Abstract
The Chipko Movement, which originated in the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand (then part of Uttar Pradesh) during the early 1970s, stands as a pioneering example of grassroots environmental activism in India. Renowned for its unique method of non-violent protest—where villagers, particularly women, physically embraced trees to prevent their felling—the movement challenged the prevailing paradigm of commercial forest exploitation driven by state and corporate interests. Rooted in Gandhian principles of satyagraha and civil disobedience, the Chipko Movement was not merely a reaction against deforestation but a profound assertion of community rights over natural resources. The movement underscored the intrinsic link between forest ecosystems and rural livelihoods, especially in ecologically sensitive mountainous regions where forests are crucial to agriculture, water conservation, and biodiversity. Women, as primary caregivers and natural resource managers in these areas, emerged as powerful leaders and symbols of resistance, transforming the movement into an emblem of ecofeminism.This research paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the Chipko Movement’s historical evolution, leadership dynamics, and socio-political impact. It adopts a qualitative methodology, drawing from academic literature, archival documents, and first-hand narratives to explore the broader implications of the movement for environmental justice and participatory governance. The study also situates the Chipko Movement within the larger context of post-colonial environmental policy-making in India, examining how it influenced legislative reforms and inspired similar movements globally. Furthermore, it identifies existing gaps in the literature, particularly about the movement’s gendered dimensions, long-term ecological outcomes, and its potential as a replicable model for contemporary environmental movements. This paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on sustainable development, ecological resistance, and community-based resource management in the face of climate change and neoliberal ecological governance.