How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra 

Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

Bhurki Bai never had the chance to attend school. Married early, she was a mother of four by the age of 19. Her challenges deepened when her husband became permanently disabled in an accident. In the midst of these overwhelming hardships, Bhurki found a lifeline through a newly formed self-help group in her remote village. Sometimes attending meetings with her youngest child in tow, she rose to a leadership role—first mobilizing women to repair an irrigation source, and later leading efforts to protect a pasture and plant trees.

When Devi Lal lost his father at the age of 12, he had to leave school and move to the city with his mother and sister to work for a daily wage of just ten rupees. Yet, upon returning to his village and seizing new opportunities, he emerged as a grassroots leader—spearheading the protection of pastures and leading struggles for forest produce rights.

Uday Lal Suthar was compelled to leave his village as a teenager to find work in the city, eventually settling in Mumbai where he established a carpentry business. On a return visit to his village, he attended a meeting that profoundly influenced him and awakened a deep commitment to forest and pasture protection. He devoted himself to the cause, boldly resisting influential outsiders who attempted to encroach on community lands.

What unites these four inspiring individuals is that, despite being held back by difficult circumstances, they seized the few opportunities that came their way and fully realized their hidden potential for leadership and community service.

How did such opportunities emerge? The common thread in all these stories is the work of Seva Mandir, a voluntary organization active in the Udaipur district of Rajasthan. Through its various initiatives—adult literacy centers, women’s self-help groups, and campaigns to protect community forests and pastures—Seva Mandir provided critical entry points for individuals with untapped potential and a deep desire to contribute to the welfare of their communities. These efforts not only served their immediate purposes but also created a nurturing space for grassroots leadership to emerge, especially in the vital areas of ecological regeneration and community welfare.

Another key factor in the rise of these leaders was the unwavering support and encouragement offered by Seva Mandir staff, who showed understanding and solidarity even during difficult periods, such as confrontations with powerful land encroachers or forest produce smugglers.

These and other compelling stories are documented in the book Being Earth—Portraits of Militant Nonviolence by Amrita Nandy, a senior academic. The book recounts ten such accounts of community leaders who, against all odds, became protectors of forests and pastures. It is both educational and engaging, weaving deep insights into development and social change into narratives that resonate emotionally and intellectually. Each story lingers in the reader’s mind, offering lessons in perseverance, courage, and quiet heroism.

The book also includes a thoughtful note by Narendra Jain and Ronak Shah, which provides a broader context for understanding Seva Mandir’s role. The foreword by Suraj Jacob adds valuable insights, connecting these grassroots experiences with broader development debates and historical movements. He draws on the legacy of sangharsh (struggle) and nirman (constructive work), recalling the path charted by leaders like Shankar Guha Niyogi and Mahatma Gandhi—who emphasized the need to blend resistance with constructive community-building.

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The writer is Honorary Convener of the Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Saving Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, A Day in 2071, and Man over Machine—The Path to Peace