Rajpurohit: Oldest Environmentalist Community

Khichan, a 32,000 bigha jagir of the Akherajot Sewads, today is known worldwide for birdwatching — especially the Demoiselle Cranes. This sanctuary exists due to the age-old tradition of the Rajpurohit jagirdars who declared it a non-hunting zone, forbidding any act of violence against wildlife. Many Rajpurohit jagirs and shashan villages were non-hunting zones by tradition. Khichan Jagir records and state inscriptions confirm the same.

In modern times Khichan village present in the Phalodi District of West Rajasthan, is India’s 90th and Rajasthan’s 3rd Ramsar site, famous for hosting over 22,000 migratory Demoiselle Cranes each winter along with 150+ other bird species. Local villagers feed and protect the cranes through “chugga ghars” and measures to prevent power line collisions and dog attacks. The site includes Ratri Nadi, Vijaysagar Talab, riparian zones, and scrubland in the Thar Desert, supporting drought-resistant plants and diverse wildlife. This harmonious human-wildlife coexistence has boosted eco-tourism, drawing birdwatchers, researchers, and tourists.

The Khetawat Sewad Rajpurohits lost three villages — Kharachiya, Godhawas, and Bahadso — during the reign of Mota Raja Uday Singh of Marwar. The princes, sons of the Mota Raja, were engaged in hunting within the jagirs. They violated the strict Rajpurohit code. Rajpurohit jagirdars, led by Karan Mandan Sewad, confronted the royal hunting party, demanded cessation, and ultimately took up arms when disrespected. Their bold resistance cost them their jagirs in Samvat 1643, but they chose principle over privilege, never apologizing or begging for restoration. 

In Bikaner, Bhojraj Rajpurohit (Sewad) forbade animal slaughter and hunting in his village Hirjasar, even when the state’s powerful regent, Zorawar Singh, supported it. As a result, Bhojraj lost his jagir and position. Later, Maharaja Gaj Singh was so moved by Bhojraj’s bravery in the Battle of Merta — where he fought valiantly — that he restored the jagir to his sons. They renewed the ban on killing animals in their hereditary lands. 

A lesser-known but powerful ecological protest came from Satiji of Muleva, who performed Sati in protest to protect the village ponds from invaders aiming to drain and destroy them. Her act immortalized the Rajpurohit resolve to preserve water, land, and life. Many Rajpurohits became Jhujhar, Bhomiyas, or Sati by fighting or protesting for the protection of water sources, cattle, temples, and ecology. Over 500+ heroic stones commemorating these sacrifices can still be found across Marwar, Khichan, Jalore, and Mewar.

Hari Singh Rajpurohit, born on 1 September 1976 in Jhabra, Jaisalmer, lived a life devoted to cow protection, wildlife rescue, and water conservation. On 28 April 2004, he confronted armed poachers attempting to kill deer. Refusing to back down, he was shot dead by the notorious Oma Ram Bhil, but not before disarming him and saving other animals. In his memory, the Amrita Devi Award was posthumously conferred. His daily efforts included transporting water into the desert for wildlife, planting khejri, neem, and bair trees, and inspiring youth to protect the environment.

Greenman Narpat Singh of Langera, Barmer, cycled across India to spread environmental awareness. Starting on 27 January 2019 from Jammu and finishing on 20 April 2022 in Jaipur, he covered 30,121.64 km — setting a Guinness World Record for the longest bicycle journey in a single country. Even today, he rescues birds and animals and promotes environmental activism among youth.

Several Rajpurohit-administered shashan villages and jagirs were historically known for:

• Bans on hunting

• Conservation of ponds, grazing lands, and sacred groves

• Preservation of Khejri and other native species

These areas became ecological havens due to the steadfast discipline of the Rajpurohit rulers. They built stepwells, johads, tanks, and ponds, and bird feeding structures known as Chowtras, many of which still exist. Even today, Rajpurohits continue building new chowtras and bird shelters, keeping their ecological traditions alive.

Furthermore, many Rajpurohit men and women attained the status of Jhujhar, Bhomiyas, and Satis by giving up their lives while defending water sources, cow and cattle, lands, and temples. There are over 500+ heroic stones that commemorate their bravery — many of them inscribed in Marwar, Godwar and Mewar.

Another remarkable ecological tradition of the Rajpurohits was the establishment and protection of Orans — sacred groves dedicated to gods, goddesses, and folk deities. Rajpurohits often set aside hundreds or even thousands of acres of land as Oran, where hunting, logging, or tree-cutting was strictly prohibited. These Orans became vital green patches in the arid landscape of Western Rajasthan, serving as reservoirs of biodiversity, sources of medicinal plants, grazing grounds for cattle, and natural water catchments.

Rajpurohits not only declared these lands sacred but also took upon themselves the duty of protecting them from hunters, encroachers, and tree-cutters. Many laid down their lives in this defense, attaining the revered status of Bhomiya/Bhumiya, remembered as local guardian deities by people of all castes and communities. These martyrs are still worshipped in shrines within Orans, symbolizing the community’s deep bond with ecology and spirituality.

The Orans safeguarded by Rajpurohits were ecological oases in the desert, sustaining wildlife, domestic cattle, and plant life through generations. Even today, they remain living testaments to the Rajpurohit community’s foresight, discipline, and unmatched ecological ethics.