Jadav Payeng



Osmania University Degree English Sem 3 - Unit 1

Additional Reading

                        &

 Kakatiya University Warangal

II year. Sem 4 unit 1

               &

Palamuru University Sem 2 - The Forest Man of India. 

KU-Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources

             Jadav Payeng

 Q:- 1.Describe Molai Forest (KU june 2023) 

2.what sight ultimately inspired Jadav to protect the island and the forest? ( KU July 2022) 

3.How were Javad Payeng's efforts on planting discovered ( KU July 2021) 

Summary

Jadav Payeng dedicated his entire youth to transforming a deserted island into a dense forest. The forest was named after his nickname, Molai Forest. After 33 years of his constant efforts, the government, NGO's, and the international community recognised his wonder. He became the subject of school textbooks, and many documentaries have been made on his life.

At the age of sixteen, he saw a pile of dead snakes washed up on a sandbar after floods in the Brahmaputra River. This sight made him think about the threat to humans on deforested land. He was advised by village elders to plant trees, especially bamboo trees, to prevent the impending danger. To stop the submersion of Majuli island due to constant soil erosion, the Forestry Division of Golaghat district started planting trees on 200 acres. Jadav continued this mission, though the Forestry Division stopped the plan in 1983.

Jadav in 2008 fiercely protested the villager's plan to cut down part of the forest to stop the elephant menace. He said, "Kill me first, before killing these animals." When the world discovered the Molai forest, poachers began to invade the forest in search of animals. The forest department acted quickly on Jadav's information and stopped poaching activities. Jadav lived with his wife and three children in a hut near the forest. Though his cattle were killed by tigers, he never got angry. He said, " Nature has made a food chain, why can't we stick to it"?.  He further says that man is the biggest danger to the forest. 

Many documentaries have been made about Jadav's sacrifice and success. Arti Srivastav, an Indian film maker, made a documentary titled "Foresting Life."

In 2014, William McMaster, an American film maker, made the "Forest Man" film on Jadav's work with the Molai forest. In 2012, he was given the title "The Forest Man of India" by Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi.

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Jadav Payeng

In 1979, during the monsoon, sixteen-year-old Jadav Payeng saw a pile of snakes washed up on a sandbar after the Brahmaputra River flooded. They were scorched to death in the heat that came after the rains and dried the water. The sight filled him with horror, and drove him to wonder what would happen to humans-whether they, too, would die the same way without shade and tree cover in the heat. He could see that the land around the nearby villages was being eroded and damaged at a great rate.

The Brahmaputra River is home to the world's largest river island-Majuli. This island is almost 1000 hectares in area, but is constantly threatened by submersion due to the wide- spread soil erosion that takes place. Majuli Island was shrinking, and fast. To stop this, the forestry division of Assam's Golaghat District launched a plan in 1980 to plant trees across 200 hectares. Jadav was one of the local labourers hired to help with this effort.

When the plan was abandoned in 1983, Jadas continued as if the perspect He chose to stay back even after the other left, and not only did he take care of the te ready pilanted, but he went on to plant mort trees. Driven by his the stopped gring to school, focussing only on the task at hand-so plant more trees, every day. Fue the longest time, nearly thirty years, Jadav worked on his forest alone, waking up before exist every day, rowing his boat across the river to the island, and working all day in the first-planting new trees, taking care of saplings and younger trees and plants, making sure all was right on his contained ecosystem. Bamboo, a plant capable of surviving difficult weather, is the most common tree in the forest, but there is still an incredible diversity of trees since lader planted as many types of seeds as he could get his hands on.

No one really knew about his work, besides the nearby villagers and the Mising tribe to which Jadav belonged. Jadav did not ask for help, nor did he seek permission from any government authorities, he believed his work was necessary and also a part of the Mising traditions of respecting and giving back to nature. He devoted his youth-indeed, most of his life to this mission of reducing erosion by planting hundreds and thousands of trees and tending to the land. Slowly, over the next few decades, the barren sandbars were transformed. and a dense, green forest grew out of his efforts. It became a home to elephants, rhinoceros, Bengal tigers, and a number of different kinds of deer and birds.

In 2008, a herd of elephants accidentally entered Jadav's forest after running wild through nearby villages, damaging fields and houses. When officials from the forest depart ment came looking for the elephants, they were amazed to discover this dense forest cre ering so much space. They were further surprised when they learned that it was the work of one man alone. The locals wanted to cut down a part of the forest in order to hunt the elephants that had destroyed their homes, but Jadav stood in their way. When asked about the incident, Jadav remembers, 'I said: "Kill me first, before killing these animals". The same villagers now acknowledge the importance of the woods as it has become a source of livelihood for them.

The forest became known as "Molai Forest, after Jadav's nickname. The state forest department did not officially extend any help with Jadav's continuing efforts. However, the local officials who had discovered the forest were so impressed that they began to visit regularly, and would sometimes bring saplings and seeds so Jadav could go on planting and growing his forest. Then, a few years later, when poachers began to invade the forest, trying to catch rhinos and the other animals living in the forest, Jadav immediately warned the forest depart ment. They were quick to respond, and not only did they prevent the poachers from succeed ing by taking away their equipment and supplies, but officials from the forest department aho camped in the Molai Forest for a few months to confront and catch poachers.

Jadav lives with his wife and three children in a small but near the forest, and while his priority and mission in life is to continue planting trees and tending to his forest, he makes his living by selling milk from his cows and buffaloes. He has a small farm where he raises

these animals and also grows vegetables. The cattle often graze in the forest, which can b dangerous, since there are tigers that roam those areas. Jadav has admitted to losing a nu ber of his cattle to the tigers in the forest, but he doesn't resent them or get angry about 'Nature has made a food chain; why can't we stick to it? Who would protect these animals we, as superior beings, start hunting them?' He never feels that he is in danger from the wild animals; rather, he says, man is the biggest danger to the forest. Between poachers, loca looking to protect their villages from the wild animals, and others out to cut down trees to get wood-even Jadav agrees that the numerous cotton and bamboo trees in his forest are excellent wood-the forest faces far more threats than it causes.

Though the forest was almost a secret for thirty years, once it was discovered, Jadav Pay eng's efforts became the stuff of legends. A number of documentaries have been made about Jadav's work in the past few years. In 2012, The Molai Forest, a locally made documentary, was produced and screened at Jawaharlal Nehru University. The next year, another documentary, Foresting Life, was made by an Indian filmmaker, Aarti Shrivastava. In 2014, American film- maker William McMaster made Forest Man, about the life of Jadav Payeng and his work with the Molai Forest. This documentary was shown at a number of film festivals all around the world, and even won an award at the Cannes Film Festival, which led to increased awareness about Jadav's work. A children's book was also written about Jadav, called Jadav and the Tree-Place. In 2012, following the first documentary, Jadav Payeng was honoured at a public func- tion at Jawaharlal Nehru University, and it was at that event that he was given the title, 'Forest Man of India. In 2013, he was honoured at the Indian Institute of Forest Manage- ment during their annual event. He also received honorary doctorate degrees from Assam Agricultural University and Kaziranga University for his contributions to the environ- ment. Finally, in 2015, this humble tribesman from Assam was given the Padma Shri for his amazing work. Today, people travel from all over the world to visit the Molai Forest to get a glimpse of not just the various wildlife but also the wonder of a forest this single man managed to create.

It has been forty years since Jadav Payeng began planting trees. He has not grown tired of his work, nor does he intend to stop anytime soon. He still does most of it alone, going through the forest to water and check on new saplings and trees, to collect medicinal herbs, to make sure the soil is ready for new seeds-his work never ends. He believes children are the future, and the key to saving the environment: 'Planting of trees should be part of the school curriculum. Each child should plant two trees and look after them till they leave school. This way, they will generate the oxygen they need and also pass on the legacy to newcomers. When asked how he has managed to not grow tired, Jadav replies that he isn't doing it alone. In his eyes, he only starts the process by planting a few seeds, some saplings; Nature takes over from there and does the rest. 

Jadav Payeng's work has had a noticeable impact on the world. His contributions to the environment are amazing, especially when one considers that for thirty years no one knew what he was doing. The Molai Forest is the result of one man's dedicated service to nature, and proof that even one person can make a difference.

COMPREHENSION

Answer the following questions in about 50 words.

1. What are the geographical features of Majuli Island, and why was it under threat? 

2. Where does Jadav Payeng live? What is his main source of livelihood?

3. Name some of the trees and animals found in Molai Forest.

4. 'Jadav has admitted to losing a number of his cattle to the tigers in the forest, but he doesn't resent them or get angry about it. Why?

5. How has Jadav Payeng's work been recognised?