History of Environmental Protection in India from Ancient to Modern Times, various Indian religious scriptures and spiritual teachings say about the environment.

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 History of Environmental Protection in India from Ancient to Modern Times, various Indian religious scriptures and spiritual teachings say about the environment, nature, and human responsibility toward its protection:

What God Says About the Environment – Indian Religious Perspective

πŸ•‰️ Hinduism

  1. Vedas (Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda)

    • Nature is divine. Trees, rivers, wind, fire, and the sun are worshipped as deities.
    • Rigveda (10.90): “The Earth is our mother, and we are her children.”
    • Yajurveda (36.17): “O man! Destroy not the trees, nor pollute the river and ocean.”

  2. Bhagavad Gita

    • Chapter 3, Verse 14:
      “All beings are nourished by food, food is produced by rain, rain comes from sacrifice (yajna), and sacrifice is born of action (karma).”
      ➤ This shows the interdependence of nature and human action. If man disturbs nature, the cycle breaks.

  3. Manusmriti (Chapter 6, Verse 70–72)

    • “One who injures harmless beings from a desire to give himself pleasure, never finds happiness.”
      ➤ Reflects the duty not to harm animals or plants.

  4. Puranas (Varaha, Vishnu, Matsya)

    • Planting trees like Peepal and Neem is seen as sacred.
    • Varaha Purana: “He who plants one Peepal, one Neem, and ten flowering plants goes to heaven.”
      ➤ Environmental service equals spiritual merit.

☸️ Buddhism (Teachings of Gautama Buddha)

  • Ahimsa (non-violence) extends to all life forms – animals, trees, water.
  • Buddha meditated under the Bodhi tree, symbolising oneness with nature.
  • “The forest is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness and benevolence that makes no demands for its sustenance and extends generously the products of its life.”
    ➤ Buddhism encourages simplicity and reverence for all living beings.

πŸ•Š️ Jainism (Teachings of Lord Mahavira)

  • "Parasparopagraho JΔ«vānām" – All life is interdependent.
  • Five great vows (Mahavratas) include Ahimsa, which forbids harming any life.
  • Lord Mahavira: “To harm any living being is to harm oneself.”
    ➤ Environmental preservation is non-negotiable in Jain ethics.

☪️ Islam (Teachings from the Quran)

  • Qur’an (Surah Al-A'raf 7:31):
    “Do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.”
  • Surah Al-Baqarah (2:205):
    “And when he goes away, he strives throughout the land to cause corruption therein and destroy crops and animals. And Allah does not like corruption.”
    ➤ Nature is a trust (Amanah) from Allah; man is a guardian, not owner.

✝️ Christianity

  • Genesis 2:15 (Holy Bible):
    “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”
  • Psalm 24:1: “The Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
    ➤ Man has a stewardship role, not domination over nature.

Universal Message from God (Through All Faiths)

Nature is not property, but a sacred trust.
Humans have responsibility to protect, not exploit.
True spirituality is incomplete without environmental care.



Timeline: History of Environmental Protection in India


3000 BCE – 1500 BCE

Indus Valley Civilization

  • One of the earliest urban civilizations with clear environmental consciousness.
  • Features:
    • Planned cities (e.g., Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa)
    • Public baths, underground drainage, and waste disposal systems
    • Awareness of sanitation and hygiene
  • Belief in clean environment as essential to daily life.

1500 BCE – 600 BCE

Vedic Period

  • Nature worship deeply rooted in the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, Atharvaveda.
  • Hymns cautioning against ecological imbalance.
  • Rain, wind, rivers, sun, and trees were revered.
  • Charak Samhita (900 BCE): Advocated for clean water and hygiene.
  • Vriksha Ayurveda: Detailed tree care and forestry practices.

600 BCE – 200 BCE

Mahajanapadas & Mauryan Empire

  • Kautilya’s Arthashastra (c. 300 BCE):
    • Prescribed fines for cutting trees, killing animals, polluting water.
    • Forests managed under state control.
  • Manusmriti:
    • Suggested penance for environmental harm.
    • Banned harming medicinal plants, trees, and animals.
  • Puranas (e.g., Vishnu Purana, Varah Purana):
    • Emphasized planting trees and maintaining ecological balance.

200 BCE – 1200 CE

Post-Mauryan & Early Medieval Period

  • Continuation of Hindu and Buddhist ecological ethics.
  • Jainism (Lord Mahavira): Strong advocacy of non-violence (Ahimsa) towards all life.
  • Buddhism (Gautama Buddha):
    • Urged protection of trees and forests.
    • Ashoka's inscriptions mention protection of animals and plants.
  • Panchatantra quote:
    • "Cutting trees and killing animals leads not to heaven but to hell."

1206 – 1526 CE

Delhi Sultanate Period

  • Environmental concern declined.
  • Forests cleared for agriculture, construction, and military purposes.
  • No structured environmental jurisprudence or documentation.

1526 – 1707 CE

Mughal Era

  • Nature used for pleasure and hunting, not preservation.
  • Babur (Baburnama): Documented flora/fauna.
  • Jahangir:
    • Commissioned paintings of nature by artists like Mansur.
    • Constructed Mughal gardens (for leisure).
  • Akbar: Limited documentation of ecological ethics.
  • Hunting and deforestation increased; royal trees were somewhat protected.

1757 – 1947 CE

British Colonial Rule

  • Forests and natural resources exploited for timber, trade, and railway construction.
  • Environmentalism began for imperial motives, not preservation.
  • Major legislations:
    • Indian Forest Act, 1865 (amended 1878, 1927)
    • Reserved forests for British use, restricted native access.
  • Environmental degradation during colonial rule led to forest scarcity.
  • Beginning of environmental policy for resource conservation, not rights or ecology.

1947 – 1972 CE

Post-Independence (Early Phase)

  • Environmental protection not a priority in early years.
  • Forest and agriculture policies remained influenced by colonial legacy.
  • Industrial development continued with no major environmental laws.


1972 – Present

Modern Environmental Law Era

πŸ”Ή 1972: Stockholm Conference

  • India participated and acknowledged environmental issues globally.
  • Led to enactment of comprehensive environmental laws.

πŸ”Ή 1976: Constitution (42nd Amendment)

  • Article 48A: State shall protect the environment.
  • Article 51A(g): Citizens’ fundamental duty to protect environment.

πŸ”Ή Key Environmental Laws:

  • Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
  • Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
  • Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
  • Forest Conservation Act, 1980
  • National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

πŸ”Ή Landmark Judicial Decisions:

  1. M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1986):

    • Evolved Absolute Liability Principle.
    • Paved way for PILs on environment.

  2. Subhash Kumar v. State of Bihar (1991):

    • Right to clean water and air = Fundamental Right under Article 21.

  3. Samir Mehta v. Union of India (NGT):

    • Reaffirmed Precautionary Principle and Polluter Pays Principle.

πŸ”Ή Global Commitments:

  • Rio Summit (1992)
  • Paris Climate Agreement (2015)
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

πŸ”Ή Recent Initiatives:

  • National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
  • Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
  • Green India Mission
  • National Electric Mobility Mission

 Conclusion:

From deep-rooted spiritual traditions of ecological harmony in Ancient India to policy-driven environmentalism of modern India, the timeline reflects a transition from cultural preservation to legal enforcement. However, climate change, industrial pollution, and overpopulation continue to challenge our constitutional and global commitments.


πŸ”– Blog by Chandan Sha | For more legal insights, stay tuned to Study on Law Hills.


πŸ”– About Study on Law Hills

By Chandan Sha
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Study on Law Hills is a legal blog that simplifies Indian law for students and professionals. From Constitution to Criminal Law, it offers:

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