Kinkri Devi was an illiterate woman from a small village in Himachal Pradesh, but her courage shook the entire system. She saw how greedy mining was cutting the hills, drying the fields, and damaging the water sources. Instead of staying silent, she decided to fight back.
Born in a very poor family in Sirmaur district, her father worked as a bonded labourer. From childhood, Kinkri Devi worked in people’s homes and on farms. She never went to school, but she understood one thing very clearly: if the hills die, people will not survive.
In the 1980s, mining in her area increased sharply. Big machines broke the mountains, dust covered the villages, and farms started losing their fertility. Streams and natural water sources began to disappear. Seeing this slow destruction, Kinkri Devi felt deep pain and anger.
In 1987, with the help of some social workers and lawyers, she filed a case in court against illegal and unscientific mining. For a poor, uneducated woman to challenge powerful mine owners was a very bold step. Many people tried to scare her, but she refused to back down.
The legal battle went on for many years. She attended hearings again and again, travelling from her village to the courts. Finally, after a long struggle, the court ordered a ban on uncontrolled mining in that area. This decision brought relief to the hills and to the local farmers who depended on them.
Her work was not just recognised in Himachal or India. In 1995, she was invited to the International Women’s Conference in Beijing. There she spoke about her fight to protect the mountains and the rights of poor villagers. She became a symbol of people’s power and environmental justice.
Kinkri Devi proved that you do not need a degree to protect nature. You need a clear heart, a strong will, and the courage to speak the truth. Her life reminds us that ordinary people can bring big change, and that saving the environment is everyone’s duty.
Source- Story Pick from Local Newspaper Janata Times.
