3 popular citizen-led movements in India you should know about 

Several times throughout India’s history, people have gathered in great numbers to protest against an injustice or support a cause. Sepoy Mutiny, Civil Disobedience Movement, Anti-corruption Movement, are powerful people movements that our country has witnessed and they have changed the course of our history. There are many more such citizen-led movements that Indians have experienced. Here’s a close look at a few of them. 

Swadeshi Movement 
The Swadeshi movement was the result of the British Government's plan to split Bengal, which was announced in December 1903. This movement was formally launched by the Indian National Congress on August 7, 1905, from Town Hall in Calcutta. Its goal was to reduce foreign imports by relying on local/ domestic production. The Swadeshi movement gained momentum after a group of patriotic wealthy Indians gave money and property to Khadi and Gramodyog groups, which began textile manufacture in every household.  

Chipko Movement 
The Chipko movement, also known as the Chipko Andolan, was an Indian forest conservation campaign. The name 'chipko' originates from the word 'embrace,' since the local women clasped and encircled the trees to keep them from being chopped. The movement began in 1973 in Uttarakhand (then part of Uttar Pradesh). Since then, it has become a rallying point for many subsequent environmental campaigns around the world. Sunderlal Bahuguna, a Gandhian activist gave the Chipko movement a proper direction. Later, this non-violent movement inspired many similar ecological groups over time by helping them slow down rapid deforestation, expose vested interests and raise social as well as ecological awareness.  

The original Chipko movement, however, began in Rajasthan in the 18th century. It was here that a large group of individuals from the Bishnoi community hugged trees to protest against the deforestation, as directed by the Maharaja of Jodhpur. The sacrifice of a group of villagers, who laid down their lives while saving trees from being cut on the orders of the then king of Jodhpur, has been inscribed in the annals of history. Following this event, the king issued a royal decree prohibiting tree chopping in all Bishnoi villages. 

Anti-corruption Movement 

The Indian anti-corruption movement began in 2011 with a series of demonstrations and protests around the country. The goal was to establish strong legislation and enforcement against widespread political corruption. The movement gathered traction after anti-corruption activist, Anna Hazare began a hunger strike at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar on April 5, 2011. As a result, the then Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar resigned from the group of ministers tasked with reviewing the draft of Jan Lokpal bill. The movement attracted a large mass, making it a one-of-its-kind event. It was also one of those rare occasions that revealed what could be accomplished if the world's largest democracy awoke and took control of its power.