Son of the Soil – Shyam Sundar Paliwal

For a week we had been looking forward to meeting the man who had revolutionized both – the regressive rural social outlook as well as the ecology of a state, not known to rank amongst one of the nation’s developed ones – Rajasthan. Hailed as the ‘Father of Eco-Feminism’, the first impression that hit you when we met Mr. Shyam Sundar Paliwal, our speaker of the day, was simplicity, humility and a man with a mission. And what a fantastic mission at that – one that has been a self-motivated and inspiring endeavor that has not just quashed the regressive stereotype of female foeticide and infanticide, but has also simultaneously instigated ecological wonders in restoring environmental survival and sanctity.

His sincere and loud singing along with the National Anthem had many a Rotarians smiling. And though he requested to address us in Hindi as he wasn’t comfortable with the English language, he left us all touched and awed, because he spoke from the heart, and he spoke in the universal language called passion.

“Bharat Mata ki Jai!” were his first words that greeted us.I come from Piplantri, a village in Southern Rajasthan, 7 kms from Udaipur, and the birthplace of Maharana Pratap. I was elected as the Sarpanch from 2005-10 and during that period, the emormous efforts put in by all the villagers including women, is the reason that I have the privilege today of sitting amid dignitaries like you, sending out the message to the nation that those who work for nature are respected all over.

” He went on to inspire us with his story… “Immense damage was caused in my village due to extensive mining, as Piplantri holds the Guiness world record for having the largest marble deposits in the world. This made the ground water levels drop to under an alarming 800 feet! Trees were cut and the topography was destroyed with the waste of mining activities. This caused an exodus of our villagers to other cities like Indore, Ahmedabad and Mumbai, as cheap laborers to earn livelihood, as they couldn’t farm anymore due to lack of water.”

“It was during my tenure as the Sarpanch that I lost my daughter Kiran to an illness. After the customary twelve days of mourning I planted a tree in her memory and decided that the birth of every daughter in my village would be celebrated and we would collectively take care of our daughters and their future. I also wanted my villagers to return and work on our own soil. I learnt from models adopted by different Gram Panchayats that the answer to getting back the farmers to till their land was the availability of water for irrigation. I combined these initiatives, of protecting and nurturing our daughters and Mother Nature, and thus gave rise to what is now termed as ‘Eco-Feminism’! We started out in 2005 and have been a self-sustaining village since.” he explains. As a consistent practice, every time a girl child is born, the villagers plant 111 trees and a collective sum of Rs. 31,000/- (Rs. 10,000/- from the girls’ family and Rs.21,000/- collectively donated by the villagers) is put in a Fixed Deposit for twenty years and is secured for the girls marriage or further studies; and an affidavit is signed against the practice female infanticide, as well a solemncommitment to educate the girl child and not cater to child marriage. Similarly, even the trees planted are nurtured as the village’s collective responsibility. 11 trees are also planted on the death of a villager and one is planted by every girl who gets married and leaves.

“Planting trees immortalizes us!” explains Paliwal. “Famous historians like Maharana Pratap or Shivaji or Mira Bai are remembered for their deeds. Let us also perform deeds that make a difference. I’m uneducated and don’t know English, yet today I am addressing an established audience like you, only because of the hard work my village and I have put in. We work on the principles of the great A P J Abdul Kalam and we believe that for all the inadvertent wrongs we may have committed, there is no greater redemption than planting trees and harvesting water. Nothing would please God more!”

“Our efforts are invested towards progress in four areas – our daughters, water-harvesting, planting trees and effectively putting government’s land to use by using it towards the self-sustenance and benefit of the villagers and the environment.”

“Today, with these efforts, the water level which had dropped to 800 feet has now risen dramatically to 10-12 feet. The barren topography is now flourishing with over 2,65,000 trees of various varieties including neem, mango, sheesham, etc. The Rajasthan government named a model after us – ‘The Piplantri Model’ – for use in ecological betterment all over Indian villages. Piplantri has also catered to facilities for women’s sanitation and my village was awarded for this achievement by the then President APJ Abdul Kalam himself.” “Lots of villagers are fighting poverty and need your assistance in setting up self-sustaining systems based on nature, through your monetary or non-monetary participation. I personally believe that the biggest deed one can do is harvest rainwater and relieve parched lands, so we can rejuvenate our own lives as also revitalize the environment.”

“Mother Earth is the life giver, providing us oxygen and water for survival and when we die we return to her, so let us do something for Her. And let’s work towards saving the girl-child because we will cease to exist without her! Just the way in which the womb of a mother holds a girl-child, the womb of Mother Earth holds water in her womb. And both these – the girl child and water – sustain and perpetuate life, as we know it.” A brief three-minute video was then aired, titled ‘Smiles At Every Mile’, developed by The Mahindras, in association with The Rotary Club of Bombay with Bhavishyaan’s participation. Impressed by the self-defence workshop conducted by the Bhavishyaan team, the Mahindras developed this video which was released on the 11th of October, which celebrates the International Day of the Girl-Child.

The video has also been nominated at the UN for the Woman’s Safety Award. He answered multiple queries put forth by Rotarians with grace and enthusiasm. When asked about the resistance he faced initially, he said, “”There will always be a certain percentage of people for and against all endeavors one strives for. The biggest challenge is to win over the opponent but we were able to do so and it is with this added solidarity that we were able to get on with our work.” “I urge you all to visit my website www.piplantri.com and look forward to your participation and contributions. (For direct reach: +91 9680260111/9414172111). Please spread the good word amongst your friends. I’m very thankful to you and the Rotary Club of Bombay for honoring me with this opportunity,” he concluded, leaving us all touched and inspired!