Forest Man of India-Jadav Payeng

Personal Life

Jadav Payeng, the Forest Man of India, has dedicated his life to the environment. Let’s delve into his personal story:

1. Early Life: He was born in the Mishing community in the Jorhat district of Assam, India. He grew up in a rural environment and had a deep connection to nature from a young age.
2. Education: Payeng’s formal education background is not extensively documented, but it’s known that he received at least a basic education. He started his afforestation efforts in his early teenage years.
3. Family Life: Payeng is married and has children. He has lived with his family in the vicinity of the forest he created on the sandbar of the Brahmaputra River.
4. Occupation: Jadav Payeng’s passion lies in environmental activism and conservation. However, to support his family, he has necessarily taken on various other activities. These include working as a farmer and occasionally as a laborer.

Planting a forest in India

1. Inspiration and Initial Planting:
   • In 1979, Jadav encountered a heartbreaking sight: a large number of dead snakes on a tree-less sandbar. These snakes had perished due to excessive heat after floods washed them onto the barren land.
   • Jadav began by planting a single bamboo sapling on the sandbar. This was the first step in a long and arduous journey.
   • Driven by compassion and a desire for change, Jadav planted around 20 bamboo seedlings on that very sandbar. But he didn’t stop there.
   • He returned every day, rain or shine, to plant another sapling. He reportedly aimed for a new sapling each day, but the exact number might have varied.
   • He prioritized readily available native species like bamboo, cotton trees, and medicinal plants, ensuring the forest thrived within its natural environment.
2. Dedication and Persistence:
   • Jadav continued to nurture and plant trees over the next several decades. His relentless efforts transformed the once desolate area into a lush green forest.
   • The forest, now known as the Molai Forest, Jadav’s efforts transformed a barren sandbar along the Brahmaputra River into the lush Molai Forest covers approximately 1,360 acres (550 hectares) near Kokilamukh in Jorhat, Assam, India.
   • Molai Forest is home to an incredible variety of wildlife, including Bengal tigers, Indian rhinoceros, deer, rabbits, and numerous bird species, including a large population of vultures.
3. Tree Varieties and Bamboo Coverage:
   • Within Molai Forest, there are several thousand trees, including species like valcol, arjun, ejar, goldmohur, koroi, moj, and himolu.
   • Additionally, bamboo covers over 300 hectares of the forest.
4. Elephant Visitors:
   • A herd of around 100 elephants visits the Molai Forest annually, staying for approximately six months. Over the years, these elephants have even given birth to 10 calves within the forest.

The Legacy: Molai Forest

• Jadav’s decades of dedication resulted in the creation of a massive forest reserve named after him – the Molai Forest.
• Today, the Molai Forest spans over 1,360 acres, a testament to Jadav’s perseverance. It shelters a plethora of plant and animal life, serving as a crucial habitat for endangered species.
• The forest also plays a vital role in protecting the nearby Majuli Island, the world’s largest river island, by acting as a natural barrier against erosion.

Awards and recognition for Jadav Payeng

Payeng’s work has brought him significant recognition and accolades, including national and international awards. These include the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, conferred upon him by the Government of India in 2015.

Jadav Payeng’s story is an inspiration for all. It’s a reminder that one person with a vision and unwavering commitment can make a significant impact on the environment. The Molai Forest stands as a testament to the power of individual action and serves as a beacon of hope for a greener future.