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to regain the commons lihoods for the communi- Uttarakhand’s current ideological differences as-
and stand up to the might ties completely dependent social and political malaise sumed irreconcilable pro-
of the ruling classes — the on it, even as Bahuguna is linked with this dispute. portions which have forced
dreaded nexus of politi- adopted a more roman- For a region that rode abandonment of the ex-
cians, bureaucrats and ticised view of ecological on the back of ecologi- alted goals the movement
contractors — for others, it preservation, almost sacri- cal and feminist move- set out to achieve. As a
opened avenues for lateral ficing his life in opposition ments towards achieving result, currently the social
entry into identity politics. to the ill-conceived Tehri separate statehood, it has fabric lies so tattered that
The author dwells upon Dam. to date, failed to produce not a whimper of protest is
these multiple layers of Thus Pathak effectively a political leader who heard when the insensitive
meaning. For instance, exposes propagandist can present a new vision political class in New Delhi
while describing the canards spread against for a more secure future, and Dehradun announces
conflict between the two them by interests invested environmentally as well and builds ill-conceived
most celebrated leaders in systematised plunder of as economically to the mega-highways and rail
of the movement, friends the mountains and main- people. The state has suf- projects to pilgrimage
who fell apart — Chandi tains that the rift occurred fered eight chief ministers sites, pillaging the ecology
Prasad Bhatt and Sunder- on account of differing in two decades of its exis- only to please the religious
lal Bahuguna — he dispels convictions, even as they tence, none meeting the vote bank.
several myths about their both sought to achieve al- expectations of the elector- This, in a region that
disagreements. Pathak most similar goals through ate in any way. Even more engendered a movement
points out that their denial divergent paths. This conspicuous by its absence as powerful as Chipko.
of each other even as the book, therefore, makes us is any credible regional Perhaps Pathak’s history of
movement reached its ze- ponder what this Himala- political party. the Chipko Movement can
nith, was the consequence yan state (Uttarakhand) Answers to these puz- help us rekindle the sparks
of Bhatt’s steadfast resolve could have been had zling questions can be that have gone damp.
to save the environment the two combined their found in Pathak’s history LOKESH OHRI (The Book
while also generating live- strengths. of Chipko where minor R eview )

MARCH 2021 EDUCATIONWORLD 81