Issue and Opponent: The Khejarli Massacre occurred in 1730 when the Maharaja of Marwar ordered his men to chop down the trees in the Khejarli village to construct his new palace. The Khejarli villagers vehemently opposed this decision as the trees were sacred to the village. There was a widely-held belief that resources of religious significance should not be extracted for purposes as simple as constructing a palace.
Dilemma Action: The villagers protested the decision and began using their bodies as physical shields. They “hugged” the trees to prevent access, even as the Maharaja of Marwar’s soldiers killed those who participated. The villagers were non-violent and non-reactive as the massacre occurred, choosing to lay down their lives peacefully for their cause. In total, 363 Bishnois were executed in the protest.
Outcome: Upon hearing that the massacres were occurring in response to his decision to chop down the trees, the Maharaja of Marwar personally visited the village to apologize. He vowed never to use the trees of the village in any future construction projects, thus reaffirming their sacredness. This action was not part of a larger movement.