Telangana’s ‘tree-man’ dies at 87

Padma Shri awardee Daripalli Ramaiah, popularly known as green crusader ‘Vanajeevi’ Ramaiah’, died in Khammam district of Telangana on Saturday. He was 87.

He suffered a heart attack at his house in Reddipalli village in Khammam district, family sources said.

PM Narendra Modi, Telangana CM A Revanth Reddy, his Andhra Pradesh counterpart N Chandrababu Naidu and several other leaders condoled Ramaiah’s demise.

Despite lacking formal education, Ramaiah, a potter by profession, came to be known as a “Man of Trees” for his relentless mission of afforestation. Such was his dedication to the cause of expanding tree cover that he used to wear a board around his neck, with “Vriksho Rakshati Rakshitah” (save trees then trees will save you) written on it, whenever he stepped out of his house.

Not only Ramaiah, his wife Janamma followed suit, sharing her husband’s life mission.

Undaunted by his poverty, Ramaiah carried the mission for over five decades and is estimated to have planted more than one crore saplings during his lifetime. He received the Padma Shri in 2017 in recognition of his noble contribution to the cause of environment conservation.