Certainly! 🌿 National Forest Martyrs Day is observed on September 11 every year in India. Let me provide you with a concise overview:
- History and Significance:
- The Ministry of Environment chose September 11 to mark National Forest Martyrs Day in 2013.
- This date commemorates the Khejarli Massacre of 1730 in the Kingdom of Marwar.
- Maharaja Abhai Singh Rathore ordered the cutting down of trees near the Bishnoi village of Khejarli.
- The Bishnoi villagers, adhering to their commandment not to cut green trees, resisted.
- Led by a woman named Amrita Devi Bishnoi, they hugged the trees to shield them.
- Refusing to back down, the villagers faced beheading by the king’s soldiers.
- 363 Bishnoi villagers lost their lives protecting the trees.
- Abhai Singh later issued an edict preventing tree cutting near Bishnoi villages, and the village became known as Khejarli.
- Legacy and Inspiration:
- The passive resistance of the Bishnoi villagers inspired subsequent movements.
- The Chipko Movement in the 1970s involved villagers hugging trees to prevent government logging.
- National Forest Martyrs Day honors those who sacrificed their lives for India’s forests and wildlife.
Remember, their dedication continues to inspire conservation efforts! 🌳🙏¹²³
