Odisha: A Hero Without a Cap -- From Politics to Plantations

Not all heroes wear a cap. This stands true in the case of a rising political leader in Odisha, who is embracing the philosophy of conserving the environment by planting as many trees as possible in his lifetime.

“My crusade to save the environment can only end with me, as long as I live”, these words coming from a politician, can be termed hypocritical but not so in this case.

Shift of Focus

Within a span of little over two decades, Subash Chandra Maharana brought about a paradigm change in his life and goal. With an unstoppable zeal to battle against the demonic ‘climate change’, he undertook the mission to plant trees wherever permissible.

From a lucrative track after becoming a corporator, Maharana was barely a step away from becoming a legislator but he was consumed by the habit of planting trees, which had become a daily chore. “Trees are the life of our environment and without them the climate can never be retrieved”, Maharana told NewsClick.

He said this realisation dawned upon him when, as a politician, “I was blistering through bone-dry villages as a part of my profession then”.

The vast expanses that he noticed in villages and adjoining areas, without trees, mostly foraged by the greed for urbanisation, roads, buildings and an array of activities, were contrary to a holistic climate.

Maharana feels easy when even a part of the city breathes fresh air. There are miles to go before entire city turns green.

He said it had been “an arduous journey” and felt that “others must also contribute their bit”. “I try to motivate others if they can engage themselves in planting a single tree once in a week”, he added.

Maharana has been rechristened as ‘Vriksha Manisha’ (the Tree Man). He said the new name made him feel energised.

His mornings begin with some ‘Riyyaz’ (practice) as he is a good vocalist and instrumentalist. Then he ventures out with a few tools and saplings in a container.

Once out he takes the stance at any available area without trees and keeps planting trees outside schools, along roadsides, in temple courtyards, in government offices, and even in narrow lanes where space is scarce.

“The value of trees can best be described as mothers who take all the pain but always give and best back to her children,” he said, adding that the trees “absorb the toxins and yield elixir, i.e, pure oxygen”, he added.

Taking a jibe at “netas”, the former politician said. “the ongoing plantation drives by governments mainly remain limited to media cameras and clapping. The next day most of the saplings sag.”    

“As long as I am alive, I will pursue this mission and will try to inspire people on the streets asking them to not let the climate deteriorate further and plant trees as much as they can. That is the only panacea against a possible blitzkrieg from the nature in store for the humanity,” he adds.

Taking up this huge crusade alone was not easy so Maharana started taking school children and other students along as well as some willing local residents as part of the plantation drive.

“The main problem is after planting, that is, the post care. From watering to the safety of the saplings by some kind of fencing is necessary till the saplings grow into trees”, he added.

The more the number of saplings planted, the greater the after-care is required. “One has to be like a doting mother rearing a child,” he added.

Asked how he feels the difference between politics and planting trees? An emotional Maharana said, “I won’t regret the past but there is a sublime bliss when a plant sways with the wind and the green leaves flap at one's feet.”

The writer is a freelancer based in Odisha with over 40 years’ experience in the profession.