Jadav ‘Molai’ Payeng

aka Forest Man of India

Jadav ‘Molai’ Payeng’s life is the stuff of folklore. It has inspired 1 movie, 2 books, innumerous documentaries, and even classroom chapters across the globe. More importantly, it has given birth to a biodiverse forest, and made the world realize that with perseverance, even an individual can change the course of nature.

Jadav’s story began in 1959 when he was born to a poor buffalo farmer of the Mishing tribe in Assam. When he turned 16, Jadav came upon a large number of snakes that had died due to excessive heat after floods washed them onto the tree-less sandbar in Majuli, the world’s biggest river island surrounded by river Brahmaputra. Moved by the plight of the helpless snakes, he planted around 20 bamboo seedlings on the sandbar.

As days passed, he not only looked after those 20 plants, but planted one more sapling each day. Soon, the land began to transform and eventually, it turned into a dense forest with an area of about 1,360 acres. Jadav’s miraculous endeavor came to light in 2007 when a photojournalist chanced upon the area and alerted the authorities.

In a nod to Jadav’s dedication spanning decades, the forest was given the name of Molai forest. As it grew in space and density, it became a  natural sanctuary for hundreds of species. Today, it is a haven for Bengal tigers, Indian rhinoceros, and over 100 deer and rabbits. It is also home to monkeys and several varieties of reptiles and birds, including a large number of vultures.

Interestingly, a herd of around 100 elephants visits the forest every year and stays for around six months. They have given birth to 10 calves in the forest in recent years. This is just one example of how Jadav has saved countless lives.

He has also utilized many innovative ways to grow the forest. To water the vast area, he built a bamboo platform on top of each sapling and placed earthen pots with small holes in them. The water would gradually drip on the plants below and water them through the week. In addition, he planted coconut trees to combat soil erosion.

With these little acts, Jadav single-handedly created a new and thriving ecosystem. His trees absorb carbon dioxide, acting as a natural carbon sink, and contribute to overall ecosystem health, support biodiversity, regulate water cycles, and provide essential habitats for various species.

On the other hand, his reforestation efforts are a tangible and impactful solution to climate change. The Molai forest is a living example of how individual actions can contribute to a sustainable and harmonious coexistence between humanity and the environment.

As his fame spreads far and wide, Jadav is regularly honored for being a foremost Environmental Activist across global platforms:

• Honored by School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2012, where JNU vice-chancellor Sudhir Kumar Sopory acknowledged Jadav as the ‘Forest Man of India’.
• Honored at Indian Institute of Forest Management annual event Coalescence in 2013.
• Honored with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in India, in 2015.
• Received honorary doctorate degrees from Assam Agricultural University and Kaziranga University for his contributions.
• Jadav has been the subject of a number of documentaries.
• He is also the subject of 2 award-winning books – ‘Jadav and the Tree-Place’, which has been translated into 39 languages; and ‘The Boy Who Grew A Forest: The True Story of Jadav Payeng’, which has been adapted for stage.

Jadav continues to reside in his beloved forest with his wife Binita and 3 children, all of whom support his work with pride. “I got married in the forest. All my 3 children are well versed with the ways of the forest. They spend a lot of their time there, and help me in all my activities. The NGOs also assist the villagers with forest work,” he tells us.

Praised by the likes of Shri APJ Abdul Kalam, Jadav is a celebrated Conservationist, TedX Speaker, and Social Worker. Above 60 years in age, his passion takes him across cities, states, and countries to deliver speeches, liaison with officials, and assist other environmental bodies. He also takes out time to educate students from India and abroad, who travel all the way to witness Jadav’s magical green creation.

“I feel proud that I can do my bit for Green India and Mother Earth. One of the first states I visited was Odisha, and look how green it is today. The government, the forest department, and NGOs have played a big role in understanding my work and taking it forward. I constantly tell them to increase the forest cover in the country, and detail ways to achieve it,” he says.

Recognising that trees don’t grow in a day, Jadav reserves his last message for all the students of the world: “When it’s your birthday, don’t cut a cake, instead plant a tree. And don’t just plant a tree, take care to make it grow!”