Amrita Devi

Amrita Devi was an environmentalist and martyr from the Bishnoi community of Khejarli, Jodhpur district, Rajasthan, India. She is known for her role in the conservation of the Khejri trees (Prosopis cineraria), which are considered sacred by the Bishnoi community. She was killed, along with her three daughters, in the Khejarli massacre, after protesting the felling of trees by Maharaja Abhay Singh of Marwar.

In 1730, the then Maharaja of Jodhpur, Abhay Singh, ordered the felling of Khejri trees to burn lime for the construction of his new palace. Amrita Devi opposed the cutting of the trees, which were vital to the Bishnoi faith. She famously stated that she would give away her life to save the trees. According to legend, Devi put her arms around the trunk of a tree to prevent it from being felled; in response, the king's men decapitated her. In the subsequent Khejarli massacre, Devi's three daughters, Asu, Ratni and Bhagu, and 363 other Bishnois were killed while protecting the trees.

Legacy


Her act of bravery is commemorated by the Bishnoi community every year, and inspired the Chipko movement in the 1970s.

The Government of India instituted the Amrita Devi Bishnoi National Award for individuals or communities from rural areas that have shown extraordinary courage and dedication in protecting wildlife.

In 2023, the Rajasthan Animal Welfare Board adopted a new name in reference to Amrita Devi.