Two green warriors from different parts of Bharat have made planting trees their life’s mission, showing the right way of environmental activism to five-star activists. The stories of Jadav Payeng and Shyam Sundar Paliwal are among the lesser-known climate warriors who should be the idols of Bharatiya environmental warriors. Padma Shri was awarded to Jadav in 2015 and Shyam Sundar in 2021.
Jadav Payeng – a lifetime of planting trees on a remote river island
Jadav Payeng, known as the Forest Man of Bharat, dedicated 30 years of his life to transforming a once-distressed area into a flourishing man-made forest called the Molai forest, spanning an impressive 550 hectares (equivalent to 1360 acres or an area equal to 15 football fields). Located on Majuli Island in Assam’s Jorhat, this forest reserve, which initially faced severe threats from extensive soil erosion along the Brahmaputra River’s banks, had already dwindled by more than half over the past 70 years. In 1980, the government initiated a reforestation effort covering just 20 hectares, which was abandoned three years later. It was then that Jadav Payeng took it upon himself to single-handedly create an entire forest.
Remarkably, the Molai forest, nurtured by Jadav Payeng, surpasses the size of New York’s Central Park. Thanks to his unwavering dedication to environmental conservation, the Molai forest is now a habitat for a diverse range of wildlife, including Bengal tigers, Indian rhinoceros, reptiles, over 100 deers, rabbits, monkeys, and various bird species, including a significant population of vultures.
Comprising not only bamboo, which covers an area exceeding 300 hectares, but also thousands of other tree species such as Valco, Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Pride of India (Lagerstroemia speciosa), royal poinciana (Delonix regia), silk trees (Albizia procera), Moj (Archidendron bigeminum), and cotton trees (Bombax ceiba), among others, Payeng’s remarkable work extends beyond planting trees; it has led to the creation of an entire ecosystem with rich biodiversity.
Shyam Sundar Paliwal – celebrating Mother Nature with the birth of every girl child
Piplantri, a village in Bharat’s Rajasthan, exemplifies a unique tradition where 111 trees are planted upon the birth of a girl child. This exceptional practice celebrates both nature and daughters, fostering an environment of eco-feminism. The community’s commitment to nurturing trees and girls stands out in a world facing deforestation and wildfires.
Additionally, upon the birth of a girl, the village members pool together a contribution of Rs. 21,000 to provide financial security for her future. They also collect Rs. 10,000 from the parents and place it in a fixed deposit account, accessible when the girl reaches the age of 20. To safeguard the girl’s educational prospects, parents are required to sign an affidavit that prohibits early marriage, ensuring she receives a suitable education.
The local panchayat diligently monitors and maintains records of these arrangements, updating the fixed deposit upon its term completion and reporting the girl’s birth information to the registrar. Moreover, the village has completed all necessary paperwork for government programs like the Janani Suraksha Scheme and other beneficial bond programs.
Shyam Sundar Paliwal is the former Sarpanch of Piplantri village and is known as the Father of Eco-Feminism as he started the initiative of planting trees on the birth of a girl child after losing his daughter in 2006. The former sarpanch of the village initiated it in memory of his daughter Kiran, who tragically passed away at the age of 18 due to dehydration. Since then, Shyam has committed himself to clothe the community in greenery, assuring that water scarcity becomes a thing of the past.
This project has not only had a positive impact on the local economy but has also led to innovative solutions. The village has strategically planted over 2.5 million Aloe vera plants around the fruit-bearing trees to deter termites. As a result, the residents have discovered various ways to prepare and sell Aloe vera products, including juice and gel, contributing to economic growth.
Over the past six years, Piplantri has planted more than a quarter million trees, including neem, sheesham, mango, and amla, on the village’s communal pasture lands. Piplantri proudly stands as an advocate and ambassador of eco-feminism, ensuring the survival and prosperity of both the trees and the girls.
The community of Piplantri in Rajasthan has established a tradition that benefits both its residents and the environment while demonstrating a profound commitment to valuing daughters. This initiative serves as a shining example of eco-feminism and should inspire people not only in Bharat but around the world.
The wisdom of our ancestors – the trio of trees revered by Hindus
Our ancestors held banyan, neem, and peepal trees in great reverence. The three trees planted together in a triangle are called Triveni; as they grow, their branches entwine, and the three become one. Planting Triveni is part of our traditions and is associated with our faith. They emit a lot of oxygen into the environment.
Across Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab, there are many who enthusiastically plant Triveni, keeping the tradition alive. In Punjab, Triveni is grown in deras and temples, whereas in Haryana and Rajasthan, they can be spotted in many common spaces in villages, including schools, temples, Dharamshala, and crematoriums.
Triveni trees are revered due to the belief that the trinity of Hindu Bhagwans — Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva — reside in them and are associated with divine, positive energy. Old, full-grown Triveni trees can provide a large canopy under their interlocking branches full of nesting birds for people to gather and are called Nature’s Dharamshala.
Himtaram Bhambhu, a Padma Shri awardee from Nagaur, Rajasthan, popularly known as the ‘Tree Man’, said, “We believe that these three trees are the abodes of God. They are held in respect. They are of special importance to the environment because of the long lifespans of these trees. Once we plant them, they give oxygen for hundreds of years. The peepal, or Bodhi tree, can live up to a thousand years.”
Antaryami Kaushik, Assistant Professor of Botany at Government College, Lunkaransar (Bikaner), said that neem trees have been observed to live up to a maximum of a hundred years, while peepal and banyan trees can thrive for hundreds of years. These two trees also have a special property that gives them the ability to release oxygen throughout all 24 hours of the day, unlike other plants that generally have a 12-hour cycle where they alternatively release oxygen and carbon dioxide. “So they are able to release more oxygen than other trees,” he said. “That’s why our sages said these trees were holy, the abode of the Gods. And our people have been planting these trees for centuries.”
Devout Hindus consider the act of planting and caring for Triveni trees as a yagna or worship. And because of its significance to the community, a Triveni is never cut down. Pandit Satyapal Parashar, a spiritual orator or bhagwat katha vachak, said, “Peepal, banyan, and neem have scientific and spiritual significance. Our ancestors protected them as living forms of God. Planting, watering, and nourishing these trees is a great virtue. That is why the tradition of planting the Triveni is still alive, despite the challenges faced by the environment today. I travel around many villages and towns, and when I see Triveni everywhere, I feel very happy.”
Satyavan, a government teacher known as ‘Triveni Baba’, has been campaigning to plant trees in Haryana for the past 27 years. He has planted more than 40 lakh saplings, and among them are 50,000 Triveni. “There is no village in Haryana where the community has not planted the Triveni. People still follow the age-old traditions around the Triveni,” he said. “Neem, peepal, and banyan are huge trees, and a large number of birds take shelter in them. These birds eat their seeds and carry them far and wide. Under favorable circumstances, these seeds can germinate, grow, and become giant trees themselves over the years.”
