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Importance National Forest Martyrs Day: Forest is very important for us, while this oldest heritage of the environment is also there. Efforts should be made to protect the environment continuously, for this purpose, National Forest Martyr’s Day is celebrated every year on 11 September. The story of Jabanj woman Amrita Devi is found behind celebrating Forest Martyr’s Day. Amrita Devi of Khejharli or Khejdli village in Jodhpur, Rajasthan gave up her life to save the forest, along with her daughters and 363 forest martyrs were also involved. How Amrita Devi has taken such a step for forest protection, let’s know about it.

This contribution is recorded in the pages of history

It is said that on 11 September 1730, Jodhpur was ruled by Marwar Raja Abhay Singh. During that time the king was planning to build a new palace for which he needed wood. For this, King Abhay Singh sent his employees under the leadership of Hakim Girdhari Das Bhandari of the princely state to cut the khejdi. These Khejdi trees were in Khejdali village. This village is an area of ​​Rajasthan where most of the land in the area is barren. Trees are less. The most important in this is Khejdi (Prosopis cineria). This small evergreen tree is considered the lifeline of the Thar Desert, its leaves provide fodder to camels, goats, cattle and other animals. Its legumes are edible with it and wood is fuel. Its roots stabilize atmospheric nitrogen, making soil fertile.

Religion rolled off the tree

It is said that as soon as Amrita Devi Bishnoi came to know that the king is coming to cut the trees. She went and clung to the tree and Amrita Devi protested against the king’s soldiers. In the midst of this protest, the king directed his soldiers to run the ax, where the king’s people cut them with an ax. During this time, along with 383 people, Amrita Devi’s daughters Asu, Bhagu and Ratni were also killed while saving the tree.

During that time, before being martyred, Amrita Devi had said-Rir-sate, even if you are crying, even if it is. Which means – “If a tree is saved even at the cost of a person’s life, then it is right.” The Bishnoi society puts this sentence on its hearts. After this incident, when the king got information about such a massacre, he drowned in self -aggression. Ordered not to build the palace and not hunt around Bishnoi village. The Khejdi tree has been declared a Rajvriksha.