Forest Man of India | 印度“森林之子”
Can you plant an entire forest by yourself? The answer is, yes! The fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, Padma Shri awardee Jadav “Molai” Payeng single-handedly transformed the barren land of Majuli in Assam into a dense forest by planting a sapling a day since 40 years ago. He started his mission to revive the once barren, sandy river banks of Majuli when he was 16 years old after a startling discovery. Numerous snakes were found dead on the sandy banks of Brahmaputra River after a life-threatening flood. The snakes died from heat due to the lack of shades.
This incident struck deep with Jadav and inspired him to dedicate his life in transforming the barren river banks of the world largest river island, Majuli. He started with a few bamboo trees and eventually, it bloomed into a lush and dense forest full of animals and plants. Various animals such as elephants, tigers, deers, rhinos and even vultures are found to be living in the forest once again.
With his hard work, the forest now stretches over 500 hectares over the barren lands of Majuli island and it is even bigger than Central Park in New York City! Jodav views the forest as his family and he wishes to plant 5,000 acres more of trees to create a 500 mile of flora and fauna stretch along the banks of Brahmaputra river. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The creation of a thousand forest is in one acorn.” But in this case, it is just a pair of an ordinary man’s hands and a noble vision.
By all means watch this short 16 minute award winning documentary on the ‘Forest Man’ Mr. Jadav Payeng. This film is a life-changer and highly inspirational. It shows you what we all can do if we choose. Mr. Jadav Payeng is a very simple man and is not wealthy yet teaches us how to change our planet one person at a time.
Tsem Rinpoche
Forest Man
Disclaimer: The video below belongs to its creator, and is made available here for strictly educational, non-commercial purposes only. No profit is being made from making it available.
Transcript
Since 1979, Jadav Payeng has single-handedly planted a forest in the middle of a barren wasteland. His forest is now larger than Central Park. This is his story.
This is the town of Jorhat in the remote northeast of India. I suppose Jorhat is not really that different from any other city in India. People here work very hard. They keep their heads down and push ahead. They don’t look back. Life here is difficult for some and even more difficult for others.
My name is Jitu Kalita and Jorhat is where I was born and where I live. My house is located just outside of Jorhat. This is my nephew; he’s suspicious of cameras. In Jorhat, I do many different things. But mostly I am a photographer. I love photographing nature. I take shots of the beautiful birds and the wildlife that live in our part of India. In my house, I keep some of my photography awards, but I don’t like to show them off.
Brahmaputra River
A few kilometres in the north of Jorhat lies one of the largest river in India, the Brahmaputra. Millions of people live along its shores. Every year, during the monsoon, the river floods everything in sight, destroying homes and farms, and eroding away hundreds of square kilometres of land.
One of the worst affected areas is Majuli Island. Majuli is the world’s largest river island, and it is home to over 150,000 people. Since 1917, Majuli has lost over half its land mass to erosion, and the rate of erosion has recently accelerated.
This is the Majuli Island. Since I was a child, Majuli has been a place of wonder for me. Once I ran away from home and came here. I spent days exploring and drawing pictures of the plants and animals. To me, Majuli is heaven. Scientists recently announced that in 15, 20 years, Majuli Island could be completely gone.
The Brahmaputra is where I take most of my photos. One day in 2009, I was exploring a barren part of the Brahmaputra by boat when I saw something strange. It looked like a forest far in the distance. I began walking towards it, and when I reached it, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I have found a dense forest in the middle of a barren, vast land.
When I left the forest, I saw a man far in the distance. So, I began following him. I found him by the riverside. At first, he thought I was a poacher and tried to attack me, but he stopped when I told him, I was just a photographer. I asked him what he was doing in the forest. He explained that he was planting trees and that he had been since the 1970s. He told me his name was Jadav Payeng.
Jadav: Jitu was working with wildlife, and he came to the forest to take pictures of birds. Initially, however, I was not convinced he was a journalist. “This guy is a poacher looking for rhinos or tigers,” I thought.
When I discovered Jadav Payeng and his forest, I wrote an article about it in the local newspaper. Soon after, he became known throughout India. We are now very good friends.
Jadav: His article about me was a turning point in my life. It was unbelievable. In Mumbai, the former President of India A.P.J Abdul Kalam gave me the title of “Forest Man of India”.
This is the forest man’s home on Majuli Island. Every morning, the forest man’s family helps him prepare for his journey to the forest.
Jadav: I started planting this forest in 1979. People say the forest is about 550 hectares (Central Park NYC is 341 hectares). This place is full of trees. I have planted everything myself. At first, planting was very time-consuming. But now it’s much easier, because I get the seeds from the trees themselves.
[Jadav Payeng in a phone call]
Jadav: When the trees grew big, it became difficult for me to protect them. The biggest threat was from men. They would have destroyed the forest for economic gain, and the animals would be vulnerable again. Since it is a dense forest, 115 elephants live here for three months a year. In my forest, there are also rhinos, deers, and many tigers. After 40 years, we have also seen vultures return to the area this year (2012). All species on this planet are animals, including humans. The only difference is that humans wear clothes. There are no monsters in nature except for humans. Humans consume everything until there is nothing left. Nothing is safe from humans, not even tigers or elephants.
The forest man is being honoured in a nearby city. Payeng has won dozens of awards for his incredible achievements. But I think he feels frustrated by getting awards. Local government has tried to get Majuli listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but their application has been rejected each time. Payeng has many brilliant ideas about how to save Majuli, he tells everyone his ideas, but so far no one has adopted them.
Jadav: If you develop the coconut industry, it will be very beneficial. I would request the ministry of agriculture do that. Coconut trees are always straight, and they help prevent erosion if planted densely enough. So it is good for protecting the soil, for boosting the economy and for fighting climate change. It will take five years to get results in Majuli, and in other areas, it will take seven years.
Dr Arup Kumar Sarma: Payeng has already shown the example that if one person can, at his effort can do this kind of plantation, then why not others? If we can have economic value, if it is economically viable, if it gives benefit to the people, if we can plan it in this way, then we can do it for the entire catchment. In fact, we have proposed these kinds of things already, and we have found that it is economically viable. So, that way if this kind of project can be implemented and gradually one river, another river, the whole, entire basin, the Brahmaputra Basin. I hope that through reforestation we can solve the problems of flood and erosion to a great extent.
Sometimes I wonder, what 10 Payengs, or 100 or thousands of Payengs could do. He once told me: “I worry about the fate of the world, just like everyone. I see bad things happening on my island, and I do what I can to help. I’m just a simple man, and there are many just like me.” When I asked him if he thought Majuli could be saved, he replied: “Yes”.
Jadav: My dream is to fill up Majuli Island and Jorhat with forest again. I will continue to plant until my last breath. I tell people, cutting those trees will get you nothing. Cut me before you cut my trees!
More pictures of Majuli Island
I tell people, cutting those trees will get you nothing. Cut me before you cut my trees!~Jadav Payeng
印度“森林之子”
你可以自己栽种整座森林吗？答案是可以的！印度共和国第四级公民荣誉奖莲花士勋章获奖者札达夫“莫莱”。16岁那年，札达夫在布拉马普特拉河的沙滩上发现了许多失去性命的蛇。他们都是被洪水冲到沙滩，因没有藏身之处而过热致死的。
这件事深深冲击了札达夫，激励他一生致力于改造世界最大的河中岛——马久利的贫瘠河岸。他先从种植一些竹树开始，到了今天，这片土地已变成一座青翠茂密的森林，吸引了大象、老虎、鹿、犀牛，甚至秃鹫等，再次回归森林的怀抱。
在他的努力下，札达夫把森林视如家人，他希望再多种植5000英亩的树木，在布拉马普特拉河沿岸打造一个500英里长的动植物区。拉尔夫·沃尔多·爱默生说过：“千座森林源于一颗橡树子”，然而用在这里，这个起源却是一个崇高的愿景和一双凡夫之手。
请观看这部短短16分钟关于“森林之子”札达夫·佩扬先生的获奖纪录片。这部片子极具启发性，将能改变我们的人生。它让我们知道，只要愿意，我们什么事都办得到。札达夫·佩扬是个很朴实的人，且不富裕，但他却教会我们如何凭靠一个人的力量，慢慢去改变我们的地球。
詹杜固仁波切
Forest Man
Disclaimer: The video below belongs to its creator, and is made available here for strictly educational, non-commercial purposes only. No profit is being made from making it available.
自1979年以来，Jadav Payeng一直致力在一片荒芜的土地上开垦出一座森林。现在他所种植的森林比一整个纽约中央公园还要大。以下是他的故事。
这是印度东北部的Jorhat镇。我想Jorhat与印度的其他城市并没有什么不同——这里的人们非常努力。他们低头迎向面前的生活，从不回首。他们的生活很艰苦，对一些人来说情况更是如此。
我叫Jitu Kalita。我在Jorhat出生，也在这里定居。我的房子就在Jorhat郊外。这是我的侄子，他不喜欢相机。在Jorhat，我做过很多不同的事，但大多数的时候我是一名摄影师。我喜欢拍摄大自然景色，尤其是美丽的雀鸟和生活在我们身边的野生动物。我家里便保留了一些摄影奖，但我並不喜欢炫耀它们。
布拉马普特拉河
位于Jorhat以北几公里是印度最大的河流之——布拉马普特拉河。数百万人居住在它的沿岸地区。每年季风期间，河水上涨会淹没一切，摧毁所有的房屋和农场，并侵蚀数百平方公里的土地。
Majuli岛便是当中受影响最严重的地区之一。Majuli是世界上最大的河流岛屿，拥有超过15万的人口。自1917年以来，Majuli的土地已经被侵蚀了一半以上，近年侵蚀的速度更是有增无减。
这是Majuli岛。从我小时候起，Majuli一直是我的秘密之地。有次我离家出走，我花了几天时间在这里探索和描画动植物。对我来说，Majuli是天堂。科学家最近宣布，在15年至20年间，Majuli岛很可能会完全被侵蚀而消失。
布拉马普特拉河是我大部分照片的拍摄地点。2009年的某天，我发现了一个奇怪的景象。当我正乘船游览布拉马普特拉河的贫瘠地区时，我发现远方好像有一座森林，当我抵达时，我简直不敢相信自己的眼睛——我在一片荒芜的土地中发现了茂密的森林！
当我正要离开森林时，我看到远处有一个人。于是我往他的方向走去，并在河边找到了他。起初，他试图攻击我，以为我是一个偷猎者。但当我告诉他我只是一名摄影师时，他便冷静下来。我问他在森林里干什么，他解释说他自20世纪70年代以来便一直在这里种树。他告诉我他的名字叫Jadav Payeng。
Jadav：Jitu来到这座森林里拍摄雀鸟是因为他的工作跟野生动物有关。起初，我不相信他是一名记者。我怀疑他是一个寻找犀牛或老虎的偷猎者。
当我发现Jadav Payeng和他的森林时，我在当地报章上写了一篇关于他的报道。不久，他的名声红遍整个印度。我们现在是非常要好的朋友。
Jadav：他的报道是我人生的转捩点。更令人难以置信是，印度前总统A.P.J Abdul Kalam在Mumbai给了我「印度森林人」的称号。
这是「印度森林人」在Majuli岛上的家。每天早上，他的家人都会为他前往森林的旅程做好准备。
Jadav：我在1979年开始种植这片森林。坊间说森林面积约为550公顷（纽约中央公园面积为341公顷）。这个地方到处都是树木。一花一草一木都是我亲自栽种的。起初，栽种非常耗时费力。但现在变得容易得多了，因为我可以直接从这里的树上获取种子。
[Jadav Payeng在聊电话中]
Jadav：树木长成后，我便再难以保护它们。最大的威胁是人类。为了经济利益，他们可以摧毁森林，使这里的动物顿失依靠。由于它是一座茂密的森林，每年会有115头大象在这里定居三个月。在我的森林里，还有犀牛、鹿和许多老虎。40年后的今天（2012年），我们还看到秃鹫返回该区。所有活在这个星球上的物种皆为动物，人类亦然。唯一的区别是人类会穿衣服。除人类以外，自然界中没有怪物。人类消耗一切，直到什么都不剩。没有什么可以躲过人类的摧残，老虎和大象也不例外。
「森林人」受到邻近城市的尊敬——Payeng赢得了数十个奖项。但我认为他并没有为此感到高兴。当地政府试图将Majuli列为联合国教科文组织世界遗产，但他们每次的申请都不获通过。Payeng有很多关于如何拯救Majuli的主张，也已经公开分享过了，但到目前为止还没有人采用过它们。
Jadav：发展椰子产业是非常有益的。我也会要求农业部这样做。椰子树总是直的，若种得够密，它们能有助防止土地侵蚀。因此，它有利于土壤的保护，促进经济和应对气候变化。在Majuli，这只需五年时间便可获得成果；若在其他地区，则需时七年。
Arup Kumar Sarma 博士: Payeng的例子显明，一个人在努力下尚且可以达到如斯成绩，何况其他人呢？如果那些方案拥有经济价值及经济上的可行性，如果它能给人民带来好处，如果我们能够以这种方式进行规划，那么我们便可以就整个流域使用这样的方案。事实上，我们已经作过同样的推荐，而且我们认为它在经济上是可行的。这样的方案完全可以逐步实施于一条河流、另一条河流、整个流域、布拉马普特拉河流域……我希望通过重新造林，我们可以在很大程度上解决洪水和侵蚀问题。
有时我会想：10个Payeng，100个、或者数千个Payeng可以做什么。他曾告诉我：「我担心世界的命运，就像每个人一样。我看到岛上发生了什么不好的事，我就尽力帮忙。我只是一个普通人，有很多人和我一样。」当我问他是否认为Majuli可以得救时，他回答说：「是的。」
Jadav：我的梦想是再次以树林充满Majuli岛和Jorhat。我会继续栽种，直到咽下最后一口气。我告诉人们，砍伐那些树木不会让他们得到任何东西。若非要砍伐树木不可，就先把我给砍了吧！
更多Majuli岛的照片
我告诉他们，砍伐那些树木不会让他们得到什么。若非要砍不可，就先把我给砍了吧！～札达夫·佩扬
Sources
- McCarthy, Julie, A Lifetime Of Planting Trees On A Remote River Island: Meet India’s Forest Man, December 26, 2017, https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/12/26/572421590/hed-take-his-own-life-before-killing-a-tree-meet-india-s-forest-man (accessed: 19 May 2019)
- Burman, Partho, An Assamese who created a woodland in a river island is the Forest Man of India, April 27, 2015, http://www.theweekendleader.com/Heroism/2155/forest-maker.html (accessed: 19 May 2019)
- Richman-Abdou, Kelly, Man Spends 40 Years Planting a Tree on Barren Island Every Day, Now Its a Giant Forest, August 9, 2018, https://mymodernmet.com/jadav-payeng-majuli-island/ (accessed: 19 May 2019)
For more interesting information:
- Forest Bathing-The Best Medicine
- The Emerald Forest
- Living Off-The-Grid in Lenggong Valley, Malaysia
- 66 Million!
- Buddhist Monks Working to Tackle Deforestation in Cambodia
- We are starting to plant
- Scientist Have Discovered That Living near Trees Is Good For Your Health
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Assam environmental activist and forestry worker Jadav Payeng known as ‘Forest Man of India’ did something extraoridinary where no one did before. Wow ….imagine he had shot to fame by singlehandedly transforming the world’s largest inhabited river island into a sprawling forest. He had devoted 30 years of his life planting trees to creating a real man-made forest of 550 hectares of tress. Unbelievable with this reforestation, wildlife has returned to the area. His inspiring story has taught us to be responsible and with determination can bring a change in the world. Jadav Payeng was conferred the title ‘The Forest Man’ in Delhi by the Government of India on World Earth Day. Since then he has travelled across the country, and the world, giving talks and attending conferences on climate change and environmental issues.
Thank you Rinpoche for this inspiring sharing.
This story is very inspiring.Plants are very important nowadays as we, humans, require oxygen to live. The confidence level in the man has influenced him to change the barren land to a place filled with thousand of various plants.
Youngsters should take this man as a role model not only for planting trees but for the confidence in him. Not only confidence, but even loaded of courage in him.Thank you very much for the good and inspiring article.
Thank u Rinpoche. Such an insipiring story. This story is a life-changer. Learn about the incredible Forest Man of India.
For more details https://bit.ly/2Eh4vRS
Jadav Payeng was distressed by the destruction deforestation and erosion was causing on his island home. He started planting trees from a small scale to a bigger forest. Soon he planted forest bigger than Central Park, New York City to save his land. Inspiring indeed. . A simple and humble farmer from a marginalized tribal community, Jadav Payeng has single-handedly changed the landscape in his state of Assam. Spending 30 years of his life planting trees, creating a forest and restoring wildlife in it. Thanks to this reforestation, wildlife has returned to the area. Incredibly, he did it all by himself and has planted thousands of trees over the course of nearly 40 years. That will be wonderful if more people like Jadav Payeng could do the same. He has received one of India’s highest civilian awards and many other rewards for his contribution in saving the forest and wildlife. Jadav Payeng, also known as the Forest Man of India by many.
Thank you Rinpoche for this inspiring true story of Jadav Payeng and reminds us all of the difference a single person with a big idea can make.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this incredible and life changing video. Never heard that a single man can re-forest an island. This is truly amazing but true.
We can imagine what the population of any country can do if each adult were to embark on this journey. Perhaps not on the journey of re-forestation but a journey or helping others – homeless, abused, marginalized, and ostracized.
Very inspiring.
Thank you Your Eminence.
Humbly yours
Lum Kok Luen
If one single person can make such an immense positive contribution,imagine how the world could change for the better if only its population derives inspiration from this one man’s effort regardless of race, colour, creed, or belief.
Greed destroys, selflessness sustains both our existence and other living existence on this planet.
This story is very inspiring. By reading this article, i can understand that nothing is impossible in this universe. Youngsters should take this man as a role model not only for planting trees but for the confidence in him. Not only confidence, but even loaded of courage in him.
Plants are very important nowadays as we, humans, require oxygen to live. The confidence level in the man has influenced him to change the barren land to a place filled with thousand of various plants. Youngsters can take this inspiring story as their guidance for them to improve their live from nothing to become a topper.
This is a wonderful post to remind us of the strength and perseverance of the human spirit. For those who think that they cannot do anything significant to change the world, this is a good read that proves that changing the world starts from one small step at a time, by just one person. Jadav Payeng is not someone with a lot of resources but what he lacked in resources, he made it up with his sheer determination to rehabilitate his the river banks, for the benefit of the fauna there. This to me is one of the most beautiful acts of compassion as he is doing this for the well being of others who do not even have the ability to thank him for his efforts.
Thank you, Rinpoche and blog team on sharing this amazing story of Jadav Payeng with us. It is such an inspiration to see how one man’s effort can make a change and leave a remarkable impact on the environment.
Jadav Payeng is just an ordinary man that lives on Majuli island. When he saw the island is in danger, he jumps into action and starts doing what he can do, which is planting a sapling a day in the barren wasteland of Majuli island.
In the span of 40 years, a dense forest emerged from his effort and it is now even bigger than central park in New York. Many animals such as elephants, rhinos and even tigers have returned to live in that place. What he said was inspiring.
“I see bad things happening on my island, and I do what I can to help.” – Jadav Payeng
It’s amazing how one man can plant the trees all by himself and made into a huge forest. So much dedication to the love of nature and environment. I am sure this is not an easy task and require a lot of passion and determination to reach where it is today. Really hope that government will support him in all areas such as financial, human resource and etc. All of us have the responsibility to take care of our environment and we need to do something to save the world for our next generation.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this inspiring article.
It is such an inspiration that a single man who saw something wrong and decided to do something about it. From his daily effort, he has made the desert island Majuli into an oasis where animals roam again in the lush forest. It really goes to show that nothing is impossible when one sets the heart to do it. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article of success.
This story is very inspiring. Some people just do what they think is right with sincerity, not because they want to be praised or recognised. Mr. Jadav Payeng is one of those people. His compassion for the snakes has motivated him to plant one tree sapling every day by the bank of the world largest river island, Majuli.
40 years later, Majuli is covered by a forest stretches over 500 hectares over the barren lands of Majuli island and many wild lives are found living here again. I believe Mr. Jadav has never dreamed of getting recognition or hoped that someone will notice his work one day. His passion and love for the mother nature and animals are very touching. How many of us really consider other beings as part of our ecosystem and take them into consideration?
Mr. Jadav has made suggestions to people how to revive Majuli island but no one listens to him. However, this does not discourage Mr. Jadav, he keeps doing what he thinks is right even though he does not get much support. Mr. Jadav shows us if we have the passion for something and the passion is selfless, we will be motivated to pursue it even if no one supports us. With good motivation, good result will eventually come to fruition.