Environmentalist of the year 2015
Chandi Prasad Bhatt
Environmentalist and Social Activist
‘Environment’ is the sum total of what is around something or someone. It includes living things and natural forces. The environment of living things provides conditions for development and growth, as well as of danger and damage. Living things do not simply exist in their environment. Conservation of environment simply implies the sustainable use as well as management of natural resources which include wildlife, water, air, and earth deposits. And when we talk about environment welfare and environment activist, in this case we have a tremendously talented Environmentalist and socialist, for whom the respect for the designation just increases three-fold. With our panel, we chosen Environmentalist and Socialist ‘Chandi Prasad Bhatt’.
Chandi Prasad Bhatt (born on June 23, 1934) is an Indian Gandhian environmentalist and social activist, who founded Dasholi Gram Swarajya Sangh (DGSS) in Gopeshwar in 1964, which later became a mother-organization to the Chipko Movement, in which he was one of the pioneers. Today he is known for his work on subaltern social ecology, and considered one of India’s first modern environmentalist. Gandhi Shanti Puraskar of 2013 is given to Chandi Prasad Bhatt. He is also known for his work on subaltern social ecology.
Chandi Prasad Bhatt, as the second child of Ganga Ram Bhatt and Maheshi Devi Thapliyal, in a family of priests to the Rudranath Temple in Gopeshwar, one of the “Panch Kedar”, the five Himalayan temples dedicated to Shiva, the most venerated amongst them being the Kedarnath Temple. His father who was a farmer, and a priest at a Famous shiva temple at Gopeshwar and the Rudranath Temple, died when Chandi Prasad was still an infant, thereafter he was raised by his mother, in Gopeshwar, Chamoli District of Uttarakhand in India, which was still a very small village. He did his schooling in Rudraprayag and Pauri, but stopped before he could take a degree.
A Gandhian and a member of the Sarvodaya movement, Mr. Bhatt organised the Dashauli Gram Swarajya Sangh in 1964. He dedicated himself through the Sangh to improve the lives of villagers, providing employment near their homes in forest-based industries, and fighting against wrong policies through Gandhian non-violent satyagraha. He has written many books including- Pratikar Ke Ankur (Hindi), Adhure Gyan Aur Kalpanik Biswas per Himalaya Se Cherkhani Ghatak (Hindi), Future of Large Projects in the Himalaya, Eco-system of Central Himalaya, Chipko Experience, Parvat Parvat Basti Basti.
Environmentalist and social activist Chandi Prasad Bhatt on 15 July 2014 was awarded with the prestigious Gandhi Peace prize for 2013. He was awarded by the President of India Pranab Mukherjee at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. He has been awarded with the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership 1982, for he founded Dasholi Gram Swarajya Sangh (DGSS) in Gopeshwar in 1964, Later, DGSS became a mother-organization of the Chipko Movement. Govt of India conferred Padma Shri 1986 and Padma Bhushan 2005 to him.
For his outstanding contribution in the field of environment, India Book of Records, awards him Environmentalist of The year-2014.