Kerala’s noted environmental activist Kallur Balan, widely known as the state’s “Green Man”, passed away at the age of 76 following heart complications at Palakkad District Hospital earlier this week.
A resident of Kallurmucheri near Mankurussi in Palakkad district, Balan spent more than two decades transforming over 100 acres of barren rocky terrain into thriving green cover across Palakkad, Thrissur, and Malappuram districts.
Reports estimate that he planted nearly 20 to 25 lakh saplings, including neem, tamarind, bamboo, palm, plantain, and Indian beech trees, while also creating water pockets for birds and feeding displaced wildlife using discarded fruits collected from local markets.
Kerala Forest Department officials, environmentalists, local residents, and social media users paid tribute to his extraordinary grassroots conservation efforts, with many describing him as “a man who planted a forest alone”.
Balan, who received the Kerala government’s Vanamitra Award in 2011, is survived by his wife Leela and sons Rajesh, Rajeesh, and Rajneesh. His final rites were held at his residence amid widespread public mourning and renewed conversations around community-led environmental conservation.
A Life Rooted In Nature
Born as Balakrishnan to Velu and Kannamma in Kallur Arangattuveetil, Kallur Balan came from a modest background and studied only up to Class VIII before assisting his father in the toddy business. However, inspired by the teachings of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, he eventually left the trade and dedicated his life to environmental restoration.
Around the year 2000, Balan began planting saplings around his village using his own savings and physical labour. What started as a local effort slowly expanded into one of Kerala’s most remarkable grassroots ecological movements.
Travelling on a two-wheeler carrying bamboo poles and saplings, he planted trees along roadsides, hills, and public lands across multiple districts. Over time, his efforts revived large stretches of dry land in the Chutiyanparamalai valley and surrounding rocky hills into dense green ecosystems inhabited by birds, insects, monkeys, and wild pigs.
Balan’s work extended far beyond plantation drives. Residents recall how he manually watered saplings during peak summer, revisited plantation sites regularly, and carved small pools into rocks to store rainwater for birds and insects.
In later years, he also focused on reducing human-animal conflict in the region. Every day, he collected damaged or discarded fruits from local markets, cleaned them, and carried them to forest edges to feed monkeys and wild pigs displaced by habitat loss.
Locals often witnessed monkeys gathering in rows at the sound of his calls, waiting for fruits from his hands. His unique lifestyle always dressed in a green shirt, green lungi, and green headband earned him the affectionate title of Kerala’s “Green Man”.
Following news of his death, tributes poured in across Malayalam media, YouTube platforms, and social media, with environmental activists and ordinary citizens sharing stories and photographs celebrating his lifelong dedication to nature.
Kerala Forest Department officials and conservation groups acknowledged that Balan’s efforts demonstrated how sustained individual action can significantly restore damaged ecosystems without institutional resources or large-scale funding.
From Silent Work To Public Recognition
Although Kallur Balan worked quietly for years, public recognition came after the Kerala government honoured him with the Vanamitra Award in 2011 for his contribution to environmental conservation. The award brought visibility to his work and inspired volunteers, environmental groups, and local communities to support plantation drives in the region.
Yet, despite growing recognition, Balan reportedly continued to live simply and independently, without establishing organisations or seeking publicity. His environmental activism remained deeply personal and rooted in daily action rather than campaigns or political affiliations.
His passing has also reignited broader conversations about climate resilience, ecological restoration, and the role of ordinary citizens in protecting the environment. In an era where climate change discussions are often dominated by policy debates and global summits, Balan’s life stood as an example of direct, localised action.
Environmentalists across Kerala have pointed out that the forests he nurtured not only improved biodiversity but also offered shade, water retention, and shelter for wildlife in increasingly fragile ecosystems. Residents travelling through parts of Palakkad today unknowingly pass rows of trees planted by him decades ago.
Many social media users described his work as a form of “ecological devotion”, noting that he spent years planting, watering, feeding animals, and protecting forests without expecting recognition or financial reward.
Family members stated that Balan felt uneasiness in the early hours before his death and was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead due to heart-related complications.
His funeral at Kallurmucheri drew locals, admirers, and environmental supporters who gathered to pay their respects to a man many considered a symbol of coexistence between humans and nature.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Kallur Balan’s story is a powerful reminder that meaningful social change often begins quietly, through consistent acts of care rather than visibility or influence. At a time when environmental concerns can feel overwhelming and distant, his life demonstrated that one individual, armed with empathy and determination, can restore not only landscapes but also hope.
His approach towards animals, forests, and public spaces reflected coexistence rather than conflict a value that is increasingly important in today’s rapidly urbanising and polarised world. Balan did not wait for institutions, funding, or recognition before acting; he simply began planting trees and continued doing so for decades.
Also read: RBI Pulls Rupee Back From Brink As Currency Surges To 96.30, Gains 52 Paise After Intervention
