The Value of a Forest – The Man, the Myth, and the Legend - Jadav Molai Payeng

 

The Value of a Forest – The Man, the Myth, and the Legend - Jadav Molai Payeng

What is the purpose behind teaching Environmental Science from the early grades and then see it bifurcated into more serious disciplines and finally, on ground, watch it getting tossed similar to the countless wrappers that we see lying on the streets?

Well, the answer is, I don’t know and I don’t care or maybe its governments problem…etc.… and this is how the majority of us carry on living with the most pressing problems of our times. But there are exceptions and it is these exceptions that offer a new ray of hope to the masses. It is not by their gregarious proclamation of solutions, which they rarely do, but by the sheer simplicity and resolute will to make and live the change, and this is what makes them appealing and so successful.

Sometime ago, an individual who barely was on the radar of any newspaper/channel, rose to prominence, on the grounds of his colossal work, which set an example and shut the banters of many pseudo-intellectuals who for generations have undermined the simple solutions. He did what none of us in our wildest dreams could have conceived and came to be known as the ‘Forest man of India.’

Jadav Molai Payeng, a native of Assam, one of the seven-sister states adorning India’s north-east, hails from Mising tribe, which is known for their indigenous connection to the soil. Mising means ‘man of the soil’, and Jadav, keeping true to this title, persevered and grew a forest which spreads across 1350 acres along the sandbars of the mighty river Brahmaputra. Decades of consistent hard work by this unique son of the soil has brought back the wildlife and is a testimonial to the best in a man. The forest, now called ‘Molai forest’, after Jadav Molai Payeng, is home to an assortment of flora and fauna. Be it the Bengal Tigers, Indian Rhinoceros or the Indian Elephants, all of these have made Molai forest their home.

So, how did it all start? What propelled him to carry on such a huge task? Well, at a fairly young age, when Jadav saw the sandbar, devoid of trees lined with rows of snakes which were dead due to scorching heat, he decided to take action and planted a decent number of Bamboo seedlings on them. While looking after these planted seedlings, he carried on his action further and planted more trees in order to populate the area with vegetation. It is now estimated that of the entire spread of Molai forest, around 740 acres is covered with Bamboo. Now in his early sixties, Jadav still lives the life close to nature and earns his livelihood by selling milk.

For Jadav’s immense contribution towards conservation and protection of nature, Government of India, in the year 2015 honored him with Padma Shri (4^th Highest Civilian Award). Since then, he has been felicitated for his selfless service by institutions of national repute and prominence. Movies, documentaries and books have featured him and so much is the depth of his simplicity that few of these are solely dedicated to his labors.

A modest initiative, by a humble individual, from a remote corner of the world has achieved an impossible feat which resonates the principles of humanity and has made simplicity all the more endearing. So, the next time when we are encumbered with a problem, let us not evade it, but rather push through it in the most simplest way possible.