Strap: The Baradayini hills, which was once a barren land, houses a rich stretch of forestry today due to the sincere efforts of litterateur-turned-conservationist Laxmidhar Dash
BHUBANESWAR: Born to Ananda Chandra Dash and Padmabati Devi in 1942, Laxmidhar Dash, an avowed nature lover from Kunjabana Gada, Daspalla, Nayagarh, has turned a barren land into a rich forest with sheer will and determination.
Having completed his primary education in Daspalla High school in 1960, the man founded Baradayini Pahada Swapna Mahavir Kalyan Ashram in 1983.
He credits all his efforts in conserving the biodiversity of the region to a dream regarding Lord Hanuman. He claimed that in the dream, he found an idol of Lord Hanuman in the Baradayini hills. Later, he forayed into the specified place and found the idol at the exact same spot.
The biodiversity of that place was as good as lost as the residents use to cut trees at an unprecedented rate. As a result, the mountain cover was receding rapidly and the underground water level was on the wane.
Dash initiated a plantation and cleanliness drive of the place. He involved the local communities in the drive too. Soon, the area was like a forest reborn with a variety of trees like mango, banana, coconut, jackfruit, pineapple, dates and guava. This enriched the biodiversity of the place greatly. A pond and a well were also dug near the hills.
Dash has formed an 11-member board to look after the region. Secretary of the committee Subash Chandra Mishra spoke highly of him. The district collector organised a Bana Mahostav to educate people about the jungle. Now, the whole village stands firm behind Dash in conservation of the forest.
Interestingly, Dash has quite a few literary works to his name too. He is a famous ‘Geeti Natya’ writer of the state. His work ‘Nibata Kabacha Badha’ depicts ‘Bana Parva’ in Mahabharata and Arjun’s bravery.
Another work ‘Sabari Mangal’ is based on Ramayana. Arguably, the most famous of his work is ‘Leela Ramayan’. Plays based on the work have been enacted in Berhampur Bhanja Kala Mandap, Berhampur’s Radharani Sanskrutika Sansada, Koraput Parba, Rabindra Mandap and Illena Citarist art and vision centre.
Dash has been felicitated with a certificate, gold medal and a cash prize of Rs 15 by the late King of Daspalla Purna Chandra Deo Bhanja in 1960. The Forest and Environment department feted his organisation with Prakruti Mitra Award in 2014 at Soochna Bhawan.
Personally, he has received Prakruti Bandhu Puraskar from Nayagarh DFO which included a cash prize of Rs 5000 in the year 2011.
He said, “My message to the youngsters is simple. Safeguarding Mother Nature should be your primary duty. No government can preserve the biodiversity of a region until young masses join in.
Chaitali Shome, OP
