Bhopal will host an environment conference on Tuesday to mark the completion of three years of the pledge undertaken by former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to plant saplings every day of his life.
On 19 February 2021, Chouhan announced that the protection of the environment would be his life’s mission and resolved to plant trees every day. During his term of 1,095 days, Chouhan planted 3,238 saplings. This translates into three plants per day.
The conference is being organised to make tree plantation a people-to-people campaign.
Chouhan’s love for nature had also translated into a tradition of people planting trees to mark special occasions in the Smart City Garden at Shymala Hills. One of the highlights of the conference will be 108 prominent personalities planting saplings in the same garden.
In addition to environmentalists and activists, people from the film industry, including lyricists Shankar Mahadevan and Manoj Muntashir, and singers Shaan and Neeti Mohan have released videos in support of the campaign.
In his video, Muntashir quotes ancient texts that equate one tree to 10 sons.
“I am so grateful that the former chief minister also gave me the opportunity to be part of his pledge three times in the state,” said Munatshir.
In his recorded message, Mahadevan said he had been part of one drive. “I appeal to the people of Madhya Pradesh to participate in this campaign”.
Even on December 13, 2023, the day he addressed his last press conference as chief minister, Chouhan had been true to his pledge and planted a sapling at Smart City Park.
On X, Chouhan’s pinned post is also an ode to his green love, where he talks about how his commitment to the environment was fostered while growing up on the banks of the Narmada.
“Learned from the river how to bring happiness to the lives of others,” reads one of the lines of the long post.