For most Indians, the word 'Bishnoi' evokes two stark images-the blackbuck poaching case involving superstar Salman Khan and, more recently, the Lawrence Bishnoi stand-off with him. Unfortunately, neither of these emanates the positive recall that the community deserves. As the legal battle unfolded and dragged on for over twenty-six years and still counting, the nation watched in disbelief as an entire community rose to defend a few animals. In a country where human lives don't matter as much, the country was astonished to witness a community stand resolute in seeking justice for a few animals. The case became a rare moment when modern justice systems intersected with a five-hundred-year-old philosophy that views the protection of nature as a spiritual duty-a dharma. My journey with this book began with childhood tales of Bishnoi women nursing orphaned deer fawns. Growing up with roots in Haryana, these anecdotes felt like distant folklore from another land, far away from me. In my fast-paced life, I failed to realise many Bishnoi villages were, quite literally, in my own backyard. That's how distant the dharmic life is for most of us, in the modern world. It's still there-in the background, wherever we are waiting to be rediscovered beneath the haze of modernity we have built around ourselves. Dharma demands conscious effort. In the India I grew up, particularly among modern educated circles, the word dharma was taboo, and still is in many ways. It was fashionable to say-I am spiritual, but not religious. In this mindset, we imported ecological frameworks and sustainability goals from the West-but ironically, we ignored the deep ecological wisdom hidden in our own traditions. Hiding in every nook and corner of our dharmic texts is deep ecological wisdom and insight that are waiting to be dusted off and revisited. Our history books didn't teach us anything much that made us proud of our cultural heritage. Nowhere in my curriculum, at least in my generation was the Bishnoi community mentioned as protectors of nature, or as torchbearers of an ancient ecological consciousness. As I immersed myself into the Bishnoi way of life, I realised how this philosophy and way of life refuses to see nature as separate from the self, but as an extension of it. As the events turned, I felt compelled to write a book a tribute to the Bishnoi spirit and devotion to the environment that could serve as a blueprint for a more sustainable future for the entire world. The Bishnois are sometimes called the first eco-warriors, defenders of the Earth protecting the environment as their spiritual duty. In truth, they are the last, standing fiercely resolute, where others have long abandoned their sacred duty. Sanatan Dharma regards human beings as the custodians of Bhu Devi, the Earth, sustaining the environment, and ecology. While most dharmic sampradayas and panths have strayed away from this sacred responsibility.
Anu Lall holds a Master's in business administration (MBA) from XLRI Jamshedpur and is a Bachelor of law (LLB) from Delhi University. She has had a career in the pharmaceutical and technology industries, working in India, US, Europe and Singapore for over twenty-five years. She is a trained yoga asana and pranayama teacher. Anu's immensely viral videos about current issues, dharma and law resonate with audiences worldwide and are widely shared across platforms. Anu is a popular face on television debates, besides being an author and a regular contributor of opinions and articles to national and international newspapers.
Hindu (952)
Agriculture (137)
Ancient (1138)
Archaeology (830)
Architecture (578)
Art & Culture (953)
Biography (746)
Buddhist (547)
Cookery (173)
Emperor & Queen (590)
Islam (315)
Jainism (345)
Literary (887)
Mahatma Gandhi (397)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Visual Search
Manage Wishlist