Question

The main leader of the chipko movement was Pandurang Hegde
(a) True
(b) False

Answer 1

The Chipko movement also popularly known as Chipko Andolan came about as a forest conservation movement in parts of the Indian subcontinent. Chipko means embracing or hugging the trees, this idea was taken from the Bishnoi chipko movement done by the people of the Bishnoi community agitated against the Maharaja of Jodhpur.

Complete step by step answer:
The modern Chipko movement Initially emerged in the 1970s in Uttar Pradesh (present-day Uttarakhand)n followed by the Himalayan parts of Uttarakhand and further developed an inspirational way of protests for many of the environment-centered movements in future emerging all over the world. The protestors observed nonviolent methods practiced methods of Satyagraha where activists from all genders played vital roles, including Vimla Bahuguna, Sunderlal Bahuguna, Suraksha Devi, Sudesha Devi, Bachni Devi, Chandi Prakash Bhatt, Virushka Devi, and many others. Although several of its leaders were men, women played an important part in the movement because they were the ones most affected by the rampant deforestation, because of the lack of firewood and fodder for cooking and animal rearing and also lack of water for drinking and irrigation. Over the years they also became fundamental stakeholders in major afforestation works that happened under the Chipko movement.
So, the correct answer is '(b) False'.

Additional Information:
It established a precedent for commencing nonviolent uprisings in India, and its success meant that the global population instantly took note of this non-violent movement, which stood to provoke in time several similar eco-groups to stand in the way of rapid deforestation, boost social awareness about the necessity to conserve trees, increase ecological awareness, and ascertain the viability of the power vested in the people. Above all, it also agitated the existing public society in India, which initiated addressing the issues of tribal and marginalized people.

Note:
The works of Sundarlal Bahuguna proved to be an Inspiration to future environmentalist Pandurang Hegde who started the Appiko Movement in Karnataka to protect the forests of the Western Ghats. Panduraga Hegde directed people to safeguard trees in the forest by encircling the trees or appiko (as in local language Kannada)n when the company contractors tried to chop them down.