Gandhian principles have solutions to every problem the world is grappling with and teachings of the Father of the Nation would never be outdated, says noted environmentalist Chandi Prasad Bhatt, who has been conferred the prestigious Gandhi Peace award.
A reticent personality, who is known for his contribution in conservation of environment, 80-year-old Bhatt expressed "happiness and surprise" on winning the award.
"I am happy as well as surprised. The award is the result of combined efforts of scientists, environment crusaders, women, children and the various other stakeholders," Bhatt told PTI.
The award was conferred on him last week by President Pranab Mukherjee.
A Gandhian from the core of his heart, Bhatt who came into the limelight with the 'Chipko' movement in 1970s, maintains that the Gandhian principle of non-violence has always inspired him in all his initiatives.
He says various problems facing the world can be resolved through Gandhian principles.
He vividly remembers the time when it all started; his first protest against commercial forestry.
"During the Chipko movement, we had the choice of snatching the saws of the tree cutters or torestrict their action in a violent manner. But we chose to protest in a non-violent way. We hugged the trees and let the cutters know that the first strike should be on our backs.
"Jab mann me hinsa ho, vo karam me aati hai (violence in the hearts is reflected in the action)," says Bhatt.
He instituted the Dasholi Gram Swarajya Mandal (Society for Village Self-rule) in 1964 at Gopeshwar, his home town in Uttarakhand, his first step towards the crusade for a safer and secure environment.
The organisation aimed at providing employment to the villagers near their homes in forest-based industries. It had initiated making wooden implements from ash trees, marketed herbs for ayurvedic medicines and could caught the imagination of the people and became a successful movement.
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