On this day in 1974, India’s Gaura Devi led a tree-hugging protest to stop deforestation
Photo: Citizens demanding clean rivers and stop tree cutting at Chipko Andolan, 2023 / Samruddhi2897 / CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED
On this day in 1974, grassroots activist and community leader Gaura Devi led 27 women in Reni, India, to stop loggers by hugging trees and refusing to leave the forest. Inspired by the Chipko movement, their peaceful resistance forced the loggers to withdraw, marking a turning point in India’s environmental activism. That same year, Gaura Devi became a key leader in the movement.
The Chipko movement, a non-violent campaign to protect forests, began as a women-led struggle for forest rights. While many of its leaders were men, women played the most significant role, as they bore the brunt of deforestation—losing firewood, fodder, and access to clean water for drinking and irrigation. Over time, they became the driving force behind reforestation efforts under the movement.
In 1987, the Chipko movement received the Right Livelihood Award for its dedication to conserving and restoring India’s natural resources.
Also on 26 March
In 1973, Muriel Wood, Susan Shaw, Hilary Root, Anthea Gaukroger, Audrey Geddes, and Elisabeth Rivers-Bulkeley became the first women to step onto the London Stock Exchange trading floor in its 171-year history. Their presence ended years of exclusion and marked a breakthrough for women in finance.
Read more about women’s achievements throughout history here
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