Chipko - Let's Stick With It / Manjula Reddy

I'd like to share a story of days old
One in Indian lands that has been told
Of trees and people and their special bond
That made some humans of these trees so fond 

It was more than two centuries ago
That there began a movement called, "Chipko"
From Hindi, translated, it meant, "to stick"
As in like viscid glue that's laid on thick

The seventies had some taking on the lead
Of Amrita Devi, who had paid no heed
To a King whose decree cleared the woods of trees
He didn't care for nature nor for breeze

He wished to build with ash of "khejri" wood
A palace; for him a forest did no good
Devi, embraced a tree, stayed glued to it
Challenging, with the trunk, her throat be slit

He had her felled and her three daughters too
As eighteen score and three then followed suit
This dissent then went down in local lore
Describing savage deeds, bloodshed and gore

A similar protest was staged years later
As Urban Forest Sector turned traitor
In Uttarkhand, a state that lies up north
Where allied tribal women marched on forth

Hugging trees for days on end to defend
To bring deforestation to an end
Trees embraced in non-violent protest
They spread awareness never seeking rest

And thus began a movement big and strong
A "satyagraha" against doing wrong
Until this day sweet nature's "Chipko" folk
Refuse to bear development's choking yoke