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| Jadav “Molai” Payeng |
I recently viewed a short documentary called "The Man Who Planted Trees". This film tells the story of a shepherd who repairs the ruined ecosystem
of a secluded valley by single-handedly cultivating a forest over a
thirty year period.(IMDB). The story is filled with pathos as it takes us on a journey with the two characters who find solace in the landscape. What begins as a bleak and foreboding situation is slowly and methodically transformed into a exhilarating and joyful experience. The animation is outstanding, as the compassionate artistic interpretation of the lives of the characters and the terrain come to life. The story is a metaphor for life: what we sow so shall we reap. In the subtlety of this creative expression of hope and fulfillment of purpose, the filmmakers have revealed the very profound life of a very humble sheep-herder.
In light of the above, I post this story of Mr. Payeng, whose mission in life mirrors the one described in the movie. These messages remind us of what can happen when we perform work from our heart. -S.C.-
A
little over 30 years ago, a teenager named Jadav “Molai” Payeng began
burying seeds along a barren sandbar near his birthplace in northern
India’s Assam region
to grow a refuge for wildlife.
