Who is Tribal Environmentalist Dukhu Manjhi awarded with Padma Shri?

The Government of India has awarded the Padma Shri to 34 individuals for their unique and unsung contributions. Among the awardees is Dukhu Majhi, a tribal environmentalist from Purulia, West Bengal, who has dedicated his life to greening barren lands.

Who is Dukhu Majhi?

Dukhu Majhi, affectionately known as ‘Gachha Dadu’, has planted over 5,000 trees, including banyan, mango, and blackberry, on barren land. Despite financial constraints that prevented him from completing his education, Majhi has been working towards a greener future since he was 12. His commitment to environmental conservation began with a simple act - planting trees.

Travelling to new locations on his bicycle every day, Majhi transformed vacant spaces into green landscapes. His efforts not only brought life back to the barren lands but also raised awareness about the importance of trees in maintaining ecological balance.

Majhi’s tree-planting campaign has not only earned him recognition but also inspired a documentary film titled ‘Rukhu Mati Dukhu Majhi’. The film highlights his journey and the significant impact of his work on environmental conservation.

Despite the challenges, Majhi never let himself be deterred. He came up with innovative solutions to protect the trees from wood theft and spread awareness about the importance of trees. His story is a testament to the power of individual action in the face of adversity.

Majhi plants trees daily

In an interview with Hindustan Times, a 78-year-old man named Majhi shared that he has been planting saplings since he was a child, following in his father's footsteps. Despite living in a simple thatched hut with his family and doing odd jobs for a living, Majhi plants a sapling every day. He believes that if everyone contributes like this, the world would be a better place with more shade and oxygen, leading to a healthier life.

To protect the saplings from cattle, Majhi used to build fences with bamboo, but villagers often took the bamboo for fuel, leaving the saplings vulnerable. In response, he started using burnt wooden logs or discarded clothes from crematoriums to build fences, knowing that villagers would avoid them due to superstition. This method successfully kept the saplings safe.

Majhi has planted thousands of trees in Purulia, a district in Bengal, known for its challenging terrain with barren and parched land. The documentary "Dukhu Majhi: Son of the barren land," directed by Somnath Mondal, won a National Film Award in the best biographical category. Mondal discovered Majhi in 2018 and was impressed by his innovative approach to protecting saplings, which had gained him recognition in the local community.

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