Sunderlal Bahuguna

Indian environmentalist who pioneered the Chipko Movement to protect Himalayan forests through nonviolent resistance.

Sunderlal Bahuguna (1927–2021) was the architect of India's iconic Chipko Movement, where villagers hugged trees to prevent deforestation. This grassroots campaign in the 1970s not only saved thousands of acres of Himalayan forests but also redefined global environmental activism by integrating traditional ecological wisdom with modern conservation principles.

Bahuguna's unique contribution lay in his synthesis of Gandhian philosophy and ecological science. He walked over 4,800 km across the Himalayas to raise awareness, coining the slogan Ecology is Permanent Economy. His efforts forced the Indian government to ban commercial logging in fragile mountain regions in 1980, setting a precedent for environmental policy in developing nations.

What made Bahuguna make a difference was his vision of eco-swaraj (ecological self-rule), empowering rural communities to protect their ecosystems. His advocacy against the Tehri Dam project in the 1990s, though ultimately unsuccessful, inspired global anti-dam movements. The Chipko Movement's legacy lives on in contemporary climate activism, influencing figures like Greta Thunberg.