Reforestation

I want to share my experience of visting the restoration project led by Pravin & Aparna that I had an opportunity to visit last Saturday - Project 14 Trees. It was one of the most humbling, enjoyable and learning experiences of recent times.

Setup, rather builtup in a quaint, simple village near Chas-Kaman dam.. About 1.5-2 hours drive from Pune. The day started with as rightly described by Pravin.. Manoeuvring through a small stream -Indiana Jones style. Awaiting was delicious poha with out-of-the-world herbal tea..

We started the nature trek from perhaps naturally so, visit to the tree-house so well constructed using four strong trees as the base. I can only imagine what an effect it will be during monsoon when the stream (odha) underneath starts to flow. I could visualize our hard working 10th graders having a jolly good time in the treehouse creating memories to cherish forever.

As the nature walk through the mountains continued I only had more and more appreciation for the huge and tough years of concerted effort a restoration project like this one takes. The results of the restoration efforts were vividly visible as I could compare and contrast with a neighbouring land mass owned by a local farmer that has been deserted and baren due to overgrazing and grass burning. We had the privileged all through the journey in listening to the challenges and various ways the team has discovered to overcome them. I applaud the bold step in this restoration effort of not ploughing water from the dam but painstakingly create pits over this huge landmass to conserve every drop of water. I also had the pleasure of planting a Jackfruit plant. What made this experience special was the accompaniment of experts from Pune Ecological Society. They had the knowledge of flora and fauna, passion for nature and plenty a anecdotal stories to share.. Absolutely a learning for me about something I had no clue.

The air was clean, the wind was mild and my mind was like a child.

One memorable part was the 100% organic lunch. Never has food tasted so good and looked (see pic) so appealing. With ducks quacking around, cows mooing, birds chirping as they say in Gujarati - "Na na kevano - Daas rotla khavano" (Nahi nahi bolte bolte 10 roti kha gaya).. is who I was. It has been decades since my Goa days that I have a crow perched right behind me patiently waiting his turn to get a peck out of my plate when done. Last was the experience of herbal team (I never knew there are so many varieties of Tulsi plants). Walking thru the plant nursery was a sheer delight seeing so many variety of mango trees, bigger than palm size lemon(limbu), vegetables and a mali-bhaiya named - Doctor so glad to only share a sapling for you to plant at home.

Above all, the smile, simplicity and welcoming nature of Pravin, Aparna & the staff made the day something for all who visited to treasure for a long time.

Guys, sorry for this long message.. Perhaps the longest I have ever written. My idea was to simply share the joy I had and excite you to get our children to experience this unique experiment. Who knows, it might kindle the Baba Amte or Greta Thunberg hidden inside them and someone who all of us could pride someday. At the least, they could have some lovely memories together in the midst of mother nature that could be a calling for them 25 years later when their saplings (awaiting to be planted) grows into a whole grown tree and they could sit under the shade together reminiscing the cool time they had at Gurukul.

Again, thanks Pravin and Aparna for inviting and having me over.. I am more than eager to go back with the kido gang or otherwise.

Regards & best wishes, Umesh

Agar firdaus bar ru-ye zamin ast Hamin ast-o hamin ast-o hamin ast