Jats found in Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab states of India.-History:They belong to the Dahiya clan. Their name comes from their most prominent ruler Karhwasra Rao...
(4), Bhangarwas (5), Dukia (5), Khava (6), Khileri (6), Lol
Lal
Lal is derived from the Indo-Iranian word meaning 'Red'. It is a middle name used by many Indo-Aryan clans. Lal is also used as a final element of a compound personal name, such as Amir lal , Dost Lal , Rani Lal and Padshah Lal Qamar...
(6), Nain
Nain
Nain may refer to:* Nain rug, name of a traditional pattern and design of Persian carpet* North American Interfaith Network* Nain, assistant court ladies of KoreaPlaces* Nain, Iran, a city in Iran* Nain County, an administrative subdivision of Iran...
(6), Sahu
Sahu
Sahu is an Indian and Pakistani surname belonging to the Vaishya varna or Jat varna respectively .They derive their name Sahu, or sometimes pronounced Sao and Sah, from their ancestral family business of bankers and money lending: from the Hindi word SAHUKAR, meaning, in a sense, persons dealing...
(6), Sinwar (6), Dhaka
Dhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
(8), Dara
Dara
-2011 uprising:The city of Daraa was the starting point of the 2011 uprising against the regime lead by Bashar Al-Assad. It all started when 15 children from the same family were arrested in early March 2011 for writing an anti regime slogan on the wall of their school. The children's ages ranged...
(9), Dudi
Dudi
Dudi or Dudee or Duddy or Dhuddy is a gotra of Jats found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh in India as well as Pakistan. Dudi gotra is also found in Bhati Rajputs, Sikhs, Muslims, Buddhists and Bishnois.Dudi is an old tribe of Ramayana period. Dudis are Naga...
(10), Kaswan
Kaswan
Kaswan or Kuswan or Kasuan is a gotra of jats in Rajasthan and Haryana in India. The word Kaswan is 'XWN' of Tocharian language meaning 'King'.-Origin of Kaswan :...
(10), Khod (10), Khokhar
Khokhar
The Khokhar or Khokar are a people of Punjab region of Pakistan and north-western India. According to H. A. Rose they are the gotra of Rajput, Jat, Arain, Nai, and Churah. According to Denzil Ibbetson, they are also a gotra of the Tarkhan and Khatri tribes. The Khokhars were designated as an...
(10), Panwar (10), Asiagh
Sihag
Sihag , Siyag , Sehwag , or Asiagh is a clan of Jat people found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab region in India...
(13), Bana (22), Jani
Jyani
Jyani , Jani gotra Jats are found inHaryana, Punjab, Rajasthan,and Madhya Pradesh...
(15), Saran
Saharan (gotra)
Saharan or Sran or Saran is a gotra of jats in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh in India and Some districts of Punjab, Pakistan claim from Rajputs still today, Saharan's lineage goes to both Brahmins and Kshatriya Rajput. This is an ancient clan of India and belong to Hindu as...
(18), Babal (22), Beniwal
Beniwal
Beniwal , also Veniwal Venhval Benhival Vainiwal Bhainiwal Bahinwar is a clan or gotra of Jats in Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in India. They were rulers in Jangaldesh. They are Jats. Beniwals are also Jat Sikhs in Punjab...
(25), Bhadu
Bhadu
Bhadu or Bhadoo is clan or gotra of Jats found in Rajasthan, Western Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh. Bhadoos have a dominat share in agricultural land of Western Punjab and in Hanumanarh district of Rajasthan...
(26), Godara
Godara (clan)
Godara is a clan or gotra of Jats and Bishnois found in Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in India. Many have also migrated to Western regions such as Gujarat or Pakistan. They are the descendants of Goha Dutta, a prince of the Mewar dynasty who was adopted by a Brahmin to fight against...
(37), Johar
Johal
Johal is a prominent Jatt family clan originally from modern Pakistan and North India. The Johals Jats are found both in Punjab, India and Punjab, Pakistan.-Lineage:...
(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. Later the 'Khejarli massacre' found mention in Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, famous 19th-century two-volume work by Colonel James Tod
James Tod
Lieutenant-Colonel James Tod was an English officer of the British East India Company and an Oriental scholar.Tod was born in London and educated in Scotland, later joining the East India Company as a military officer. He travelled to India in 1799 as a cadet in the Bengal Army where he rose...
.
Today, the anniversary of the massacre is observed each year at village, 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. 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
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
film at the 5th International Festivals of Films, TV and Video Program ENVIRON'99 Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, Slovak Republic
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
.
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. The best known case is of Salman Khan
Salman Khan
Salman Khan is an Indian film actor. He has starred in more than 80 Hindi films.Khan, who made his acting debut with a minor role in the drama Biwi Ho To Aisi with Rekha in a lead role, had his first commercial success with the blockbuster Maine Pyar Kiya , for which he won a Filmfare Award for...
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
Guru Jambheshwar
Guru Jambheshwar, also known as Jambhoji, was the founder of the Bishnoi Religion. He preached to worship God Almighty and stopped the worship of any thing that has taken birth and which can be seen around . He gave the message that God is a divine power that is everywhere...
saw five hundred years ago.