Report By | Sanjay Kumar, Freelance Writer
“Dusharla Satyanarayan, better known as a ‘Jungleman’ or a ‘Waterman’, had to leave his jobs, both in Andhra and Union Bank. Not only this, he also had to be separated from his wife and children. Even after losing his home, family and job, his resolve did not weaken. With redoubled enthusiasm, Dusharla worked day and night to realize his dream. Finally his dream has manifested in the form of a deep forest spread over 70 acres of his ancestral land”
Suryapet : Truly, there is no other like Dusharla Satyanarayan. What to call it – a man’s passion, a man’s craze, a man’s resolve or should I say it – a man’s strong will. Yes, ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi Tak’ such a determined determination fits perfectly on this energetic 69 year old nature lover and environmentalist. We can call him ‘Jungleman’.
At the age of 4 years, he imagined and then began to work tirelessly to create the same in reality. With the continuous efforts during the last 65 years, Dusharla has grown a forest on his 70 acres of ancestral land in which big and very small trees and plants have grown, so small that they come under your feet.
This forest is in Raghavapuram village of Mothe mandal of Suryapet district of Telangana state. The same Suryapet which was once under Nalgonda district. Dusharla, who was born in this village and has a bachelor’s degree from Jaishankar Agricultural University, Hyderabad, says, “I have been planting trees on this land since the age of 4. That eagerness of mine to plant trees continues even today.”
Dusharla, led from the front and the team members of ‘Sanghamitra’ followed him in his deep forest. While roaming in the forest and becoming familiar with the trees and plants here, we realized that the creatures living here are only consuming the fruits and flowers of the trees growing here.
Yes, forest wealth is not used for business. Dusharla is dead against it. Trees of custard apple, jamun, mango are found in this forest. Also there are trees of guava, banana, plum etc. The fruits are consumed by countless species of birds living here including colorful butterflies, monkeys, peacocks and small creatures like squirrels etc. Dusharla, with a sense of pride says, only the creatures living in the forest have rights over the forest.
The aroma of the various fruits growing on the trees planted here and the fragrance of the flowering plants along with the chirping of birds play an important role in enhancing the beauty of the forest and keeping it alive. One may automatically get reminded the poem of Robert Frost –
Woods are lovely , dark and deep ….
Let me remind you once again that the vision conceived 65 years ago was implemented by a person who had to leave his job both of Andhra and Union Bank in this process. Not only this, he also had to be separated from his wife and children. Even after losing his home, family and job, his resolve did not weaken. With redoubled enthusiasm, Dusharla worked day and night to realize his dream.
There are more than half a dozen ponds in this forest of Dusharla to quench the thirst of animals and birds and to keep the forest green. There is also a pond in which only lotus flowers bloom. The blooming lotus flower is also of rare maroon color. It is forbidden to pluck these lotus flowers which enhance the beauty of the forest. Dusharla offers this lotus flower only once in the entire season to his beloved ‘Bhramaramba Mata’ in Srisailam. During the conversation, his love for these flowers was displayed to such an extent that with a touch of humor he said that he does not even offer them to Mallikarjuna Swami,one of the 12 Jyotirlings, present in Srisailam.
Dusharla, who has entered the third phase of his life, has not just grown this forest only. He also organized several movements to solve the problem of water and fluoride in his Nalgonda district. He established Jal Sadhana Samiti in 1980. To attract the attention of the government, he not only marched from Nalgonda to Srisailam, Yadagirigutta and Hyderabad but also demonstrated at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. For his struggle he came to be known as ‘Water Man’ of Telangana.
Documentary ‘Dusharla Satyanarayana’ Shines at 4th Nadi Utsav in Delhi
“Dusharla Satyanarayana: India’s Green Heart,” a documentary film directed by senior journalist Chilkuri Sushil Rao, received a special screening at the 4th Nadi Utsav in Delhi on September 23, 2023. This prestigious event, organized by the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (INGCA), Ministry of Culture, Government of India, spanned three days from September 22 to 24.
The festival showcased a diverse array of films created by filmmakers from various regions of the country, all centered around the critical themes of river preservation and environmental conservation. “Dusharla Satyanarayana” is a poignant addition to this cinematic exploration of India’s ecological heritage and the need for its protection.
