Straight Line News Network
Jaipur, Aug 5: People often plant on “Environment day” but the “Tree-Man of India” Vishnu Lambha is a person for whom every day is “Environment day”. Without government support, Vishnu Lamba has gifted 5.0 million trees to the country. He has planted around 26 lakh trees with public participation so far, saved 13 lakh trees from cutting down and distributed 11 lakh trees absolutely free of cost. The new name “Tree Man of India” is given to him by the then President of India Pranab Mukherjee.
Due to the untiring efforts of Vishnu Lamba, today a new environmental protection revolution has started.
Tree Man of India
Vishnu Lamba is an extraordinary person although he considers himself as an ordinary person. In India, the environmental crisis is increasing rapidly. The random cutting of trees also due to government negligence and lack of awareness among the people are the major reasons. While its direct impact is on mankind, the availability of water for animals and birds is running out. Seeing the situation, a young boy from Rajasthan left his home and vowed to dedicate his life to the environment. Lamba is deeply attached to the trees, plants, animals and birds.
In a special conversation, Vishnu Lamba said that today his campaign has connected a number of youth from 22 states of the country. Also, the youth of other countries working in the field of environment across the world are in contact with him. Lamba hoped that one day everybody will become part of his campaign and they will set the best example of saving the environment in the world.
Plant thief in childhood became Tree man
Vishnu Lamba was born on June 3, 1987, in village Lamba, situated three kilometres from Mehandwas police station area in Tonk district. From the age of just seven, Vishnu started planting different kinds of plants in a cattle ranch. Vishnu was so obsessed that he did not hesitate to steal the plants from anyone’s home. Troubled by his habits, they sent him to Rooppura village of Uniyara tehsil, the house of his Buaji (father’s sister). But his love for nature continued to grow. After this Vishnu moved to Jaipur with his Tauji SN Sharma. Here he stole the saplings from the nursery developed in the house of the then Jaipur collector Shrimat Pandey at Jawahar Circle.
Knew the culture by living with saints
Vishnu Lamba has been inclined towards saints too since childhood. The stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata heard in childhood from Mata Sushila Devi had a great impact on him. Father Shravanlal Sharma is the Mahant of the Charbhuja Temple located in the village. As he was not interested in school studies, his father sent him to Ramchandra Das Maharaj of Balaji temple situated in the village. After this, Vishnu moved towards sannyas. At the same time, Saint Krishnadasa Falhari came in contact on the banks of Banas river, Tonk abut Maharaj said that he has to do a lot of work without wearing saffron. After this, Vishnu gave up the idea of taking sage initiation and devoted his life to trees.
Searching the families of more than 56 freedom revolutionaries:
For the first time since independence, Vishnu Lamba toured 22 states of the country and searced the families of more than 56 freedom revolutionaries. He planted the saplings at the place of birth and sacrifice of martyrs. Vishnu Introduced the families of martyrs to the then President of India Pranab Mukherjee, the then Chief Minister Rajasthan Vasundhara Raje, Chief Minister Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Chief Minister Rajasthan Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister Punjab Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister Uttar Pradesh Yogi Aditya Nath, Chief Minister Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavish, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla etc. and made them aware about their problems. By organizing hundreds of programs in honour of these great revolutionary families of India, he gave the message of love for nation.
He administered the oath to former dacoits for environmental protection:
Inspired by the film ‘Paan Singh Tomar’, Vishnu Lamba wandered the ravines of Chambal, stretching from Chambal to Chitrakoot in Rajasthan, for nearly two years and linked the former dacoits with his campaign. Vishnu met and lived with many farmer dreaded dacoit including Malkhan Singh, Gabbar Singh, Renu Yadav, Seema Parihar, Mohar Singh, Jagdish Singh, Pancham Singh, Saru Singh, Pahlwan Singh, Balwanta. Vishnu administered the oath of environmental protection to all the ex-bandits on the ‘Pahle Basaaya Beehad-Ab Bachage Beehad’ ceremony that held in Jaipur on March 20, 2016. Such an event was held for the first time in the world.
Every Year we plant trees for Birds:
Vishnu Lamba, who has saved Lakh of trees so far, is also very much in love with birds. For the past fifteen years, he has installed an uncountable number of water pots for birds in summer by running the ‘Water pots for birds’ campaign. Apart from this, Vishnu and his volunteers have been organizing a free medical camp for birds injured by Chinese manjha on Makar Sankranti for the last nine years, in which thousands of birds are treated every year. Vishnu runs a year-round rescue operation for injured animals and birds through his NGO. Vishnu Lamha, who dedicated his life to environmental protection, founded the ‘Shree Kalpataru Sansthan’.
According to Lamba, President, Shree Kalptaru Sanstahn Corona period has given an important message to the society that we should follow nature because unrestricted exploitation of natural invites destruction and disaster. The disease like Corona is spread by going against nature.
Today the Ganga is becoming clean, the water of Jamuna has become drinkable; the polluted scum has disappeared. This happened because for the last two months due to lockdown, human activity is restricted. If we take the lessons of this corona period our life will become healthy. We have to become companions, not conquerors of nature.
If we go into positive results of Corona, then we will find that nature has balanced itself. The extinct species have also been seen, which were seen years ago. People who eat wildlife have been called by the global society as China virus, and boycotted. Therefore, by understanding its ill effects, the world has started moving towards vegetarianism. Even a global organization like the United Nations has praised the Indian approach.
According to Vishnu Lamba, it is a good sign for the nation that we are being successful in creating an environment to promote solar energy internationally. But at the same time, it is also necessary that the farmer sitting in the village can access this solar energy. Climate crisis is the biggest challenge for us and it will be solved by the balance of scientific and traditional knowledge. Conservation of biodiversity should be our biggest responsibility. But Tragedy of birds death in Sambhar, poaching in Ranthambore National Sanctuary, lack of drinking water and food for animals and birds Jhalana Jungle is painful.
On behalf of Shri Kalpataru organization, he urged the government to prepare a consolidated strategy and action plan to tackle the climate crisis. He appreciated the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for taking the initiative of wildlife conservation in Rajasthan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on the environment in “Mann ki Baat” program.
Works of ‘Shree Kalpataru Sansthan’ to become milestone:
Whatever work related to plants, animals and birds Vishnu has done, he has done under this NGO.
– This organisation has been doing plantation regularly for the last 20 years. It has saved innumerable animals and birds including millions of green trees by opposing the schemes and policies against the environment.
– The NGO has pledged to make 100 villages of the country as environmentally ideal villages (Kalp Grams), in which three villages are towards becoming Adarsh Grams through special innovations.
– With the efforts of the institute, for the first time after the Rig Veda period, the Green Wedding (environmental marriage) was done, in which only two kalpa saplings were taken in Kanyadaan with no dowry.
– For the first time in the world, the NGO carried out a procession of trees on elephants in Jaitara, Tehsil of Pali District. Also, a coference of more than five hundred Vriksh-mitra (tree-friends) were organized in the state, in which traditional food was served on banana leaves.
– The NGO has been campaigning for the conservation and upgrading of camel since the long time, in July 2014 gave the State Animal status.
– The NGO has been trying to prevent the hunting of the National Bird peacock which is happening in the state, especially in Tonk.
– The NGO created a new history by startting the unique tradition of welcoming the guests in 2015 Jaipur Literature Festival. It was launched by givingTulsi plant to the then Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
– The NGO has taken up the task of conserving rare species like Sindoor and now it is working to deliver more than 200 rare species of plants at home.
– A separate women’s wing has been created for women in the NGO, in which thousands of girls and women are involved, who work by connecting with the environment as well as social concerns such as women empowerment.
– Vriksh Mitra Samman Samaroh (honour for plantation), Bird Mitra Samman Samaroh (honour for birds’ rescue), felicitation of environment-journalists, war widows, Sarovar Poojan (worship of water bodies), tree worship, eco-awareness rallies, plantations, Tulsi Har Ghar Tulsi (distribution of Tulsi plants), free birds’ camp and motivation for eye donation, clothe donation and blood donation are some of the regular activities that NGO organises.
