Renowned social activist and Padma Shri awardee, Vanajeevi Ramaiah (85) has passed away. He had been suffering from health problems for some time. He was immediately rushed to the hospital by his family members after suffering a heart attack on Saturday morning. Ramaiah died while receiving treatment at the hospital.
Vanajeevi Ramaiah and Janamma couple planted more than one crore saplings. He created history by planting more than one crore saplings. Ramaiah’s hometown is Reddypalli village in Khammam Rural Mandal. He planted saplings all his life. He always campaigned for the protection of trees and planted saplings in roadsides, schools, hospitals and temples.
Ramaiah is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter. But, two sons have already died due to various reasons. Meanwhile, nature lovers are immersed in grief after Ramaiah’s death. A large crowd is gathering to see Ramaiah for the last time. Former BRS MP Santosh, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, former minister T Harish Rao and many other political leaders have expressed their condolences over Ramaiah’s death.
The central government recognized Ramaiah’s services and honored him with the Padma Shri in 2018. He received the Padma Shri award from President Pranab Mukherjee in Delhi. He was born on July 1, 1937, to Daripelli Lalayya and Pullamma. Although his surname was Daripally Ramaiah, he changed it to Vanajeevi. He is also known as Kedala Ramaiah.
For 50 years, he tirelessly tried to grow plants by sowing seeds. He would collect the seeds in summer and sprinkle them in the respective areas as soon as they sprouted. Vanajeevi can eloquently tell the history of 120 types of plants. Vanajeevi Ramayya used to say that his goal was to plant three crore saplings.
The Telangana government has included wildlife as a subject in the class 6 social studies. Similarly, the Maharashtra government is teaching Ramayya’s life as a subject in the class 9 Telugu textbook for Telugu students there. While carrying the burden of the family on the one hand, he has been planting saplings for more than four decades. He has also named his grandchildren and great-grandchildren after the same trees.
One of them is named Chandanapushpa, and another granddaughter is Haritha Lavanya. He named another baby girl Kubandhapushpa. He named another granddaughter Vanashree. Ramayya, who has planted more than one crore saplings and is recognized as the Tree Man of India, has been honored with awards by several organizations for his services.
In 2005, he was given the Vanamitra Award by the Center for Media Services. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the international organization Universal Global Peace. He was awarded the Vana Seva Award by the Government of India in 1995.
