“Listen to the nature, what it whispers” – says Subhas

“Just as humans, trees enjoy music. Man and flora share a mystical bond; a bond of life that is reciprocal. Trees, unlike humans, cannot move or speak; nonetheless, they can listen to, understand, and feel music. Its existence only kept the world alive, and our reasonability is to respect this pure bond.”

Keeping this in mind, 53-year-old Subhas Chandra Nayak of Angisinghi village in Sarankul Tehsil, Nayagarh district, has been doing plantation efforts for the past 40 years. He is an environmentalist, conservator, and artist whose lyrics and musical notes all revolve around one theme: nature, its conservation and social betterment. 

He developed a love for the environment and the lush floras around the village after meeting an environmentalist, Shramik Yogi, who taught him the value of trees and their planting when he was a boy. As the son of a musician, he has a passion for music, particularly traditional folk songs. He enthusiastically learned to play many traditional musical instruments from his father.

When he grew up, he was concerned about the apparent impacts of climate change, such as lack of oxygen, untimely rain, rising temperatures, and other issues caused by rampant deforestation. In-depth research on plants showed him that trees such as Banyan and Peepal are excellent sources of oxygen, among other benefits. 

“Trees such as banyan and peepal produce oxygen day and night. The trees live a long life because their wood are not used by humans and require little water and maintenance. So, I believed that if more such trees can be planted in every barren spot, it might help to alleviate our state’s oxygen shortfall.”

Subhas is a contractor with the Archaeological Survey of India. The lack of banyan or peepal saplings with the forest department forced him to collect wild ones from his work sites, which included old temples and monuments, bridges, and sewerages. The majority of the saplings he collects are from surrounding temples that he has renovated. He carries them home, waters them, and nurtures the seedling until it reaches a height of 1-2 feet. Following that, he plants the saplings in whatever desolate terrain available.

He has so far collected and kept countless saplings. In addition, he planted over 20,000 plants in Nayagarh’s desolate areas, which are now contributing to the district’s greenery. He has also distributed thousands of plants to various organizations that wish to engage in the plantation operations. 

However, Subhas’ love for the environment extends beyond plantation. As a preserver of folk music and culture, he composes songs and short stories about many societal issues such as the importance of flora and fauna, human health, traffic, education, and so on, all while keeping the musical touch of traditional folk songs. Since 1990, he has been associated with Akashvani, airing his songs and stories to promote and sensitize people to the spirit of traditional art forms such as Dhenukoila, Paladaskatia, Mundapotakila, Ektara, Bhumpa, and others. 

“I believe that, like the declining number of trees, our liking for traditional musical culture has faded as society has advanced. Because folk music is people’s music and easily understood by local villagers, it is preferable for me to sensitize them on societal issues via these folk songs, which benefits me in two ways: people become aware of various issues, and our moral responsibility to pass down the value of our folk culture and traditional music to future generations is fulfilled”

Subhas has vowed to continue this great effort until his last breath. He intends to include palm trees in his plantation activities this year, along with 2000 saplings of banyan and peepal, because palm trees are ‘friends of farmers’ and benefit them in a variety of ways. This has also brought him to the notice of Odisha’s Governor in 2021. He received the ‘Prakruti Bandhu Award’ from the government in 2020, as well as several awards and recognition from various fields.

Undoubtedly, in today’s world, flora coverage, as well as folk culture and traditions, are dwindling merely because people are oblivious of their importance. However, there is a significant link between the two because our tradition has always been environmentally concerned and revered nature through the worship of various deities. Poems and folklore are also written in a way that helps listeners feel linked to them. As such, Subhas Chandra Nayak’s humanitarian work is remarkable because trees are lifelines, and his compositions in the manner of traditional folk songs serve as a medium for educating people about traditional lifestyles and environmental protection.