Wood Work

A pensioner converts wasteland into a forest with over 50 species

By Teresa Rehman

Jungalee, protector of the forest". It may sound like a character out of a Tolkien book, but this Jungalee is for real. Ex-serviceman Jagat Singh Chaudhary from the tiny village of Kot Malla, 4,500 ft up in the hills of Rudra Prayag, was bestowed this title at an environmental seminar in the Government Inter College at Jasauli in 1993 for having converted 1.5 hectares of wasteland into a jungle. His wife had her reservations about the epithet; people, she feared, would laugh at her husband. Nothing like that happened, for Jungalee is a famous man now and is often invited to deliver lectures at schools and colleges. He wears his unusual title with pride: "Jungalee does not mean uncivilised but being one with nature."

It all started in 1974 when Chaudhary, during his vacations, worked on his barren patch of land to grow plants for fodder and fuel. This solved the problem of the household women who used to go on long, dangerous and arduous treks to collect fodder. After his retirement from the BSF in 1980, he took to developing his forest in all earnest. His pension was the seed money with which he planted around 56 species-from trees like the Manipuri oak and deodar to evergreen grasses like teliya and namcha, rare medicinal herbs like Salem panja (Dactylorhiza hatagirea), kuth (Saussurea lappa), sameva or tagar (Valeriana hardwickii), flowers like roses and lilies and climbers like the Barbati bean. "The unique feature of this forest is the presence of some species that grow only at very high altitudes," points out Vijay Jasula, a social worker.

The first glow of recognition for Chaudhary's work came almost 20 years later. In 1993, IAS officer R.S. Tolia surveyed the jungle and issued a circular that it should become the model for agro-forestry for the whole of the Uttaranchal area. Many awards and accolades have followed since. Among others, he has won the "Pariyavaran Premi" and "Him Gaurav" awards.

Green Bucks: Chaudhary's efforts have led to growing ecological awareness in the surrounding villages. People have begun cultivating cash crops and pulses, which has resulted in soil conservation and also enhanced family incomes. "Jungalee's jungle has inspired us to grow fruits and flowers on a small scale," says Mahender Singh, a young farmer. "I was able to collect six bottles of honey this year due to the flowers I planted." Chaudhary himself says the villagers now seem to have a sense of belonging with his forest. He remembers the time when a forest fire threatened his patch and it was only the brave assistance of the villagers that saved it.

Scholars, too, recognise the value of the man's work. Says Bhaskar Sinha, who is working on a doctoral thesis on Himalayan ecology at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University: "Many rehabilitation projects are being taken up by the government and NGOs involving research and enormous capital input. But Jungalee's creation is wholly an outcome of his commitment, dedication and hard work."

Chaudhary's eco-friendliness extends to a dislike for chemical fertilisers. He uses only natural manure and digs compost pits to store bio-mass. He also distributes saplings and medicinal herbs to the villagers free of cost. Vehemently opposed to mono-culture farming, he intends to harness the forest resources and check unemployment by effecting a change in the "money-order" economy of the region with alternatives like bee keeping and rabbit farming. He is also trying to grow bamboo and tea and to encourage the setting up of forests on community lands.

"The government should encourage people who have sacrificed their land to benefit the environment," says Jungalee. "I am growing oak knowing well that I cannot use it for commercial use since felling oaks is banned." He also campaigns for subsidies on cooking gas and electricity, without which people will continue to hack down trees for fuel. But these are minor plaints that the jungle man can afford to forget when he sits down for dinner: chapatis, dal, vegetables, pickles and for desert, honey-all from his unique plot.

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