Women Environmentalists India Should Be Thankful For

Never underestimate the power of a woman. - Nellie McClung

Our environment is our sole protector. Yet we neglect it the most. Rapid industrialization and urbanization have completed distorted the balance of the earth. While governments are ruled by selfish capitalistic motives, we have among us some she-heroes who have stood up to power and challenged history. Due to their strength, the famous quote “For most of history, anonymous was a woman,” stands challenged.

Here's a list of empowering female environmentalists of India who have led significant biodiversity movements:

1. Medha Patkar

Leading a powerful mass movement against construction of a dam on the Narmada River, Medha Patkar was the formidable force behind Narmada Bachao Andolan. The construction would have displaced 3,20,000 people! Her methods of peaceful protests and marches helped create awareness about mass displacement and submerging of vast stretches of forest and farmlands. She was bestowed with Golden Prize for Asia in 1992.

2. Sunita Narain

Sunita Narain is the brain we should be all thankful towards for the origin of Green Concept of Sustainable Development! At present, she is the Director General of Centre for Science and Environment. She is also a member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Climate Change and National Ganga River Basin Authority (which employ practices to clean the river). Apart from featuring on the world’s 100 public intellectuals list, by US journal Foreign Policy, she has also won Padma Shri award for her contributions made to the environment.

3. Saalumarada Thimmakka

This 105-year-old environmentalist has proved age is just a number when you wish to make a difference! She made significant contribution towards maintaining the greenery of the earth by planting around 384 odd banyan trees along four-kilometre stretch of highway between Hulikal and Kudur. Because of her efforts and zeal, BBC enlisted her as one of the Top 100 Influential Women in 2016. She has also been honoured with The National Citizen Award by the Indian government.

4. Bano Haralu

Bano Haralu is popularly known as the ‘Falcon of the World’. She quit the world of journalism to become an environmental conservationist. Along with the help of her colleagues, she put an end to illegal hunting and trading of falcons in the local markets. Falcons help kill termites which would otherwise destroy agricultural output. Her effective efforts helped conserve both the wildlife and the human life.

5. Vandana Shiva

From authoring books on environment and anti-globalization to forming women’s networks to protecting forests, Vandana Shiva has immensely contributed to the betterment of the environment. In 1991 she launched Navdanya, a national movement which has over the years helped conserve more than 2000 varieties of rice and establish 34 seed banks in 13 states nationwide. Identified as an Environmental Hero, she has also won Right Livelihood Award, which is considered parallel to the Nobel Prize.

Today our greatest concern should be protecting our environment and helping it restore its natural balance. These women are great source of inspiration to us all. Begin today. Remember no step is small. Every action counts.