Founder Biography
I was born on 12th of July 1958 in my native village BHAINT block DUNDA in Uttarkashi. My parents planted eleven trees of Oak (baanjh) with the help of rural women on the occasion of my birth. In the starting years of my childhood (at age of Ten years) my parents influenced me about the tree plantation, Forest Protection, Forest Fire Protection and Social Service. My parents have started planting trees in the fifty strips of their own land in their native village BHAINT, Block- DUNDA, Uttarkashi before 1960.Because the barren land near our village cannot produce fodder and grass hence the women of our village had to walk to Five to Eight kilometer to get the firewood and fodder. Consequently, in the year 1960-65 five women accidentally lost their life due to rock sliding in our village. My father had fiercely protected the forests of different regions like a guard and his whole life was committed for forest conservation and since I have seen the environment of forest protection and tree plantation in my childhood.
I was deeply influenced from the psychological point of view and curiosity to plant trees and forest conservation always thrives in my mind. After contemplating all the aspects of forest conservation and tree plantation I decided to make this a goal in my life and started working from ground level. My beloved father passed away in 1979 to fulfill his last wish and with the blessing of my mother and with the help of each and every individual I started tree plantation in fifty-Six hectares in and around my village and I put my heart and soul in this work. I got this virtuous act from my father’s legacy. After that there I didn’t look back and till date I have planted so many trees and reforest. I have planted millions of trees (six forests) 4 at my own Village-Bhaint 1 in Uttarkashi at Varunavat Forest and 1 at Holy place Gangotri in that Two Hundred species of mixed forest model is there on land.
New natural water resources has emerged because of forests which provides water for drinking and irrigation, These Forest also provides fodder for animals and increases the oxygen level in environment and are very effective to stop rock slides/landslides.
Special Arrangement to store rain water has made in jungle which creates the humidity in nature and restricted the fire to spread. Also many large pits in jungles are filled by unused Pine trees leaves which after some time provide biological fertilizers for villagers. The Mixed forests is providing the Burans Flowers for Juice, Apple for Jam, fruits for Pickles, and natural medicines for rural women to generate self employment.
Varunavat forest is often visited by people, children of various schools and research scholars to enhance their knowledge and in this VARUNAVAT FOREST we have created SHYAM HERBAL GARDEN in which many Herbal plants are planted and are providing medicinal content to mankind. VARUNAVAT FOREST played a major role in reducing the destruction during 2003 Varunavat Landslide as planted trees where helpful in reducing soil erosion which is one of the major cause of Landslide.
Till now I have planted around 15 lacs plants of dynamic species and of which around 2 lacs are at Varunavat forest only and approx 200 species which include Landslide area as well. I have committed to dedicate my whole life for conservation of the forests by planting trees as much as I can and hope so I will continue this Good work till my last breath and establishing myself as a inspiration for the future generation so that they can also be part of ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION and creating POLLUTION FREE ENVIRONMENT for the upcoming future.