INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH JOURNAL OF COMMERCE, ARTS AND SCIENCE ISSN 2319 – 9202

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CASIRJ Volume 5 Issue 12 [Year - 2014] ISSN 2319 – 9202

Eco-Consciousness in Sect

Dr. Vikram Singh Associate Professor

Vaish College, Bhiwani (),

E-mail: [email protected]

The present paper is an endeavor to analyze and elucidate the ‘Eco-Consciousness in Bishnoi Sect’ as Guru Jambheshwar laid twenty-nine principles to be followed by his followers in the region of . He was a great visionary and it was his scientific vision to protect our environment in the 15th century. A simple peasant, saint, and seer, Jambhuji1 (Guru Jambheshwar 1451-1536 A. D.) knew the importance of bio-diversity preservation and ill–effects of environmental pollution, deforestation, wildlife preservation and ecological balance, etc. He not only learnt it himself, but also had fruit of knowledge to influence the posterity to preserve the environment and ecology through religion. Undoubtedly, he was one of the greatest environmentalist and ecologist of the 15th and 16th century as well as the contemporary of Guru Nanak2 (1469 - 1539) who composed the shabad to lay the foundation for a sacred system for the environmental preservation:

Pavan Guru Pani Pita, Mata Dharat Mahat.

Pavan means air, which is our Guru, Pani means water, which is our Father, and Mata Dharat Mahat means earth, which is our the Great Mother. ’We honor our Guru’s wisdom by believing that all humans have an intrinsic sensitivity to the natural world, and that a sustainable, more

1 Jambhoji: Messiah of the - Page xiii 2 Burghart, Richard. "The Founding of the Ramanandi Sect". In Ethnohistory 25, 2 Spring 1978, pp. 121-39.Also see in detail, Hawley, J. S. and Mark Juergensmeyer, trans. Songs of the Saints of (New York: Oxford UniversityPress, 1988)

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CASIRJ Volume 5 Issue 12 [Year - 2014] ISSN 2319 – 9202 just society is possible, where water, air, land, forests, and biodiversity remain vibrant, living systems for our generation and future generations’.3

Guru Jambheshwar initiated new faith Bishnoi with the 29 principles at the village of Samrathal Dhora (Sand Dune) near Nokha in Bikaner District of in 1485 A.D (on the eighth day of the black fortnight of the month of kārtika of the Vikram Samvat 1542) which would govern the lives of his followers i.e. - derived from ‘bees’ and ‘noi’, which means 20 and 9 that was unique seed of conservation of nature sown in the Marwar region in the 15 th century.The Majority of the peasants of the Marwar region of the Bishnoi sect whole- heartedly accepted the twenty-nine principles4 of Guru Jambheshwar which were specially designed to conserve ecology and bio-diversity to ensure eco- friendly healthy environment for the people of the region as well as for our future generations. In this way, the Bishnoi Sect came into existence when the people of Marwar accepted the twenty nine tenets proclaimed by Guru Jambheshwar. It is often said in the local dialect; “Untees Dharma ki akhadi, hirday there Joye, Jambheji kirpa Kari, naam Bishnoi Hoye” which means those who will follow these twenty-nine principles by strictly heart, Guru Jambheshwarji will bless them and they will be considered true Bishnoi. The eight tenets out of the twenty nine are strict guidelines for the preservation of the environment, bio-diversity, ecology as well as these also motivates good animal husbandry and compassion for living things. These eight principles also strictly prohibit killing of animals, sterilization of bulls, felling green tree and motivates preservation of all life forms. His followers were also directed to use the firewood without small insects protecting them. Guru Jambheshwar urged his followers not to wear clothes dyed by using ‘Neel’ as the dye for colouring is obtained by cutting shrubs.5

The Bishnoi sect has a simple and scientific way of living. A small sect spread in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and , which contributed more

3 Gurbachan Singh Bachan, Guru Nanak and Ecology, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, 2004, pp.40-47. 4 “29-Rules”. http://www.bishnoisamaj.com. Retrieved 24 January 2014. 5 Chapple, C. K. “Religious Environmentalism: Thomas Berry, the Bishnoi, and Satish Kumar.” Dialog 50, no. 4 (2011): 336–343.

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CASIRJ Volume 5 Issue 12 [Year - 2014] ISSN 2319 – 9202 preservation and protection of the environment as well as wildlife than any other religion or sect. The followers of the sect believed in the sanctity of the environment and the need to protect trees as well as animals who also learnt how to nurture Nature without exploiting it. They felt proud in protecting the trees as well as animals. The people of this sect are devoted conservationists and ecologists having the scientific attitude to whom religion meant for the preservation of vegetable life. The Bishnoi are very fierce in defending flora and fauna who attacked the poachers and chased them away to protect wildlife.

The Bishnoi Sect is based on principles of conservation, including compassion and preservation of wildlife, deforestation as well as prohibits on idol worship whose basic concept is to treat all living things with dignity as we depend on our environment to sustain life. They sacrificed their lives to conserve and protect the flora and fauna since the origin of the sect. Preservation of the environment, wildlife and Nature is a part and parcel of these natures-loving people’s traditions. The principles of this community are rays of light for eco-friendly, environment, for health, peace, harmony, love and ecological balanced Nature which are very beneficial for human being irrespective of religion. The old Chipko song in Garhwali language draws inspiration from the philosophy of Bishnoi Sect:

“Maatu hamru, paani hamru, hamra hi chhan yi baun bhi...

Pitron na lagai baun, hamunahi ta bachon bhi”6

The meaning of this old Chipko Song: Soil ours, water ours, ours is these forests. Our forefathers raised them, it’s We who must protect them!

There are some activities and practices which are unique in the Bishnoi Sect that are complemented with Nature and their eco-consciousness in life style. The Bishnoi’s abode is full of flora and fauna where they live in a complete harmony with Nature in the oasis. The Bishnoi Sect preaches love and peace with harmony among human beings, plants, animals and the

6 Sengupta, Amit. “Chipko! Hill conservationists”. tehelka.com. Retrieved 29 July2012.

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CASIRJ Volume 5 Issue 12 [Year - 2014] ISSN 2319 – 9202 biosphere, etc. Many Bishnoi tenets inspire harmony and peace in Nature, prohibiting the eating of meat and felling of trees and direct us “be compassionate toward all living beings.” They have developed their farming and animal husbandry scientifically so that they have their own self sustained economy. The Bishnoi people are very religious as they may be hungry and thirsty, but they will never allow an animal or bird to die due to deficiency of fodder, food or water. This eco-conscious community has a strong bond with nature and is in complete harmony for more than 500 years following their Guru Jambheshwar’s tenets. The Bishnois are true devotees of their Guru Jambheshwar who can sacrifice their life and become violent and aggressive to guard Nature i.e. flora and fauna. A hunter cannot escape from a Bishnoi’s eye to be caught which might prove worst thing for such hunters. The Bishnois bury their dead, unlike Hindus to avoid cutting of trees following their Guru Jambheshwar’s instructions. The Bishnoi carpenters never cut trees, but they would wait for trees to fall down due to storms or natural calamity. The Bishnois do not chop green trees, but they use dried cow dung cake as fuel. Though the Bishnoi were mainly depended on agriculture, yet they also carve wood when they are not busy with agricultural practices. The Bishnois protect the black buck from poachers and allow to graze them freely on their farms as they are sacred to their religion who believe that the black bucks, nilgais and chinkaras have their first right to the crop and whatever is left belongs to them. To provide water for animals, especially black bucks, they construct tanks in their fields and grow trees in groves to provide habitat and food for birds and animals. A Bishnoi temple in Jajiwal village, Dhora, , is an instance of the rarest dedication to the environment and Nature in the world. The Bishnoi live in the Thar desert where these groves also help to bring rain and maintain moisture in the desert soil. The Bishnois are practicing naturalists, committed conservationist and guardians of the wild animals. The Bishnoi women do not lag behind men, as they have deep maternal affection for the rescued orphaned calves. It is not uncommon for a Bishnoi woman to breastfeed a newly born, orphaned calf of a black buck.

We cannot ignore the pragmatism and scientific attitude of Bishnoi people who are especially associated with nature and divinity. The Khejri (Prosopis Cineraria) tree known for its sacredness in Bishnoi Sect which provides food, fodder, and building materials. It has played a vital role in the ecology, especially in the Thar desert. Therefore, in the Bishnoi’s cosmology, flora and fauna are viewed intrinsically venerable whatever they are useful or not. The Bishnoi

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CASIRJ Volume 5 Issue 12 [Year - 2014] ISSN 2319 – 9202 people are famous for sacrificing their lives to protect flora and fauna e.g. Khejri tree, Chinkara, Deer, Godawn. The eco-friendly religious, scientific attitude of this community can be seen everywhere for propagating the Chipko Movement. The Bishnoi Sect strengthened itself by their stories of aggressiveness and dedicated themselves to protect and preserve flora and fauna. They sacrificed their lives as Karma and Gora, two Bishnoi women from Ramsari Village, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, sacrificed themselves in 1604 AD to protect sacred Khejri tree is also known as Janty in local dialect (Prosopis Cineraria botanical name) trees which in Rajasthan revered as the banyan and peepal (Ficus religosa) elsewhere in India.7 This sacrificial incident is known as the first “saka” (self-immolation) in the Indian history for the sake of a tree. Their heroic sacrifice proved an inspiration for other Indian women8 as several episodes happened in the history of the Bishnois to protect trees and animals. Another instance of sacrifice to protect Nature and its trees was the Buchoji Bishnoi who sacrificed his life in around 1643 to protect felling of trees for celebrating the festival of Holi.

One more instance of eco-consciousness among Bishnois can be seen in the people of Marwar. Maharaja Abhay Singh of Jodhpur awarded the estate of Khejarali to Thakur Surat Singh of Kharda Thikana in 1726 A.D, popularly known as the first ‘Thakur of .’9 There was a tragic incident in the village of Khejarli on Tuesday, the 10th day of the Shukla pakash of the month Bhaadra according to Indian lunar Calender (September) 1730 A.D.10 and It is known as a black day in the history of Bishnoi Sect. When a royal party under the leadership of Giridhar Das Bhandari, a minister of Maharaja Abhay Singh, Ruler of Marwar (Jodhpur) state had arrived in the village at night to fell the sacred green Khejri (Prosopis Cineraria) trees to prepare mortar for the construction of his new palace.11

7 Harsh Vardhan, http://www.ourindiantours.com/reports/Bishnois-Note.pdf 8 Ibid. 9 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khejarli 10 http://www.bishnoism.com/thefirst.php 11 Ibid., Also see Centre for Science and Environment, The State of Indian’s Environment 1984-85, the Second Citizens’ Report ( New Delhi: CSE, 1985), 162.

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Amrita Devi, who was a brave and devoted follower of Guru Jambheshwar, a mother of three daughters named Ashu, Ratni and Bhagu Bai, native of Khejarli village12 and also known as the founder of the modern ‘Chipko Movement’13 was shocked to know in the late night the devastation of green Khejri (Prosopis Cineraria) trees secretly by the royal party of ruler of Marwar. Amrita Devi reached there as soon as possible and protested bravely against an attempt to cut green Khejri (Prosopis Cineraria) trees. Then the officials demanded money as bribes, they told her that if she wanted to protect the green Khejri trees she must pay. To give bribe was a sin according to the principles of Guru Jambheshwar, therefore, she refused bluntly to give them a bribe and declared that she would better sacrifice herself for this noble cause i.e. saving Khejri trees as it was insulting to her religious faith. She stated:“Sar santey rukh rahe to bhi sasto jan” 14 (If a tree is saved even at the cost of one’s head, it’s worth it) As the royal party men led to cut the trees, she embraced the tree, but they brutally severed her head from her body and the same fate were met with her husband and three daughters. This shocking news spread like wild fire in the region where Bishnois of 83 villages gathered immediately and decided to condemn the incident and opposed the royal party for felling the trees. It was also decided that one Bishnoi volunteer would sacrifice his/her life to protect for every green tree from cuttings.15 Old people voluntarily started holding the trees to be cut their heads in an embrace in the beginning, but the Girdhar Das Bhandari taunted the Bishnois that unwanted old people are sacrificing themselves. As a result of this taunt Bishnoi people took it as their insult and declared that Bishnoi young, men, women, including recently married ones and children would sacrifice their lives to preserve the trees and soon three hundred and sixty three (363) Bishnois became martyrs for this noble cause.

The members of royal party and Girdhar Das Bhandari (Hakim) were stunned from their sacrificial activities. They returned to Jodhpur with their mission unfulfilled. The king

12 http://www.bishnoivillagesafari.com/bishnoi_history.html#The_Khejrali_Massacre 13 http://www.bishnoivillagesafari.com/bishnoi_history.html#tt 14 Ibid. 15 http://www.bishnoivillagesafari.com/bishnoi_history.html

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CASIRJ Volume 5 Issue 12 [Year - 2014] ISSN 2319 – 9202 of Marwar felt embarrassed after hearing the whole tragic episode from them and immediately ordered strictly his officials for prohibition of devastation of trees in Bishnoi region as well as he apologized to the Bishnoi people for the mistake committed by his royal party members engraving a royal order on a copper plate:16 He also ordered his officials as well as royal family members if anyone violated this order by even mistake he would be prosecuted and severe punishment would be given.17

The Banning of the deforestation and hunting of animals by Maharaja Abhay Singh, Ruler of Marwar (Jodhpur) proved a landmark in the history of the environmental protection and preservation of flora and fauna movement. Thus, it was a sacrificial incident of the Bishnoi Sect which proved their scientific attitude and environmental awareness when this incident came out as the rare instance of environmental conservation in the world. A memorable place was constructed at Khejarli in the honour of their sacrifice and a fair is organized every year on Shukla Dashmi of Bhadrapad ( month) to pay homage to the martyrs of environmentalists and conservationists. The Government of India also instituted an award, the “Amrita Devi Bishnoi wildlife Protection Award” in 2001 to recognize the sacrifice of Amrita Devi. This annual award is given for making exemplary contributions to the protection of wildlife and preservation of the environment. A cash award of Rupees One lakh is presented to individuals/institutions involved in wildlife protection. The first Amrita Devi Bishnoi wildlife Protection Award 2001' was conferred posthumously on Ganga Ram Bishnoi of Chirai village in Jodhpur to his wife, Kishni Devi Bishnoi in New Delhi by the Union Environment and Forests Minister, T.R. Baalu on May 29, 2003. On August 12, 2000 Ganga Ram chased some hunters who had killed a `chinkara' (deer) and was shot dead.18

Thus, it was the victory of Guru Jambheshwar’s tenants who delivered his first sermon of conservation and environmental protection at Smaranthal Dhora, (Sand Dune) near Nokha in Bikaner District of Rajasthan which had become the religious site of everyone.

16 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khejarli, Panchnama - Chipko Movement, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). 17 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khejarli 18 The Hindu, May 30, 2003.

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Environmental consciousness and vision can be seen in Guru Jambheshwar’s followers who have scientific as well as conservationist attitude. They are often followers of non-violence (Ahimsa) but they become extremely violent if any flora and fauna are harmed. They fearlessly provide strict protection to the Blackbuck and Chinkara provided they were seriously injured and even killed by poachers. If the hunters escape, leaving a dead antelope in an agricultural field, the Bishnois follower will mourn its death like a family member and performed the last rites like a dear one. The Bishnoi people, with an environmental awareness, attitude and commitment to the conservation of flora and fauna achieved the rarest status in India in comparison to other sects.

We can see eco-friendly attitude of the Bishnois that wild animals like deer, antelope, blue bulls, black bucks grazing in their fields without any fear in the Marwar region, especially in the Bishnoi dominated area which shows their strong love and affection for wild animals. The Bishnoi people are true followers of Guru Jambheshwar’s tenets who have been strongly protesting and launching a campaign since October, 1998 against the killing of black bucks by Bollywood star Salman Khan. He had to face their wrath and strong protest at the time of hunting expedition for black buck near Kankani village near Jodhpur.19

It would not be out of place to mention that the noted environmentalist Sundarlal Bahuguna launched the Chipko Aandolan in 1980’s was inspired by the Bishnoi’s principles and their sacrifice for preservation of Nature. The famous Chipko Poet, Ghanasyam Raturi’s inspirational songs for the protection of felling trees echoed throughout the Himalayan region:

“Embrace the trees and

Save them from being felled;

The property of our hills,

19http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hc-finalises-charges-against-salman-in-black-buck- killing-case/article1-895151.aspx

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Save them from being looted.”20

A World Bank report, which was published recently and warned that environmental sustainability would be a big challenge to India’s growth in future. World Environment Day is celebrated every year on 5 June all over the world and the Bishnois commemorate it at Bishnoi Bhawan, Delhi.

We may conclude the Bishnois are not only the first environmentalists and ecologists of India, but also probably in the world as they have been following environmental and wildlife protection tenets since 1485 propounded their religious environmentalist Guru Jambheshwarji who made these principles compulsory for his followers: “Not to cut green trees” and “Be compassionate to all living beings.” The ecological ethics of Bishnois has a significant role in modern context where forests are fast disappearing due to commercialzation and greed as a result air as well as land and rivers are being badly polluted. And eco-balance is not maintained by preserving flora and fauna, then natural disasters would occur in the form of floods, soil erosion, land sliding and moreover the dangers of global warming in the 21st century. Thus, our mother earth the beautiful planet would not become a bad place to live on. Protection and preservation of flora and fauna would be more effective if we consider the Earth as a living, breathing entity and struggle for its survival as well as its conservation.

20 Haripriya Rangan, Of Myth and Movements: Rewriting Chipko into Himalayan History, Verso, London, February 2001, p. 20.

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