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Hari Singh Jhabara
Shaheed Hari Singh Rajpurohit (1 September 1976 – 28 April 2004) was an Indian environmental protector, wildlife guardian, and social worker from Jhabra village in Pokaran tehsil, Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan. Known for his lifelong devotion to cow protection, environmental conservation, and the welfare of desert wildlife, he is remembered for sacrificing his life while preventing the illegal hunting of deer. He was posthumously awarded the Amrita Devi Smriti Puraskar by the Government of Rajasthan for his supreme courage and martyrdom.
Hari Singh was born on 1 September 1976 in Jhabra village, Jaisalmer district, to Shri Radhakishan Singh, a farmer, and Smt. Jatan Kanwar. Coming from a modest economic background, he imbibed values of service, compassion, and responsibility from an early age.
He was particularly drawn to cow service (gau seva) and the protection of wildlife inhabiting the arid region. After completing education up to the 8th grade, he began assisting his father in agricultural activities.
Living in the Thar desert, where water scarcity is severe, Hari Singh made it a personal mission to provide water to animals. Using his own tractor and tanker, he regularly transported water to remote areas to quench the thirst of cows and wild animals.
His daily routine revolved around:
Cow protection and care
Water supply to wildlife
Plantation and nurturing of Khejri, Ber, and Neem trees
Environmental conservation
Community motivation, especially encouraging youth to protect wildlife
He operated a small tea shop to support his family while continuing his environmental service.
Hari Singh married Nenu Kanwar, daughter of Prabhu Singh Sewad of Kanodia Purohitan. The couple had four children — two sons and two daughters. His marriage did not alter his lifestyle or his commitment to animal protection and conservation.
On 28 April 2004, at around 7 PM, just like any other day, Hari Singh left home with his tractor to fetch a water tanker. Near the outskirts of the village (Kankad area), he heard gunshots and immediately suspected illegal hunting.
Upon reaching the spot, he found armed poachers, led by Oma Ram Bhil, preparing to hunt deer. Recognizing them, he firmly urged:
“Do not kill these innocent creatures.”
The poachers threatened him, saying:
“Leave this place or we will shoot you before the deer.”
Displaying exceptional courage, Hari Singh refused to back down:
“You may take my life, but do not kill these deer.”
When the poachers did not stop, he ran back, gathered four to five villagers, and confronted them. By the time they returned, the poachers had already shot a deer.
Unable to tolerate the cruelty, he demanded that Oma Ram surrender to the police. A violent altercation followed, during which Oma Ram shot Hari Singh in the chest. Despite being grievously wounded, Hari Singh managed to snatch the poacher’s gun and the dead deer.
He was rushed to Pokaran Hospital but succumbed to excessive blood loss and attained Martyrdom. His sacrifice saved countless deer that were to be hunted that evening.
Hari Singh Rajpurohit is revered as a martyr of wildlife protection in Rajasthan. His bravery, compassion, and unwavering moral duty have made him an enduring symbol of environmental guardianship in the Thar desert.
The Government of Rajasthan honored him posthumously with the Amrita Devi Smriti Puraskar, one of the state’s highest awards for wildlife conservation.
His life has inspired:
Environmental activists
Local youth of the region
Wildlife protection volunteers
Communities engaged in cow protection
Conservation-driven social movements
He is remembered as a fearless guardian of innocent lives and a protector of the voiceless.
