My Head for a Tree: the Amazing Bishnoi Spirit

The world perhaps knows the Bishnois (Vishnois) only for the strong protests they made back in 1998 when the film actor Salman Khan was caught allegedly poaching sacred Black bucks from the dry-land forests surrounding Jodhpur town in western Rajasthan. There is much more to that community, founded about 500 years back by Jambhoji Maharaj, whose faith is based on nature worship.

If western Rajasthan still has trees on its arid terrains that is because of this community, which may die protecting a tree or a deer. That is what they did back in 1730 opposing the Jodhpur ruler who had sent his men to cut down the Khejri trees in the village which is now known as Khejdali. A precursor to the better known tree protection movement called the Chipko Andolan, the ruthless act of the ruler claimed the lives of as many as 363 men and women led by Amrita Devi Vishnoi. Now the village stands as a living testimony of the first known resistance by the eco warriors anywhere in the world.

While travelling in the desert districts of Jodhpur, Nagaur, Barmer, Jaisalmer, Pali and Jalore one may come across Bishnoi women breastfeeding fawns whose mother had been either poached or killed in an accident. For a Bishnoi mother feeding the orphan fawn is more important than feeding her own child. There are umpteen cases, not in the past but also in the present times, of Bishnoi youth getting injured and even killed, fighting poachers and intruders in the sacred groves in the rural areas. For trees and animals, especially deer, Bishnois may kill as well as die.

The Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) discussed “My head for a tree: the extraordinary story of the Bishnoi, guardians of nature”, perhaps a first of its kind book delving deep into both the ethos and the religion of the Bishnois. Authored by Martin J. Goodman after considerable research and interaction with these indigenous people, the book opens a new window to the world on sustainable habits and lifestyle. Narendra Budhnagar Bishnoi, who assisted the author in understanding the core faith of the Bishnois and the teachings of Jambhoji or Guru Jambeshwar, joined the discussion led by Prakash Dhandheta. 

It was by chance that Martin Goodman, an author who used to visit JLF on a regular basis in the past, came across noted environmentalist Harsh Vardhan. “Martin was interested in the rare Great Indian Bustards (GIB), majority of which are found in western Rajasthan. Talking about the bird I mentioned about Bishnois, the people who nurture the nature and have been protecting the bird as well for centuries,” Mr. Vardhan, who was present at the session, told The AIDEM. “That was about three years and a half back. “Martin got interested in the community itself and that resulted in this unique book,” Vardhan, who has been highlighting the lifestyle of the Bishnoi community as a suitable model for protection of bio diversity, said.

“Martin lived with the Bishnoi community to understand the ethos of our creed,’ said Narendra Bishnoi. “He listened to the stories of sacrifices by our ancestors. Our history is full of brave deeds and sacrifices made in the past for the protection of trees, animals and the mother earth. The Bishnoi story is the story of people offering martyrdom for the protection of the environment”, he asserted. “There is hope in recognizing the purity of this faith. For this faith trees are weeping souls,” noted Martin. “I am willing to join the fight for trees from the frontline,” the author promised. 

If the Bishnoi community appears overtly frustrated at present, that is because of the absence of sincerity on the part of the authorities in Rajasthan in protecting wildlife. “There is a general laxity in implementing the wildlife laws and also in punishing the guilty. The poachers go scot free at the end of unending postponement of hearings,” Narendra pointed out. “The legal system is so weak that my brother a few years back had to start the Bishnoi Tiger Force for the protection of wildlife and prevention of poaching. The cases of poaching have been increasing,” he revealed.

“Young Bishnois are now taking up learning of law so that they can fight the cases of poaching as well as violation of forest laws themselves,” Martin observed. Another area of concern was the decline in the number of Khejri trees (Prosopis cineraria), considered the mainstay of the Thar ecology. Conservationists also have been airing their concern over the cutting of the Khejri trees, which is the  state tree of Rajasthan and the national tree of the United Arab Emirates where it is called Ghaf. “We have been trying our best to protect the Khejri trees but of late in the name of setting up huge solar plants in the desert, many trees are being cut,” Bishnoi lamented.

“The job cannot be left to the Bishnois alone. The general public has to wake up to the situation and act,” both Vardhan and Martin asserted.

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