My Head for a Tree: Read an exclusive excerpt from Martin Goodman’s book on the Bishnoi

In an excerpt from the first chapter, Amrita Devi and the 363 Martyrs, Goodman recounts the legendary tale of lives sacrificed to save trees on Bishnoi land.

On Monday 11 September 1730 (although this reads like a fable the details are recorded, including the names of the people involved) the men of Khejarli were away with their herds. The monsoon rains were recent so a woman of the village, Amrita Devi, was tending the crops with her three daughters – Asu, Ratni and Bhagu. She lifted her head. She had heard men’s voices. But it was too early, surely, for the village men to be returning with