Social activist Vimla Bahuguna dies at 93

Dehradun: Vimla Bahuguna, noted social activist and wife of renowned environmentalist Sunderlal Bahuguna, died on Friday at the age of 93 in her Dehradun home. Vimla Bahuguna played a key role in the Bhoodan Movement in Bihar between 1953 and 1955, which aimed at persuading landowners to voluntarily give a portion of their land to landless people.After her marriage to Sunderlal Bahuguna, she dedicated herself to grassroots activism and chose to remain in the villages, managing household responsibilities while also advocating for education, women's empowerment, and environmental conservation. Her work, alongside her husband, in movements like the Chipko Movement, helped raise awareness about the importance of protecting forests and rivers. She inspired thousands of women to participate in the Tehri Dam agitation in the 1990s, popularly known as the Narmada Bachao Andolan, which brought to light the environmental and social impacts of large dams in ecologically sensitive regions.In 1971, Vimla also spearheaded a movement against alcohol consumption in her community, which raised awareness about the negative impacts of alcohol and helped many families overcome addiction. She was even imprisoned along with her six-year-old son, Pradeep, in this cause. Sunderlal Bahuguna had passed away on May 21, 2021 following complications due to Covid-19.CM Pushkar Singh Dhami as well as Uttarakhand governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (retd) were among those who expressed their grief at Vimla Bahuguna's passing.Check out the Valentine Day 2025 , along with the Valentine’s Day Wishes and Messages.