Padma Shri awardee Daripalli Ramaiah, affectionately known as “Vanajeevi” (Forest Life) and “Chetla Ramaiah” (Tree Ramaiah), passed away at 87 on 12th April in Khammam’s Reddipalli village following cardiac arrest.
The environmental crusader, born on 1st July 1937 to Daripelli Lalayya and Pullamma, planted over 1 crore saplings across Telangana, transforming barren landscapes into thriving forests.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed him as a “champion of sustainability,” while Telangana CM A. Revanth Reddy termed his death an “irreparable loss to India’s green movement.” His wife, Janamma, played a pivotal role in his afforestation mission, supporting his grassroots efforts for over six decades.
The Seed Crusader’s Journey
Ramaiah’s mission began with a bicycle, burlap sacks of seeds, and a steel headgear inscribed with “Vriksho Rakshati Rakshitah” (Save trees, they will save you). Over 60 years, he cycled-and later rode a motorbike-across Telangana, planting native species like neem, teak, bael, and peepal.
He transformed his three-acre farmland into a forest, sold land to fund saplings, and stored seeds in recycled containers. “He was a walking nursery,” recalled activist Santhosh Manduva, while former IFS officer Mohan Chandra Pargaien noted his early adoption of recycling: “He reused plastic bags for seedlings decades before it became mainstream.”
Family, Foundations, and Global Recognition
Ramaiah’s wife, Janamma, actively participated in his mission, helping collect seeds and nurture saplings. His dedication extended to naming granddaughters after trees, symbolizing his life’s ethos. Honored with the SRISTI Samman in 2015 and Padma Shri in 2017, Ramaiah’s work gained global traction.
Maharashtra incorporated his story into its 9th-grade Telugu curriculum, while Telangana added him to 6th-grade textbooks. He received an honorary doctorate from the Academy of Universal Global Peace and accolades from former PM PV Narasimha Rao.
Legacy in Policy and Grassroots Activism
Ramaiah’s 8-km green corridor from Khammam to Reddipalli stands as a living classroom, sheltering biodiversity and inspiring Telangana’s Haritha Haram mission, which planted 2.3 billion trees since 2015.
Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka emphasized: “He earned the Padma Shri through blisters, not privilege.” Former CBI official VV Lakshmi Narayana added: “His forests are monuments to individual action’s power against climate crises.”
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Daripalli Ramaiah redefined environmentalism as a collective duty, proving that one person’s resolve can heal ecosystems. His life-a blend of frugality, foresight, and familial collaboration-challenges us to view tree planting not as charity but as survival.
As monocultures and urban sprawl threaten biodiversity, will we emulate his model of nurturing native species and community trust?
