In 1730, in the village of Khejarli, Rajasthan, a historic and heart-wrenching act of environmental sacrifice occurred. Amrita Devi Bishnoi, a staunch follower of the Bishnoi tradition, gave her life to protect the sacred Khejri trees from being cut down by royal soldiers.
When the king’s men arrived to fell the trees for wood, Amrita Devi stepped forward, hugged a tree, and declared:
“A chopped head is cheaper than a felled tree.”
True to her words, she was beheaded on the spot — becoming the first martyr of the Khejarli Massacre. Her sacrifice was followed by 363 other Bishnois, including her daughters, who embraced death to protect nature.
Her Enduring Legacy
Amrita Devi’s sacrifice was not in vain. It sparked a legacy of environmental awareness in India. Her courage later inspired the Chipko Movement and continues to motivate environmentalists and nature lovers.
The Amrita Devi Bishnoi Wildlife Protection Award, given by the Government of India, honors individuals for outstanding contribution to wildlife conservation — a testament to her lasting impact.
Amrita Devi Bishnoi, a courageous woman from Rajasthan, laid down her life in 1730 to protect Khejri trees from deforestation. Her heroic act inspired 363 others and became a landmark moment in India’s environmental history. Today, her legacy lives on through forest conservation efforts and the Bishnoi community’s dedication to nature.
Her life is a powerful reminder that:
🌿 Sacrificing for nature is the purest form of devotion.
