Friday, 02 June 2023 | Vinod Chamoli | NEW TEHRI
Vishweshwar Dutt Saklani, the ‘Tree Man’ (Vrisksh Manav) who grew lakhs of trees in the mountains and is credited for having grown forests on many hectares of land, will be remembered today on his 101st birth anniversary with tree plantation and related activities. Saklani was born on June 2, 1922 in Pujar village of Tehri district. He started planting trees at the age of eight years. As he grew in age, his work of planting trees also continued to progress.
Saklani and his elder brother Nagendra Saklani had also participated actively in the national freedom struggle. He was also jailed on many occasions. Nagendra Saklani was martyred during the freedom struggle. His wife also died in 1956.
These incidents further increased his attachment to trees which became his main purpose in life. Shoulder bag and spade in hand, he got engrossed in sowing the seeds of oak, deodar and broad-leaf species. He died aged 96 years in 2019. His son Santosh Saklani says that more than 50 lakh trees were planted on about 1,200 hectares in the Saklana Patti area. These trees include oak, kafal and deodar. An event will be held today in the village to mark his 101st birth anniversary and to inspire the younger generation.
