Vishweshear Dutt Saklani: Championing the cause of forests

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In an age where there is an abundance of stories about how humans have harmed nature for their short-sighted interests, there is a need to acknowledge those who had worked tirelessly to preserve the bounties of nature. Deforestation is a harsh reality in India, inspite of an increased awareness about how it will end up causing irreversible damage to humanity in the long run. This prompts us to look at an individual who went literally unrecognized, despite continuous effort to he made towards planting trees and conducting aforestation drives across the country. The person in question is Vishweshear Dutt Saklani, who passed away last month, and a recognition of his efforts would go a long way in honoring his memory.

Vishweshwar Dutt was born on June 2,1922. Saklani started planting trees when he was eight years old and he grew over 50 lakh trees in the district in his lifetime. He was a conservationist and also a freedom fighter. "A decade ago, he lost his eyesight because mud and pebbles went into his eyes while he was planting trees. But, that did not stop him. Even without eyesight, he planted thousands of trees,” his son Santosh Swaroop Saklani, who works at the Governor’s Office, said.

Saklani single-handedly regenerated over a hundred hectare area in his native Saklana village by planting rhododendron, guava and several other broad leaved and fruiting trees during his lifetime. His efforts had resulted in the growth of forests in lands which were rendered barren by years of deforestation. 

During his initial years he was opposed by many locals who believed he was trying to encroach upon their land by planting trees.His love and passion towards conserving the environment  however helped him soldier on in his efforts and he continued his work, moving from strength to strength. 

His second wife Bhagwati Devi supported him in his passion for trees over the years.His first wife died in 1958.He was awarded the Indira Priyadarshini Award in 1986 by then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi for his undying efforts of keeping our nature alive.He was fondly known as Uttarakhand’s “Vriksha Manav” or ‘Tree Man’.

When he was awarded by Rajiv Gandhi , Dutt had to face many lawsuits which claimed that he had planted trees without permission.This was first time when someone was facing charges for afforestation and not deforestation says Charu Tiwari, an activist who knew Saklani and his family closely. “ The cases were alive till. Later , prominent Communist leader and writer Vidya Sagar Nautiyal fought his case in the lower court and brought him much needed relief with regard to that. 

A father of nine children - four sons and five daughters, Dutt would disappear for long hours after his older brother and freedom fighter Narendra Dutt Saklani passed away and would spend his whole day planting saplings. Even when his first wife passed away it adeed to his sorrows but in spite of this, he would spend long hours planting trees across large areas. 

Amar Shaheed Narendra Dutt Saklani Smriti Van, the forest in the memory of his brother, kept growing just 50 km from state capital Dehradun.It helped revive forest streams, including the river Tons, an important tributary of Yamuna.

Though his efforts have largely been confined to the district in which he grew up, the forests that were once dense are being eaten up. Unfortunately, a lot of the forests have eroded over the years as people have ventured into various other practices in these areas.  Dutt spent more than 70 years of his life planting trees the in the Himalayas and kept it alive for years. Despite his efforts of 70 years he wasn't known by many and remained almost anonymous and unrecognised and besides being awarded by Rajiv Gandhi, he hasn't received any recognition or has been awarded for his deeds.

Though he was not recognised, he kept going on and believed in his actions. He said his trees were his family, friend and relatives. He often said he not only had nine children but also the millions of trees he had planned and helped grow, representing a strong sense of purpose and a truly passionate relationship with nature.  With his young spirit and dedication he left the world at the age of 96 years, leaving behind the legacy of his work. 

His efforts can never be appreciated enough, but one can take inspiration from him and join hands as citizens of this country  to work towards the  reduction of deforestation and start planting trees. Despite the effects of Dutt and many other nature activists, there is still work left to be done in this regard and it is up to the citizens to engage with one another and preserve forests, which will serve as a lifeline for future generations. 

- Deekshita Jain


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