The Bani, a sacred grove spread over 200 hectares (ha), has been treasured by and cared for centuries by the residents of three villages—Mangar, Bandhwari and Baliawas—in memory of Gudriya Baba, a saint, who they believe attained moksha (salvation) in the Bani. Gudariya Baba’s shrine inside the Bani is a constant reminder to the villagers of the saint's wrath if they harm the grove

Photograph by: Vaibhav Raghunandan

Read also: Unhappy Bani

The village abounds with folklores of Gudariya Baba’s powers; he is supposed to be keeping a watchful eye over the grow even now. Once a few Rabaris from Rajasthan took their camels inside the Bani to graze. The animals started lopping dhau branches. Soon the camels started dying. Since then, no Rabari has taken his animals into the Bani for grazing. People who took wood from the Bani for building a house, or for fuel paid a price. Their houses were burnt, say village residents

Photograph by: Aditya Batra

Read also: Unhappy Bani

The villagers fear the plan, if approved, will open floodgates for real estate and harm the Bani. Bharatraj Harsana regrets that in 1970s when the government allowed privatisation of the village commons, the villagers sold their share in the common land without knowing the actual location of their holdings. The plots were not demarcated on ground in the village till mid 1980s. The transactions gave private investors a toehold in the Bani

Photograph by: Vaibhav Raghunandan

Read also: Unhappy Bani

The villagers have now formed a village development committee. The committee has prepared a petition for the forest department, asking it to acquire the Bani land from its current owners

Photograph by: Vaibhav Raghunandan

Read also: Unhappy Bani