The Original Tree-huggers: Women at the Forefront of Indian Environmentalism

“This is so mummy!” my sister wrote in a direct message on Instagram. Following the link, I was directed to an Instagram reel showing a young woman discovering a shampoo bottle filled with oil. She called out to her mother angrily, questioning why the bottle had been repurposed. The comments were filled with people recognizing this as a common phenomenon in their households. A cursory walk down this rabbit hole of social media content about Indian mothers reveals many such practices. What might seem specific to one home often turns out to be universal across Indian households: the lifecycle of clothing evolving from wearable to cleaning rags, the drawer overflowing with polythene packets or neatly folded gift wraps.

I didn’t grow up thinking of my mother as an environmentalist, but looking back, it’s clear that many of my sustainable practices are rooted in her everyday actions. In today’s world, she could easily be a sustainability influencer!

Women and nature have always shared a deep bond. Many ancient cultures—Greek, Mesopotamian, Roman, and others—depicted the earth and associated goddesses as female. Among the many social movements in history, environmentalism stands out as one where women have been early pioneers. This connection likely stems from the nature of sustainability practices, which have traditionally been inward-focused—a domain often occupied by women. Traits traditionally viewed as feminine—nurturing, care, and softness—align closely with the principles of environmentalism. Historically, women have also depended heavily on natural resources, engaging in activities like washing clothes or fetching water from rivers. These connections make them particularly vulnerable to environmental degradation—and, in turn, strong advocates for conservation.

In India, one of the earliest lessons in environmental activism comes from the “Chipko” movement. This grassroots forest conservation movement began in the early 1970s in the Tehri-Garhwal region. Local Bishnoi women, led by figures like Gaura Devi, played a central role. Activists embraced trees to prevent logging contractors from cutting them down. The movement is often credited with paving the way for India’s Forest Conservation Act of 1980. The term “Chipko” itself—a simple, beautiful Hindi word meaning “to hug”—adds a sense of homeliness to the movement. Vandana Shiva, a prominent eco-feminist, described it as a shift from viewing forests as sources of timber to recognizing them as providers of soil, water, and air—the fundamental elements of life.

Beyond Shiva, the list of Indian environmentalists includes highly respected women such as Sunita Narain, Medha Patkar, and Maneka Gandhi. In 2024, Tulsi Gowda, often called the “Encyclopedia of Forests,” received the Padma Shri for her lifelong work planting and nurturing trees in southern India. Like her, countless women work daily to protect natural resources, making incremental but significant contributions.

For many rural women in India, their efforts to conserve and protect nature stem not from an abstract concept of environmentalism but from a survival instinct. Their connection to the land and its resources is direct and vital. For human civilization, this instinct should be universal. Yet, in the modern world, our detachment from natural resources often leads us to forget that all our modern comforts ultimately come from this planet we live on. We could all take some lessons from the Garhwali women who hugged the trees around them like their own family to protect and love them.

(The Author is a Renewable Finance Professional)