A community rooted in conservation

Would you give your own life to protect a tree or save an animal from being killed? This question might sound absurd if you believe that human life — and more specifically your own — is inherently more precious than all other forms of life. However, the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan looks at things a bit differently.

- CHINTAN GIRISH MODI

Would you give your own life to protect a tree or save an animal from being killed? This question might sound absurd if you believe that human life — and more specifically your own — is inherently more precious than all other forms of life. However, the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan looks at things a bit differently. Their beliefs, based on rules laid down by their guru Jambhoji (1451-1536), require them to be kind to all living beings. This goes beyond watering plants, feeding birds and taking care of animals. They are ready to put their own lives at stake.

Martin Goodman's book My Head For A Tree: The Extraordinary Story of the Bishnoi, the World's First Eco-Warriors is essential reading for anyone who wants to learn about the Bishnoi worldview and way of life. An Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Hull in the United Kingdom, the author has approached the subject with curiosity, rigour and emotional depth. The book does not merely inform or educate; it compels us to reflect on what it means to be human, how we interact with other species, and what shifts we need to make.