‘We have commodified nature & are now paying the price'
Panduranga Hegde, environmentalist and pioneer of the Appiko movement, speaks with TOI about the changing face of activism, political apathy, and why hope lies in the quiet strength of grassroots movements. He is the recipient of the inaugural MP Veerendra Kumar Memorial National Thought Leadership Award
Gone are the days when environmental activism unfolded through mass movements in forests, rivers, or hills. But environmentalist and writer Panduranga Hegde—founder of the Appiko movement in the Western Ghats—believes a quieter, more diverse kind of activism is now taking root.
While movements like Chipko, Silent Valley, Narmada, and Appiko may no longer repeat themselves in the same form, Hegde says the spirit of resistance hasn't faded. Instead, it's evolving. A new kind of movement is emerging—scattered but growing.
Though it may not always be visible, people are making lifestyle shifts, adopting ecological farming, reviving rivers, protecting seeds, and building urban forests. The methods are different, but the intent remains powerful.
Hegde's journey began in the 1980s, inspired by Sunderlal Bahuguna's Chipko movement and the legacy of Amrita Devi Bishnoi. Bahuguna's dedication, he says, shaped the path he has followed for over four decades. Through the Appiko movement, Hegde led protests to save trees in Karnataka's Western Ghats, motivating locals to embrace the symbolic act of hugging trees to stop deforestation.
He sees immense potential in today's generation. Young people are strong in their convictions, he says, and many are choosing green lifestyles over consumerist ones. Some are quitting corporate jobs to return to the land, while others are working with schoolchildren to instill ecological values early. These small streams of effort, Hegde believes, will eventually merge into a powerful collective force.
In 2009, Hegde was instrumental in drafting the Western Ghats Manifesto, urging Lok Sabha candidates to adopt policies protecting the fragile ecosystem. Despite this effort, he remains deeply sceptical of the political class. Across Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, he sees no real ideological difference when it comes to the environment. 'All parties are interested in making money,' he says bluntly.
This, he says, is what distinguishes today's leaders from those of the past. Recalling Indira Gandhi's decision to stop the Silent Valley project in the 1980s, he contrasts her environmental sensitivity with that of her grandchildren, Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi.
Their activities in Wayanad, he believes, prioritize political gain over ecological responsibility.
Among his more recent campaigns is the push to maintain the night traffic ban in Bandipur Tiger Reserve. Karnataka has enforced the 10-hour night ban to protect wildlife movement, but Kerala has pushed for it to be lifted. Hegde is baffled by the resistance.
'Why can't we let animals cross the road in their own habitat for just a few hours?' he asks. The issue, for him, is symptomatic of a larger problem—our increasing alienation from nature.
To Hegde, true development cannot come at the cost of basic natural resources. 'Any activity that disturbs soil, water, and air is not development,' he says. He is especially critical of ongoing infrastructure projects in the Western Ghats and Himalayan regions, from superhighways to tourism resorts. These, he argues, represent the commodification of nature by the elite and are already yielding disastrous results—landslides, flooding, and worsening climate extremes.
This disconnect from nature is reflected in rising human-wildlife conflict, too. Hegde notes that communities living near forests once coexisted peacefully with wildlife. But in densely populated areas, like parts of Kerala where forest encroachment has occurred, tensions have grown. 'We are seeing this in some parts of Karnataka too. But it is more in regions where the population is very high.' By contrast, areas like the Anshi Tiger Reserve near the Goa border still see more harmonious living.
Recognition for his work came recently when he was named the inaugural recipient of the MP Veerendra Kumar Memorial National Thought Leadership Award. Chosen by a jury including Jairam Ramesh, Prof. MK Sanu, and Vandana Shiva, the award honours Hegde's lifetime contributions to environmentalism, literature, politics, and human rights. It carries a citation, plaque, and a cash prize of ₹5 lakh, and will be presented on May 28.
He also warns of lesser-known consequences of climate change—like the disruption of pollination. Changes in flowering patterns and weather cycles can destabilize ecosystems, leading to species extinction or transformation, with severe implications for agriculture and food security.
For environmental protection to be effective, Hegde argues, India needs vigilant, science-backed 'watchdog' forums. The steady dilution of forest and environmental laws by the Centre—and the states—needs to be called out with legal and scientific clarity. Civil society, he believes, must play that role.
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