## Why I like Google Doodles Even though I don't like many of the things Google does, I cannot deny that I love some of the things they do. One such thing is their attempt to embrace and spread culture, science, and history through Google Doodles. The Google Doodles teach us many things we didn't know before, they remind us of significant individuals whom we often forget to thank because they are long dead. Google Doodles celebrate occasions, festivals, and sporting events. In a way, I think Google Doodles are documenting human progress and history through art. Google Doodles celebrate humanity. I am grateful to Google for this. Google haters may not like it, but I believe in giving the credit where it is due. So today is one such day when a Google Doodle is remembering something which is immensely significant to humanity and the planet, yet has been largely forgotten. ### Today Google is remembering the Chipko movement, the original tree-huggers. ![chipko.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaUfTssUgR5qG65Mu1nXgoWk26nU9ovAV8hftnTkKUbM1/chipko.png)[**Image Credit**](https://www.google.com/doodles/45th-anniversary-of-the-chipko-movement) ![tree-divider.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTw7WB7nb7GfZPuHycY8aCzjsRLgj2FCK8wiusZNAgo9e/tree-divider.png) ## The History of the Chipko Movement The ***Chipko*** **Movement** or ***Chipko Andolan*** is perhaps one of the first eco-feminist movements in the world. The very original movement goes back to 1730 when 363 people from many villages united against the *Maharaja* of Jodhpur against the felling of ***khejri*** trees in the present-day Indian state of Rajasthan. 363 people laid down their lives in this movement.

[**Image Credit**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipko_movement#/media/File:Chipko_Movement.png)

The modern movement started in 1973 in the Garhwal Himalayas in erstwhile Uttar Pradesh, present-day Uttarakhand as a protest movement against commercial logging and exploitation of forest lands. This movement for environmental and livelihood protection came to be known as ***Chipko*** which in Hindi means **to stick.** The protesters used to hug the trees in a gesture of defiance making the statement that the loggers would have to cut them down before they could cut the trees. These tree-huggers were almost exclusively women led by a lion-hearted lady of the Garhwals, Gaura Devi. The poet Ghanasyam Raturi said the following lines about the movement. Embrace the trees and Save them from being felled; The property of our hills, Save them from being looted. ![gauradevi](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f8/Gaura_devi_fair_use_only.jpg)**Gaura Devi:** [**Image Credit**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaura_Devi#/media/File:Gaura_devi_fair_use_only.jpg) ![tree-divider.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTw7WB7nb7GfZPuHycY8aCzjsRLgj2FCK8wiusZNAgo9e/tree-divider.png) ## Why is it Important The Chipko movement became one of the most successful environmental movements which had long-term significance in shaping the environmental and feminist movement worldwide. A short article is not enough to tell the story of such an impactful movement which shaped environmental movements and the increased the consciousness among the general public about the importance of environmental and livelihood protection for forest communities. I request my readers to do further reading on this to know more. I have listed my sources below. There is much more literature available on this subject. ![tree-divider.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTw7WB7nb7GfZPuHycY8aCzjsRLgj2FCK8wiusZNAgo9e/tree-divider.png) ## Spreading the Word Even though I started with praising Google, I must end it with something which did not impress me. An event like this should be remembered by the whole world and not only in the country where it happened. Surprisingly, India is the only country where this doodle is visible. This is the main reason why I thought of writing about this. I hope at least a few more will come to know about the Chipko movement from me. This is also a service, even though a very small one to those brave women, to humanity at large and of course to the planet we call home. ![sunrise-1756274_640.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmYHoR6Tfxer1cS85hDtV2JvkiVxtaiZPuEGPWYhUSYjAK/sunrise-1756274_640.jpg) [**Image Credit**](https://pixabay.com/en/sunrise-space-outer-globe-world-1756274/) ![tree-divider.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTw7WB7nb7GfZPuHycY8aCzjsRLgj2FCK8wiusZNAgo9e/tree-divider.png) ## References 1. https://www.google.com/doodles/45th-anniversary-of-the-chipko-movement 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chipko_movement 3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaura_Devi ![tree-divider.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTw7WB7nb7GfZPuHycY8aCzjsRLgj2FCK8wiusZNAgo9e/tree-divider.png) ## Goodies: Benefits for You (Referral Links) #### [Sell Votes on SmartSteem](https://smartsteem.com?r=svkrulze) #### [Get Followers and Upvotes on SteemFollower](https://steemfollower.com/?r=9610) #### [Get Free Crypto Coins](https://steemit.com/giveaway/@svkrulze/get-free-coins-from-upcoming-icos-2018-02-14-update) ![free-crypto2.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmeFofW5ETSQDHaZwd2CkeykCVoRKiMZvxt5ty94UVnaYQ/free-crypto2.jpg) [**Image Credit**](https://pixabay.com/en/money-coins-finance-currency-2696219/) ![tree-divider.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTw7WB7nb7GfZPuHycY8aCzjsRLgj2FCK8wiusZNAgo9e/tree-divider.png) ![upvote-share-resteem](https://i.imgur.com/kaZ7Nc1.png) [![steem-engine.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmbtw9Nhzi2LmAoNbt9jiCcwpHbkZTAm6qxaKaoDPJs6tu/steem-engine.png)](https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@thesteemengine/introducing-the-steem-engine-initiative) [![crypto-empire](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNeN2kKqHscZ1d9fh9M7bdzScJzj5U1FjZni213TKF5mk/crypto-empire-legionnaire-small.png)](https://steemit.com/steemit/@spiritualmax/crypto-empire-meet-my-community) **Click on the banners to learn more about each community** ![leave-comment.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRWh7yPFAdjrbx2hi4Qgk8nNrp7zuNC7NQSMFwW3kmASu/leave-comment.png)