An Indian man who started planting trees in a barren, sand-filled field 15 years ago is now being praised for transforming the wasteland into a 10,000-tree orchard.
Satyendra Gautam Manjhi, a simple man from the small village of Imaliyachak, in the Indian state of Bihar, claims he was inspired to start planting trees after being visited by Dashrath Manjhi, known as “the man who moved a mountain“. The story of how he spent over 20 years chiseling away at a mountain to make a road to his village has inspired a generation, including the protagonist of this story. Satyendrav says that Dashrath himself told him to start planting an orchard, and that’s exactly what he did.
Photo: jitendra1/Pixabay
“Dashrath Manjhi told me to plant an orchard in this area,” the Bihar man said. At that time this place was barren and deserted and there was only sand everywhere. It was a lot of trouble in the beginning. Water had to be brought from the house in a pot for the plants.”
To make matters worse, wild animals constantly destroyed the trees he planted, but he didn’t give up. Satyendra went into the forest and brought thorny bushes that he used to make hedge fencing to keep the animals at bay. It was hard work, but that hedge is still protecting his orchard, after 15 years.
Bihar: A man says he has planted around 10,000 trees, mostly of Guava, on barren land in Belaganj area of Gaya in past 15 years
“I’m deeply inspired by Dashrath Manjhi. Once he visited my home & asked me to plant trees here. So I took up this task,” says Satyendra Manjhi (12.02) pic.twitter.com/gV88BdvvMH
— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2021
Over time, Manjhi’s orchard, which consists mainly of guava trees of the Allahabad variety, grew, and the wasteland he started on became a green oasis. Word of his achievement spread around Bihar and local authorities showed consideration by offering the farmer a place in a state commission.
“When Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar came to know about my contribution to environmental protection, I was made a member of the Child Protection Commission,” Satyendra Gautam Manjhi told ANI News Agency.
Today, Satyendra’s guava orchard numbers over 10,000 trees. It has brought the tenacious man not only the respect and gratitude of his villagers and state officials, but also monetary gains, as he has started selling the guava he harvests for a nice profit. His dream is to become an inspiration, just like Dashrath Manjhi was to him.
“I urge the people of this country to start planting trees,” he said.
