Renowned environmentalist of Chenab Valley, Kesri Shashi Kumar, has made impossible the possible by sheer hard work and without any help from government or any other agency.
During his more than 40 years of service for the protection of environment, Kesri Shashi Kumar has planted a total of 5,30,000 saplings in the Chenab Valley and, surprisingly, all of them are surviving.
A Masters in Botany, Kesri began his “save environmental crusade” in 1972 after he was denied a job as Food Inspector, which he duly deserved on merit.
Kesri also ventured in sericulture and developed a bush garden under Indo-Japan horticulture scheme in 1976. Same year, he also developed a walnut orchard.
In October 1985, a team of Italian Agriculture experts arrived at his orchard. They wanted to create a demonstration plant for olive cultivation and wanted a suitable land.
The locals were not ready to give their land but Kesri Kumar came forward and offered his land. However, the experts examined the land and soil type and found it unsuitable for olive cultivation.
Kesri took the rejection as a challenge and worked hard on his land to make it fertile.
Just two years later, when the Italian experts returned, they were amazed to see the changed soil condition of the land. They immediately allowed the Olive demonstration plant on his land. The first consignment of 200 Olive plants came from Italy.
In 1994, Kesri managed to produce 5 quintals of Olive, a 100% success rate by sheer hard work and commitment.
Kesri managed to transform semi sandy soil into fertile and set a trend for others.
Kesri has won five awards so far despite widespread recognition for his tireless efforts for protection of environment.
Governor NN Vohra gave him a National Environmental Award in the Year 2011.
In government nurseries, Kesri has helped develop 33 lakh plants and supplied 19 lakh saplings to government agencies. He earns his meager livelihood by selling plants at cheap prices.