In the green hills of Deomali, Hari Pangi’s mission to plant healing trees shows that with a deep connection to the past and a commitment to the future, one person can inspire change on a grand scale.
Describing Hari Pangi as a modern-day polymath may seem like talking through the hat, but his credentials justify a bit of hyperbole. Pangi, who is in his early fifties, is a traditional healer, environmentalist and creator of mechanical tools to enhance the quality of life for the tribal communities while reviving the biodiversity in Koraput region of Odisha.
A native of Tentuliguda village in Koraput district, he is known locally as Hari Vaidya. Pangi has prepared 450 types of herbal medicines sourced from Iswaramali, Deomali and Hatimali, part of the Mali hill range in the Eastern Ghats. These hills, under the jurisdiction of Odisha’s forest department, provide the herbal medicines used in tribal villages just 5km from Semiliguda town in Koraput. Together with nine other traditional healers, Pangi founded the Sri Gupteshwar Herbal Medicine and Traditional Technology Research Institute in 2000.
“Though we are not qualified doctors, our family has been practising it for generations. My elder brother and mother are also traditional healers,” said Pangi, the institute’s director, adding that the institute was set up with an aim to preserve the traditional knowledge that has been passed down through the generations.
Pangi is also a passionate environmentalist. His ambitious mission to revive Koraput’s dwindling biodiversity through the planting of 100,000 trees is transforming both the landscape and the lives of local communities. Dubbed the “Green Guardian of Deomali”, he is leading efforts to restore the region’s native medicinal plants, which have been threatened by modernisation and deforestation.
His project, launched through the Gupteshwar Institute in Tentuliguda, is as much about conservation as it is about cultural preservation. It draws on indigenous knowledge passed down through generations, incorporating traditional tree-planting techniques to ensure the seeds’ survival.
Using a method that combines cow dung, cow urine and soil to create nutrient-rich seed balls, Pangi’s team is distributing these across the hills and forests of Deomali, leveraging the monsoon rain to ensure their growth.
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The goal is to revive the biodiversity of Koraput and restore ancient medicinal plants such as Vishalyakarani, Gangashiuli and Ashoka, which are vital to the region’s tribal communities.
Pangi is committed to revitalising traditional medicinal practices that are in danger of disappearing. “We are losing these plants and the knowledge that comes with them,” he said. “By planting these trees and involving the community, we are bringing that wisdom back.”
Pangi’s initiative is a community-driven effort, with local children, youth and schools actively participating in seed ball preparation and planting activities. This hands-on involvement is intended to instil a sense of responsibility toward environmental conservation among the younger generation.
In collaboration with local schools, he has integrated lessons on biodiversity and traditional medicine into the curriculum, ensuring that children grow up understanding the value of their natural heritage in Koraput.
Local teacher Sangita sees this as a turning point for the region. “The children are learning about the plants that their ancestors used. It’s important that we pass this knowledge down,” she said.
Pangi’s dedication is deeply personal. He has spent his life using herbal remedies to treat patients from across Odisha and neighbouring states like Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
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His approach, combining ancient wisdom with modern science, has earned him a reputation for effectively treating chronic conditions such as diabetes and respiratory diseases. His medicines, he claimed, can cure 105 types of ailments. “A lot of people who had Covid-19 symptoms have benefited from my medicines during the pandemic,” he said.
Pangi’s work has brought renewed focus to the importance of preventive healthcare through natural remedies. “Nature provides us with everything we need to heal,” he said. “We just have to respect it and use it wisely.”
For Pangi, the seeds he plants represent hope for both the planet and the people who depend on it. He recalled a particular case — that of Radha, a local woman who suffered from chronic respiratory issues. After conventional treatments failed to help, she turned to Pangi, who used traditional herbs to treat her, improving her condition. Stories like Radha’s fuel Pangi’s determination to continue his work.
The impact of Pangi’s work is evident in the region’s rejuvenated landscapes and improved public health. His project has garnered attention from NGOs and governments, who view it as a model for sustainable biodiversity conservation in Koraput that could be replicated in other regions.
Pangi was conferred with the “Green Ambassador” award by the Odisha Environment Congress in 2023, and the same year, he was invited to the International Visitor Leadership Programme in the United States, where he spoke on climate change and biodiversity conservation.
In the hills of Koraput, amidst the whispering trees and medicinal herbs, Pangi’s vision is blossoming, one seed ball at a time.
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The lead image on top shows Hari Pangi with a collection of local medicinal herbs. (Photo by Shreekant Sahoo)
Shreekanta Sahoo is a seasoned journalist with a decade of dedicated experience in the ever-evolving field of media.
