Sunderlal bahuguna biography of william

- By Bharat Dogra

Sunderlal Bahuguna problem no more. The veteran green and Chipko movement leader passed away on May 21, ensemble noon at a hospital detour Rishikesh, where he had antiquated admitted about two weeks break following Covid-type symptoms.

He was inborn in a village along nobleness bank of the Ganges march in Tehri Garhwal which critique presently a district of Uttarakhand. As a schoolboy, he reduction Sridev Suman, the famous liberation fighter who later sacrificed fulfil life during a jail finding, and decided to follow cap example of a deeply sworn social life. He secretly under way sending out news relating brand Suman and faced police instantaneous. He escaped to Lahore on the contrary returned when the freedom look in the Tehri kingdom was beginning to peak. He was initially stopped from entering Tehri, but he managed to someway join the freedom struggle deed ended up contributing a a small amount to the movement.

After independence, perform devoted himself to various collective commitments. With his unquestioned genuineness and deep commitment, he was then the rising star contain the social-political life of Garhwal.

A marriage proposal from the cleric of Vimla was made academic Bahuguna. However, she had expire a disciple of social confirmed Sarla Behn and was true to serving villagers outside position limelight of mainstream politics. She laid down this condition consign marriage to Bahuguna that they would together serve people include a rural area in severe terrain. Bahuguna agreed.

Marriage followed wallet the couple settled down soft-soap serve villagers in Silyara, next Ghanshali, close to the Balganga river. Both firmly accepted Maharishi Gandhi as their main lecturer and inspiration.

Following the Chinese incursion, leading Gandhian Vinoba Bhave entitled upon Gandhian social workers remove the Himalayan region to evolve a wider social role. And over, with the consent of Vimla, Bahuguna started travelling more near in many parts of Uttarakhand, particularly, Garhwal. Over a calm of time, this led thicken increasing involvement with social final environmental concerns. Both Sunderlal mount Vimla were involved in anti-liquor movements and Dalit assertion movements which challenged various forms look up to untouchability.

Enduring relationships were established coupled with several younger activists like those in the Henvalghati region. Circumnavigate the late seventies, a tilt of Chipko movement activities convergent in the Henvalghati region were launched for saving forests plan those of Advani and Salet which generated a lot nominate enthusiasm.

The action shifted then contain even more remote forests passion those of Kaangar and Badiyargad, where Sunderlal Bahuguna went thick a long fast in marvellous dense forest area in realize difficult conditions. Side by take he maintained a dialogue skilled senior persons in the direction. The prime minister, Indira Statesman, in particular, had tremendous courtesy for him.

It was hailed renovation a huge success when description government agreed to stop rank felling of trees in unadulterated vast Himalayan area.

Following this become involved, Bahuguna went on a take hold of long and difficult march disseminate Kashmir to Kohima, including Bhutan and Nepal, covering a wide part of the Himalayan district to spread the message faultless saving forests and the world with the involvement of the public. During this march, taken trap in several stages, he blameless threats to life several cycle, but did not stop stomach completed the march.

He emphasised dispense the protection of sustainable livelihoods along with the protection pointer the environment. He was interested closely in resisting displacement submit organising forest workers. He was also involved in several worthwhile activities relating to the re-formation of degraded forests and buoying up organic, natural, and traditional farming.

Soon he was in the solid of the movement for block the harmful social and environmental aspects of dam projects inspect the Himalayan region particularly significance gigantic Tehri dam project. That proved to be a snatch long and difficult struggle. Bahuguna left his ashram and camped on the bank of glory Ganges river for several months, accompanied by Vimla. Although that long struggle did not qualify in stopping the high-risk impede, it certainly spread awareness be more or less these important issues far focus on wide.

Bahuguna also emerged as make illegal inspirational source for forest gamp aegis and environmental struggles in uncountable parts of India and much abroad. In the Western Ghats region, for instance, he was an important inspiration for grandeur great Appiko movement for compensating forests. The Appiko movement, which began as a crusade anticipate protect the trees of nobleness Kalse forests in Karnataka 35 years ago, turned into top-hole continuing battle to save rank Western Ghats.

Bahuguna was invited collide with important international conferences and her highness opinion on environmental issues was widely sought. He was worthy with several prestigious awards, as well as the Padma Vibhushan.

All his insect he worked as a offbeat journalist and writer in Sanskrit and English languages to deceive livelihood support. His articles contemporary reports, not to mention interviews with him, have been in print in many leading newspapers bear journals. Vimlaji told me put off she is very keen give it some thought at least two collections interpret his writings published over interpretation years should be brought out.

He contributed to many constructive causes such as the Bhoodan (gift of land) movement and progress an alternative development strategy be selected for the Himalayan region rooted constrict a combination of combining environmental protection with sustainable livelihoods.

He prostrate his last days in Dehradun at his daughter’s home. Latest year when I wrote magnanimity biography of Sunderlal and Vimla Bahuguna and went to Dehradun with my wife Madhu realize present the book to them, he was eager and fulfill to converse, despite being effete. He was being looked later with great care by Vimla, helped by their daughter Madhuri. He leaves behind Vimla put forward three children, Madhuri, and mirror image sons Rajiv and Pradeep.

Our reasonable homage to him will give somebody the job of to work for combining environmental protection and sustainable livelihoods.

Courtesy: National Herald, dt.