Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple
tree
Martin Luther
Background
Mr. Rambhai Charan, a
School teacher, tree-lover and avid planter, plants on the roadside, in the
parks, schools, by a lay- by, on the side of a field or next to a wood,
anywhere where there is space and light. He buys mostly saplings from the
forest department nursery. He has been doing this almost daily for years; has
planted a thousand trees in Sabarkantha district since 1982. He has greened all
his neighborhood and surrounding areas in Himmatnagar in Sabarkantha by
himself. Many residents appreciate his work, and the Forest Department has been
happy to support him, supplying trees for his care and planting them every
year. “Instead of delivering impassioned speeches, I decided to stir enthusiasm
and involvement by writing personal letters,” he says. Every time an obituary
appears in the newspaper. he sends a letter of condolence and requests the bereaved
family to plant a tree in memory of the departed soul or if he sees any
marriage of birthday announcements in the local newspaper, he sends a congratulation
note and request them not to do wasteful expenditure in show off and to plant a
tree on this happy occasion of their life. More than 40,000 letters have been
written so far by one person enlarging his realm of responsibility towards
strangers.
Rambhai was inspired to go green in 1982
after he planted his first tree in his village and also learnt about the free availability
of saplings from the forest department nurseries. “I set myself a target of
plating 100 trees a month but I couldn’t have done it alone. So I decided to
gate the people of Saba rkantha with me. That’s how I exceeded the
target by over for times,” says Rambhai whose passion for trees is awe –
inspiring, and sometimes even amusing. He writes about them. He talks about
them, He sings about them. He simply picks up plants of ‘peepal’, ‘banyan’, ‘neem’,
‘mengo’, ‘tamarind’ and many others and nurse them as if they were his own
childern.
Life History
He was born in 1962 at
Kuava, a small village in Idar in Sabarkantha District. His father was a laborer
in a cloth mill in Ahmadabad .
He had his early education in the village school and later in Idar. After
passing his collage in Ahmadabad ,
he worked as a truck conductor for a year. Marriage followed and also some good
fortune. He joined Public Work Department as a trainer in mountain climbing in Mount Abu N.S
Patel High
School in Sabarkantha district in Gujarat
as a primary school teacher. For the last couple of years, he is working in
‘Brundavan’ , a Government school for the same position.
Rambhai With His Wife Kokilaben.
Presently his family resides in a small town called Himmatnagar in the
Sabarkantha District which includes his wife and two sons.Rambhai belongs to
middle class family. His father died at the age of 100 and mother passed away
at the age of 95. His Wife is a very pious woman always ready to support his
initiatives and interests. His elder son, Hrushikesh, is pursuing a course in
Computer education while his younger son, Chandrabhan, is a sportsman and plays
basket ball at the National level.
Triggering The Interest
Talking about climbing
on this novel concept, Rambhai says since his childhood days he has been
writing letters to his relatives, cousins and friends. This definitely helped
him for initiating this mission. Some 20 years back when he was doing his
masters in Gujarat
University
How did this unusual interest get started? The
teacher’s memory takes him back to his native village of Kuava
Why Trees?
Trees help the local climate by reducing the
temperature fluctuations between day and night. It prevents flood and soil
erosion. Heavy rainfall is stopped in the crowns of the trees and the root
network binds the soil, he elaborates. Trees help in the removal of
Carbon-di-oxide gas from the atmosphere, produce oxygen, improve biodiversity,
protect water conservation, and check soil erosion. Besides other social and
communal benefits it provide habitat for wild life. Through the restoration of
native forest we are providing new or improved habitat for a number of animal species
that rely on forests for food and shelter. Presently, he has a total of three
acres of farmland in his village grown into a thin forest land. But he does not
want to cut the trees and cultivate crops because during the night time the
‘Nilgai’ inhabit in his dense farm. He wants to protect wild animals and birds
in his farm.
The Journey So Far
Every day, he spares at least one hour for
his dear plants. His bed room is equipped with materials like twine, scissors
and banners for campaigning tree plantation all around. Examples of his
planting are evident all around town. Earlier, there was not even a single tree
around the playground at his Primary School. Today, 25 big trees encircle it,
lending beauty and shade at the campus. He also planted trees around the campus
of Gujarat vidyapith, of which he was a
student. This was one of the oldest ‘adoptions’ of the good teacher. “If you
just take care of these plants for one year that will suffice, after that, they
grow without any problem”, he explains.
Innovations in the Idea
The sync between climate change and social
forestry I s remarkable for reducing the emissions of green house gases. When
Rambhai first started out planting trees in his village during his collage
vacation, he received little support from the villagers. They were suspicious
of his motives and concerned about losing grazing grounds for their cattle.
However flocked to help. Now, the mango, guava and lemon tress provide them a
good source of income.
Rambhai began his campaign by getting about
100 mango trees from the forest department nursery and distributing them among
the villagers. Though initially reluctant, the villagers were won over by
Rambhai ‘he spirit and determination. Today, almost all the houses in the
village have fruit-bearing mango trees. They say when the temperature of Idar once
raised to its maximum, the temperature in their village was still tolerable
because of the green belt of trees grown.
Various Institutional Innovations
After serving for a brief period as a block
coordinator for eco clubs, he got promoted as district co-ordinator with a
renewed zeal. And it found its manifestation in the massive tree plantation
scheme in the region taken up by him. And the result was more than expected and
of course satisfying too for Rambhai –around 15,000 students and teachers from
250 schools are now busy looking after more than 5 lakh plants and are being
paid for it. The saplings planted under the scheme are both fruit and non-fruit
trees. The non fruit saplings have been planted on the banks of the embankment.
Fruit bearing plantations were done along canal bunds, schools, roads and
government offices’ premises.
I inspected 62 schools in 13 Blocks
in2009andalso conducted workshops with Forest Department officials, Zilla
Parisad and Panchayat Samitee members,” he said. And it all happened within six
months this year.
Innovative Group Activities
He has allotted one tree to every student and
the surplus water in children’s water bottle (which is expected to be nearly
500 grams) is used for watering their individual trees. Besides, he has
introduced various innovative methods in the eco clubs to feed and protect
birds.
Every student is expected to contribute at
least one handful of wheat grains for birds’ every day.
During Kite festival, many bird get injured,
in order to save their lives, he has institutionalize a network of people who
will immediately send these injured birds from one place to another through any
available means of transport and finally they will reach special hospitals in
Baroda for surgery. This year, they saved 13 birds from injury.
Conservation of trees
Rambhai says, we take all the efforts for conservation.
But again, once a sapling grows that would be grazed upon by cattle; people
will forget to water them. Even after they grow into trees, people will cut
them for firewood. All that is inevitable. That shouldn’t stop us from planting
trees.
Capacity building of the people
As trees would be planted on common land, it
was inevitable that the Forest Department, the Social Forestation Department
and the local municipality would have to be roped in.” I wanted nothing more
than their cooperation, I did not want any funds” he recalls.
Motivation of the innovation
In early 90s when he took various green initiatives
like writing letters for tree plantation campaign, nobody in his neighbor also
knew about this. This shows he is a very self motivated individual. However,
his wife has always been a very constant source of encouragement for his
various ideas and initiatives. He wife Kokilaben says “ Apni Sab Prayavaran Aur
Samaaj Se Judi Kavita Sabse Pehle Humein Sunate The”
Recognition began trickling in for him during
late 90s when he became the eco in- charge of his school and began planting
trees massively. Environmentalists and the media began to take notice of his
self taught man. His first live television interview with TV9 made him popular
in his locality and gradually people began to recognize him for his ‘ thankless
job’. Soon after some other local and national newspapers like ‘Nishant’,
‘Sandesh’, Divya Bhaskar’ began to publish his poem on various issues relating
to trees society , corruption, and politics. In addition to poetry, he also
wrote short letters addressing these issues to Gandhi, his ideal man life.
He was very delighted to receive
acknowledgement letter for his work done from Swami Sachidanand Maharaj and
Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He receives replies from 10 persons for
every 100 letters he writes for tree plantation campaign. He says nowadays, he
mostly receives phone calls to say thank you for the letter received by people.
He is so passionate about his work that he even keeps the photo copy of their reply refer with him for any future
reference.
Outcome of the innovation
He visits local schools and colleges to
spread the green message. To spread his message, Charan organizes painting,
poster and essay competitions at regular intervals, with help from educational
institutions. The topics are always related to the nature. “The winners are
given saplings as prizes”, he says.
He also meets people during his visits to the
residential colonies.” I tell them about the importance of preserving the
nature and try to persuade them to plant saplings “ ,he says. He is happy that
in many areas the people have responded to his pleadings. Seeing his total
devotion to the trees, the people have now taken up the task of taking care of
the saplings in their areas.
Feedback from different stakeholders
People think I am out of my mind writing
letters and requesting for tree plantation says it is a futile exercise”.
Forest Department
The chief Conservator of Forest Department in
Sabarkantha District, Mr. K Ramesh has been handling the social forestry
division for the past four years. He says,Rameshbhai is the best in the region
and has helped to bring over hundreds of hectares of wasteland under social
forestry benefiting 13 blocks of the district and also in other district of
Gujarat. He has involved community participation , as part of a derive towards a
forestation, and rehabilitating the common lands.
Principal of
the School
Mr.Dineshbhai of Briindavan school says “ Yeh
Toh Prayavaran Premi Hai , Pure Saal Me Inko 15 Chhutti Milti Hai Aur Sab Issi
Kaam Mai Use Ho Jaati Hai”. He Says his school
has become a green belt through various initiatives taken by students
and him.
Students
The students of his school actively
participate in all the eco clubs related activities. They liked the humour in
his class and his simple nature.
Neighbours/friends/relatives
One of his relatives says though he is a
teacher of history and geography, his love is planting more and more trees.
Religious gurus
His guru’s disciple in Himmatnagar says, the
men who plants trees rescues the ancestors and descendants of both his paternal
and maternal lines. Such a men like Rambhai is applauded and reverenced in the
world. He has planted hundreds of trees in the ashram long back.
Criticisms faced
People from all walks of life supported his
cause when he was working as a line crusader in the society by writing letters,
planting trees on his own and other initiatives, But when he became the
district co – ordinator for eco clubs he became source of criticism for his
strict administration. Some of the eco clubs in – charge complained that he don’t
care about arranging ‘chai –pani during any meeting or workshops. Recently,
Rambhai adopted a new Court opened in Idar in Sabarkantha for planting trees.
After planting around 400 trees with the help of eco clubs students and in – charge
,at the end of the day he received criticisms from Court officials as to why is
he planting the trees after half of the monsoon season is over ? Rambhai
believes instead of seeing the glass as half – empty , one should begin to see
the opportunities of the glass being half – full.
Failures
I don’t want to take any help from the
government, individuals , corporations or voluntary organizations. “ I do not
require any financial help from any one, one can find the saplings during the
rainy season, they are scattered here and there” , he said. He says “ I feel
very insulted to tell the truth, and it saddens me also that not many people supported
the cause in financial terms” . Rambhai recalls instances when he got insulted
by people whom he felicitated for doing well to society . He established RACHA
Foundation in the year 1992 as trust body to set up a trust fund for planting
trees, watering, care taking, distributing water jars for animals to drink,
conducting workshops for environment education etc. but due to lack of funds
the trust got dissolved recently.
He says his wife told him not to ask for any
kind of charity form any when but to save money and utilize it. Rambhai, who
works as a primary school teacher in a Govt.school , manages to set aside 10
per cent from his monthly salary for the planting of trees. Rambhai says money
should never be an abstacle for any good deed. He quotes Kabir’s doha “ Sayeen Itna
Deejiye, Ja Mein Kutumb Samaye; Mein Bhi Bhookha Na Rahun, Sadhu Na Bhookha
Jaye”
Analyzing the reasons for people’s adoption
“It’s a people’s movement that is not tied to
any political party. There is no caste bias either. It will go on from one
generation to another as it is a
movement by the common man for the common man.” says him. He then adds in many
simple words: “Ped Kabhi Uski Chaya Mein Baithne Wale Se Nahi Puchegi Ki Tum
Harijan Ho Yaah Brahmin, Hindi Ho Yaah Muslim”. He has achieved wide success in
all the initiatives he has taken so far through the eco clubs platform or
otherwise because of the following reasons:
1.
He has
adapted very strict monitory and inspection on the various schools under eco
clubs. He physically verifies their performance and refuses to support any fund
to them if they did not perform and participate in the various activities
suggested to them.
2.
He
discards the idea of traditional reporting system in every three months by the
eco in-charge but creativity interacts with them in training workshops, monthly
meetings, and appraisal over telephone.
3.
He has
injected by organizing functions in which best performers of various eco clubs
schools by organizing functions in which best performers both students and
teachers gets awarded for their work.
4.
Component
of Social interaction, moral support and
reciprocity is very high.
Awards and Recognition
Though many people see and appreciate his work,Rambhai is a bit disappointed because he has not been successful in getting some like – minded to match his spirit and vision.. Two years ago, he founded the Prayavaran Prakriti Partisthan. However, this has remained a sort of one-man’s organization. His interest, however, has not diminished, despite the failure to find similar minds to work alongside him. Besides, he received various accolades for his work;
In December, 2009 he was honored at SRISTI Sanman function.
In the same year he was awarded the National Green Corps trophy by the
Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India.
He also got Rs. 500 as an award for his poem published in a local newspaper.
Hobbies and interests
Rambhai Charan has versatile interests. His hobbies includes Reading , Poetry writing,
Singing, Photography, Playing the flute and Cooking. Besides, he has also been
awarded certificates for Senior training
in First Aid and Home Nursing. During his period of studies he joined N.C.C and
undergone training
for three years form 1979-82.He has also completed advance level in the
training of Rock Climbing for three years from 2001-03. He also participated in
three Shodh yatras organized in Himachal
Pradesh , Jammu and Kashmir
During late 90s when the much debated issue of Narmada
dam aroused, Rambhai Completely supported the building of dam. He then started
a “Narmada Banao” cycle rally whereby he led the tem of 35 students and covered
270 km in 10 days. They campaigned for favour of the dam construction in
several places in the Sabarkantha Districts. They cycled from Demai to Bayad to
Balasinhor to Paragad to Bodali and finally to Narmada
colony. This cycle rally attracted much media and public attention all across
the district.
Future Plans
Engaging over fifteen thousand people, including students, teachers, government
officials from 13 talukas of Sabarkantha district and planting over 5 lakh
saplings is not just the end of mission. His goal is to plant as many trees as
possible before he dies. Rambhai has never asked for his share of the fruits
from the thousands of trees he has planted. His only hope is that one day he
will be awarded by the President of India for his work so that it is not lost
forever after he is gone.
He also plans to open an eco school in the mountains near to his
village.
Students from all over the nation will learn about the ecological
conservation, protection of wild life animals, Nature etc. in this school.
On the personal front, he wants to retire as a teacher and practice law
in the years to some.
He waits for me to leave. In a moment, he will return to his trees, his
soul.
I really thank Rambhai for the yeoman service he is doing for posterity
The hurdle created by those who cut down the trees only reflect their
selfishness ... who don’t even want to think own children...leave alone
posterity!!!! I salute the lone crusader and promise myself that I will follow
his way some day for others to enjoy something called nature!
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