Bargarh: Though they have reached their twilight, the passion for planting trees which they started nursing in their prime, is growing by the day.
Meet Raghunath Pradhan and Bipin Bagarti, two sexagenarian green crusaders of Bargarh district, who have taken a pledge to grow and protect trees till their last breath. The trees which they planted years back are, at present, not only offering shade to pedestrians, but also satiating the hunger of many.
A resident of Grindola village, about 22 km from here, Raghunath aka Magania got attracted towards plantation after becoming a member of Gayatri Pariwar.
“On becoming a member of the Gayatri Pariwar, I got the opportunity to read Akhand Jyoti, a monthly magazine published by the Pariwar. In an issue of the magazine I came to know about two farmers who had planted more than 1,000 trees and were later re-christened as Hazaribag and Hazariprasad for their unusual achievement,” said Magania.
Influenced by the feat of Hazaribag and Hazariprasad, Magania started planting mango saplings on one side of the road about 30 years back and so far he has covered nearly 20 km stretch around his village. When asked about the reason of opting for one side of the road to plant the saplings, Magania said he is doing it intentionally to save the trees at the time of expansion of the road. During road expansion, the administration is most likely to fell trees of one side of the road, not from both sides, he reasoned out.
Earlier, his family members were against his passion but now he gets their support, Magania said. The nature lover lives with his wife and two sons who have settled down in their lives.
Bipin Bagarti, a 65-year-old man of Baipali village under Sohela block, has become an inspiration for others for his love towards flora and fauna. The saplings he had planted in his youthful days have grown into huge trees giving shade and fruit to the passersby.
He has planted hundreds of mango, black plum, banyan and peepal saplings in the surrounds. Despite being a daily labourer, he is still obsessed with his planting habit. Neither does he get saplings from any nursery nor does he purchases them from shops. Bipin collects seeds from various sources.
Though these two green crusaders have spent their entire lives in planting and preserving trees to protect the environment, the district administration is yet to recognise their contributions, said the locals. PNN