The Forest Man of India: Jadav Payeng’s Inspirational Story

Jadav Payeng, of Assam, earned the title ‘Forest Man of India’ for dedicating 40 years of his life to continuously planting and nurturing trees, transforming 1360 acres of land into a vast forest.

After the severe flood in 1979, the condition of the land near the island in Assam had become bad. Mud was visible from far and wide. However, a 55-year-old man named Jadav, through his hard work and dedication transformed this desolate land into a dense forest. His extraordinary journey began one day as he was returning from Aruna Sapori Island in the Brahmaputra River after taking his Class 10 examinations.

From Student to Forest Man of India:

Jadav Payeng’s Green Journey Begins in 10th Grade

Jadav Payeng began planting trees during his 10th-grade studies. In 1978, while he was in the tenth grade, he initiated tree planting. His family had previously lived in Aruna Sapori, an island area in the Brahmaputra River, until 1965. Although his family had left the place, Jadav continued to come to Aruna Sapori for his studies.

One day while going to school he saw many dead snakes on the way. People nearby told that there was a flood, due to which these snakes died in the flowing water.

This incident deeply impacted him, inspiring him to undertake the remarkable task of converting the barren land into a thriving forest.

This thing stuck in the mind of Jadav Payeng. Witnessing the barren land near the river deeply saddened him because he believed that if there were trees and plants, floods could have been prevented. Motivated by this realization, Jadav initiated the task of planting trees in Aruna Sapori, an island area of the Brahmaputra River. Single-handedly, he brought saplings and took care of them, determined to make a positive change.

Faced numerous challenges on this journey

Jadav faced many difficulties in the early stages of his journey.

• He shares that often the plants were washed away during heavy rains, and sometimes they were destroyed due to the rising water level of the river.
• Despite these challenges, he never stopped his work. Regardless of the obstacles, he continued to plant trees and take care of them, using whatever plants he could find. However, during the rainy season, trees would sometimes fall due to the wind.
• Nevertheless, he persisted in planting trees every day, experimenting with various methods to protect them.
• Over time, many plants grew larger, and the number of trees continued to increase year after year.

From Sand to Sanctuary – Molai Forest

According to Jadav the dedication of planting trees from the beginning, leading to the development of a thriving forest that is now home to numerous animals.

Mājuli, once susceptible to frequent flooding and erosion from the river, has transformed into a sanctuary for hundreds of species. Payeng’s initial challenging endeavors transitioned from bamboo to a diverse range of trees, creating a self-sustaining forest. With the growth of the trees, the population of inhabitants—birds, deer, rhinos, tigers, and vultures, etc. A herd of around hundred elephants regularly visits and stays in forest for six months every year.

The forest, called Molai forest after Jadav Molai Payeng, is located near Kokilamukh of Jorhat in Assam. It encompasses an area of about 1,360 acres per 550 hectares.

The Forest Man’s story is a source of inspiration for all of us, reminding us that positive change is possible, no matter how daunting the challenges may seem.

This is how he was called ‘Forest Man of India’

Jadav had not given any publicity to his work. He was working only for nature and was continuously doing plantation work. Then once when a journalist came to know about his exploits, he went to meet Jadav at his village. He also roamed the forest and spread his news to the world. After which, in the year 2012, Jadav was honored by ‘Jawaharlal Nehru University’. During that time he was awarded the title of ‘Forest Man of India’.

Honored with Padma Shri Award

In 2015, Jadav Payeng was conferred with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award in India, in recognition of his significant contributions to society.

“I’ll plant till my last breath.” – Padma Shri Jadav “Molai” Payeng.

Invited by the Mexican government

The Mexican government extended an invitation to Jadav, who has become an exemplary figure for creating a substantial forest. His remarkable efforts have garnered attention both nationally and internationally.

The Mexican government proposed an opportunity for Jadav to travel to North America and provide guidance to people on tree planting and forest creation. Collaborating with an NGO in Mexico, Jadav is now involved in a partnership aimed at planting trees across 8 lakh hectares of land over the course of ten years.

One person can make a huge difference

Jadav Payeng’s story teaches us that small actions, done consistently, can lead to something enormous.

It’s like he was writing a green story with each tree he planted, and the ending is a forest that’s alive and vibrant.

So, the next time you hear about someone planting a tree or doing something small for the environment, remember Jadav Payeng, the Forest Man of India. He proved that one person can make a huge difference, one tree at a time.

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