No prevention, No cure. Know prevention, know the cure. This line best suits this blog because we will discuss a personality who planted thousands of trees and converted a sandbar into a dense forest. Because he knows the value of trees, which is the only natural cure to save our planet Earth. Let us go through the inspirational story of our Forest Man Of India, "JADAV MOLAI PAYENG".
When the almighty God created the Earth million and million years ago, he assumed that it would become more beautiful than heaven. But as time passed, our mother earth became destructive rather than constructive. Or should I say Hell?
Whether accepted or not, the harsh truth is that we made the Earth look like this just for our comfort. And no doubt, several years later, it will be destroyed literally.
But one fact is that we cannot measure everyone on one scale. If the Earth is getting destroyed slowly, many people are trying to save it.
Some groups are taking care of our Earth despite facing societal problems. One inspirational personality from this group is Our Forest Man of India, "Jadav 'Molai' Payeng, who single-handedly turned Sandbar into a Reserve Forest by planting thousands of trees in Assam.
In this blog, we will not only brief you about him, but we hope you will get inspired too.
So let's get started.
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About Jadav Payeng
Jadav was born on 31 October 1959 in Majuli (Assam) in an unknown tribe. His full name is Jadav Molai Payeng. He lives in the Forest in Assam with his wife and three children.
After some time, Jadav built a house at Mishing Gaon near Kokilmukh Ghat, shifted here with his family and started living there.
However, he travels daily to plant more trees and look after them. He has Milk from cattle, and buffaloes are his income source.
Every person observes some incidents that make him heartfelt about his concerns in that field. The story of the snakes which melted the heart of Jadav will be discussed below. In 1979. Many snakes died from excessive heat when the flood came into that region. Also, that region washed out several trees, and that became Sandbar.
Due to this, he planted several bamboo seeds in the sandbar region.
As a result, that area was converted into the forest named after him, "MOLAI FOREST". The forest, which is now Molai forest, is now a living place for Bengal tigers, rhinoceros, deer, rabbits and many animals and also several birds and vultures.
There are thousands of trees in this forest also, including-
- Valcom
- Edgar
- Gilmour
- Korai
- Moj
- Himolu
- Especially Bamboo, which covers an area of 300 hectares.
A herd of around 100 elephants visits the forest annually and generally stays for approximately six months. They have given birth to 10 calves in the woods in recent years.
Efforts
His efforts became known to the authorities in 2008 when forest department officials searched the area for 115 elephants that had retreated into the forest after damaging property in Aruna Chapori, about 1.5 km from the forest.
The officials were mesmerized as they witnessed such a large and dense forest. After that, the department has regularly visited there since 2013.
One more incident occurred when poachers came to kill rhinos in his forest. Jadav immediately informed the forest department, and when they reached there, they not only arrested them but, as a peace-giving result, that Jadav saved those rhinoceros.
Now he aims to spread his forest to another sand bar inside the Brahmaputra.
Jadav also tried to make other villages the same as Molai. He visits there and requests people to plant more trees.
Achievements
Named as "Forest Man of India"
Despite the upcoming movie, another fact is that he is now in school textbooks.
Jadav does not consider himself a celebrity or care about the appreciation he has earned. "Don't' just read about me in schools. I want school teachers to teach children about the importance of trees from every aspect." says Jadav.
Honors
- Honored with the name "Forest Man of India."
- Honored at a public function on 22 April 2012 at Jawaharlal/ Nehru University (JNU) for his achievements.
- In 2015, he was honored with Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India.
- Received a doctorate from Assam Agriculture University and Kaziranga University for his efforts.
- That forest is named Molai Forest after him having an area of 1360 acres /550 hectares.
- Most importantly, he was honored with Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India, in 2015.
- From Assam Agricultural University and Kaziranga University for his contribution, he received an honorary doctorate.
It is said that one person sows saplings of trees, but the next generations enjoy their fruits too. Let me give you an example. If one person plants a tree, he might get its fruit, but the other generation also enjoys its fruit shelter and many other things provided by a tree.
Also, we are aware that trees provide oxygen which is a life carrier for us. Wonder a land without trees. Then how will you enjoy its comforts?
Like Jadav, let's initiate by planting one tree daily or weekly. Afforestation if challenging but fruitful; deforestation is easy but dangerous to all living organisms.
If Jadav Payeng diverted his mind for this, why can't we?
So by this blog, get inspired and make our Earth what it is. Heaven.
