This Bengal shopkeeper is turning his village green

Haraprasad Pal runs a small grocery shop at Chowk Shibram Batti village in Hooghly district of West Bengal, around 40 km from Kolkata. Since his childhood, Pal has been a green crusader, planting flowering shrubs and plants in his village that has a population of around 800 people and lies in the Singur administrative block.

Man with a green thumb

Pal, 60, has been on a mission to green his village by planting as many fast-growing trees as possible in his small idyllic village that has vast areas comprising green farmlands. The passion took roots in his childhood when he started planting trees in the vacant land near his house. 

“I was born in this village and I have spent my life here. When children of my age used to spend time in the playground, I was busy planting saplings,” he recalled. 

“When the saplings grew, the flower-laden plants looked majestic and smelled pleasant, attracting the villagers. They praised me for my efforts. I used to feel happy about it and soon it became my routine to plant trees even on farmlands that didn’t belong to me,” he said. 

Since then, he has continued the work with fervour despite facing financial constraints. Pal’s family – comprising his wife, son and two unmarried brothers who stay with him – is proud of his dedication. 

“We hardly manage to earn around 8,000 per month from the grocery shop we started in the 1980s. The income is barely enough to run our family but it has not stopped my brother from working for the environment, even leaving the shop for hours together,” said Sushant Pal, 55, Lal’s younger brother. 

Green crusader: The benefits 

What started as a pastime for Lal turned into a serious drive in the 1990s. 

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“I planted trees on the sides of the small canals that supply water to our fields. Villagers were also happy that the plantation was not only adding to the beauty of the place but also giving them flowers,” he said.

The green crusader planted marigold, hibiscus and various other varieties of flowering shrubs and trees that offer relief in summer. 

“Several trees that I planted have grown and provide shade now. It feels very nice as the villagers bless me for my efforts,” Lal added.

Villagers say that Lal’s efforts have helped them get flowers for their religious rituals. 

“Our village is a bit far from the main market and I used to walk there every day to get fresh flowers for my prayers. But the situation has changed now and flowers are easily available in the village. Lal has been working tirelessly for us and the environment,” said Rama Das, 45, a homemaker. 

Pal, the green crusader, advocates that planting trees should be made mandatory for everybody because of the changing climatic conditions and global warming. 

“It should be the duty of every individual to plant trees to save our planet from getting warmer. We are already facing extreme heat during summer, and water shortage is common in various parts of the country that makes life unbearable,” he said. “My income is hardly enough but I still run around to buy seeds. It fills me with joy and pride to see vast stretches of area in our village turn green due to my efforts.”

Setting an example

It’s not just villagers who praise Pal for the work he has been doing. His name has reached environment activists too. 

“We are already making the earth warmer by cutting trees and filling up water bodies,”  Tubhin Subhra Mandal, an environmentalist, said. “We have already experienced one of the toughest heat waves this summer that has claimed several lives across the country. It is praiseworthy that Haraprasad is not materialistic. The need of the hour is to get inspired by such people and work together for a green planet and minimise the pollution caused by industries.” 

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Deep Chakraborty, a hibiscus researcher, said that more villagers should join the green crusader in his efforts. 

“Other villages should emulate his commendable work. But there is a lack of awareness about the environment among people. Some villagers even burn stubble that damages the grown trees. All this should be stopped,” Chakraborty said.

Pal is sure he would continue the endeavour till he can. 

“The world is running after money but we need a healthier planet for our children and not leave a horrible earth that would be unfit to live on,” he said. “The choice is in our hands and we should make the best use of it.” 

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The lead image at the top shows Haraprasad Pal near some of the flowering shrubs planted by him. (Photo by Gurvinder Singh) 

Gurvinder Singh is a Kolkata-based journalist.