Sunderlal Bahuguna, renowned environmentalist and leader of the Chipko movement, died on Friday aged 94 in
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh due to COVID-19.

Renowned for his role heading the Chipko
movement in the early 1970s, Bahuguna, a forest conservationist and ecological
activist, spent a major chunk of his life backing forest preservation in the
Himalayas.

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Born on January 9, 1927 in the
village of Maroda near Uttarakhand’s Tehri, Bahuguna is credited with organising
women living in the region in his anti-liquor drive in the 1965-1970 period.

Later on, inspired by ideals of
Mahatma Gandhi, Bahuguna reportedly walked through nearly 4,700 kilometres on
foot, observing damage done to the ecosystem through mega developmental
projects.

By far the most iconic message by Bahuguna against deforestation,
however, came in 1973 through the Chipko movement.

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‘Chipko’ in Hindi literally translates to ‘embrace’,
which was exactly the strategy employed by women mobilised for the cause, who embraced
the trees and preventing them from being felled by contractors.

Originating in Garhwal in 1973,
the movement soon spread throughout Northern India.

Bahuguna also remained staunchly behind the
anti-Tehri Dam protests. In 1995, he continued a fast for 45 days before calling
it off, being persuaded by the-then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao who said he
would establish a committee to look into the matter.