The record of Jadhav Payang, a 57-year-old farmer from Assam, ‘Forest Man of India’, who created a dense forest on 550 hectares of barren sand, has been featured in American textbooks. This chapter on Payeng has been included as part of the ecology lessons of the students.
The history of ‘Forest Man of India’ Jadav Payeng is included in the curriculum of schools in Bristol Connecticut, USA. “Students learn about Jadav Payeng as part of their environmental course,” said Nawami Sharma, a teacher at a school in Bristol. Payeng, originally from Assam, started planting trees in his village in 1979. This is the current recognition for the achievement of 57-year-old Assamese farmer Payeng, who, after 40 years of hard work, has created a dense forest on an area of 550 hectares of barren sand.
On the other hand, the majority of academicians said it is time for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to include Jadav Payeng’s work in its curriculum. “The State Government should write to the CBSE and ICSE to include chapters on Payeng in the national school syllabus,” said Sadiqul Alam, a retired college teacher.
Concerned at an early age about the environmental degradation of Majuli Island in eastern Assam, Payeng began planting trees in barren sand dunes, eventually turning it into a deep forest. Elephants, deer, rhinos, tigers and many other animals now live in the forest.