Known fondly as ‘Bargad Baba,’ a retired educator is the unsung hero behind Hazaribag’s verdant transformation over the past twenty years. Manoj Kumar Singh has meticulously nurtured more than 10,000 saplings, favoring enduring species like banyan and peepal, which now grace the landscape.
Hazaribag: For over two decades, a retired teacher in Hazaribag has been quietly scripting a green movement, planting saplings, especially peepal or banyan which is also known as bargad tree.Known locally as “Bargad Baba”, Manoj Kumar Singh has planted more than 10,000 saplings since 2003 in Hazaribag, Chatra, Koderma, Giridih, Ramgarh and Ranchi, and a majority of them have grown into full-fledged trees.Last year, Singh’s name was even recommended for the Padma Shri and a letter in this regard was sent to him by then chief secretary Alka Tiwari.A former faculty member at Govt Teacher’s Training College, Singh has dedicated his post-retirement life to afforestation and environmental awareness.
His focus has largely been on ecologically significant and long-living species such as banyan, peepal, pakad, gular and kalpataru trees that not only contribute to biodiversity but also provide shelter and food to birds.Singh, now 63, said, “I drew inspiration from my uncle and his associates, and took up plantation work in 2001. Planting a sapling is only the beginning. The real responsibility is to nurture it till it becomes a tree.”
Of the thousands of saplings planted, the maximum have already matured into trees, including around 1,000 banyan, peepal and kalpataru — often referred to as “natural habitats” for birds. He also prioritises fruit-bearing plants to encourage community participation in their upkeep.Funding much of the initiative from his pension, Singh also mobilises support from residents, urging them to mark birthdays, anniversaries and memorial days by planting trees.
Over the years, he has inspired hundreds of his former students — now teachers themselves — to join the campaign and spread awareness.His bond with plants is deeply personal. During summers, he carries bottles of water in his vehicle to tend to wilting plants in and around the city.Beyond plantation, Singh also integrates environmental responsibility into education. During his tenure, he said, “I encouraged BEd students to plant at least one sapling and take a pledge to protect it.”
