Environmentalist and Padma Shri awardee Jadav Payeng, known as the Forest Man of India, has appealed to create a forest in every district of Assam in memory of singer Zubeen Garg. Speaking at the annual Botany Fest of The Assam Royal Global University on Monday, Payeng said such an initiative would be a lasting tribute to the late artist’s love for nature and animals.
“If we create a forest in Zubeen’s name in every district, people will breathe oxygen in his memory. It will be an evergreen tribute to the nature-loving artist,” Payeng said while addressing students during BOTANIQUE 3.0, organised by the university’s Department of Botany.
Delivering his talk titled My Journey from a Single Sapling to a Living Forest, Payeng shared his decades-long experience of transforming barren land into a thriving forest through continuous plantation and care. He told students that consistent individual effort can restore degraded ecosystems and urged them to take responsibility for environmental protection.
Dear Reader,
Every day, our team at EastMojo travels through rain, rough roads, and remote hills to bring you stories that matter – stories from your town, your people, your Northeast.
We do this because we believe in truthful, independent journalism. No big corporate backing, no government pressure – just honest reporting by local journalists who live and breathe the same air you do.
But to keep doing this work, we need you. Your small contribution helps us pay our reporters fairly, reach places others ignore, and keep asking the tough questions.
If you believe the Northeast deserves its own fearless voice, stand with us.
Support independent journalism. Be a Member.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
He also called for making Environmental Studies a compulsory subject at the university level, saying education is vital to developing environmentally conscious citizens. “Nature is God, and God is Nature,” he said, emphasising humanity’s spiritual connection with the environment.
Payeng said forest management in the Northeast should involve people who understand the region’s biodiversity and cultural context. He noted that Indian Forest Service officers from the region would be better equipped to care for its forests and communities.
He also linked environmental protection to cultural preservation, describing language and tradition as integral to sustainable development. “Cultural development is essential for the progress of the country. Our mother tongue is our identity and protecting it is part of protecting our roots,” he said.
Encouraging the youth to carry forward Zubeen Garg’s legacy, Payeng urged students to engage in activities such as tree plantation drives, biodiversity preservation, and animal welfare. His session concluded with an interactive discussion, where he encouraged students to take small, consistent steps toward building a greener planet.
Also read | Assam govt orders police action over piracy of Zubeen Garg’s Roi Roi Binale