An interview with the Tree Man of the South - a Bus Conductor who has planted over three lakh trees

The Tree man of the South talks about planting three lakh trees, his experience, challenges, support and, his philosophy of life.

Talking environment has become fashionable these days. But not often you meet someone like Marimuthu Yoganathan who works tirelessly to save our environment than he speaks. 

It all started when Yoganathan, a young boy stood stubborn protesting the Timber mafias in the Nilgiris. By trekking the expanse of a state as large as TamilNadu, Yoganathan has visited every district; visited more than 3800 schools and colleges, have met lakhs of students for one cause; to create awareness on the importance of trees. Well if this is not surprising you. Consider how despite earning a modest bus conductor's salary, Yoganathan has consistently worked towards this larger cause.

Born in 1969 in Coimbatore, Yoganathan stands with a principle “To live plant a tree”. We understood how determined he is to stick with his principle while we had this conversation with him. 

Over these indefatigably working years, Yoganathan has met, interacted with many people like Former President Dr. Abdul Kalam, Organic farming expert and a green crusader G. Nammalvar etc.  He has also received many awards and accolades for his works, his trophies includes an “Eco Warrior Award” and a State Environment Department Award in 2008, a CNN-IBN Real Heroes Award in 2011 and a Periyar Award in 2015. While speaking to us he felt he never bother these awards, and what these awards mean to a man who lives in a rental house.

The following is the conversation with Marimuthu Yoganathan and The Lantern Correspondent,

How did it all start? What was the starting point to all the achievements you have made so far?

My understanding is very basic, I stopped my schooling after my 12th standard. But now I meet, interact and debate with scientists and experts, all because of the lessons I learned by my experiences. When I was studying in school, I loved gardening and to plant trees, and it was those childhood days I debated, formed groups among my classmates to discuss environmental issues. But I never dreamt that one day I will be capable of doing things what I do now. 

I was inspired by Environmentalist and an activist Mr. Jeyachandran, he was the one who kept encouraging me to plant more trees. 

Our first protest was in Nilgiris, where trees were uprooted and destroyed to cultivate tea crops. We also stood in solidarity to TN Godavarman Thirumulpad, who filed a case to protect these trees. The Judgment was favorable to us, I consider this as my first victory.

You say that you plant trees, what kind of trees you choose and where do you plant them?

Each place, each soil has its own composition, and there are trees which is best compatible to those unique soil profile, I carefully select them accordingly. Each Monday I dedicate the whole day to plant trees. I schedule my work so that each week I can visit a school and teach them about nature. After these sessions, I give each student a plant sapling and guide to plant them, I advise them on taking care of the tree each planted. I always choose a protected place to plant trees, usually I don’t plant in wastelands or unclaimed places, because no one will take care of those trees. I have successfully implemented my techniques to plant trees in Karnataka, Kerala too.

You say that your principle is “To live; plant a tree”, is there a significant story behind choosing this principle?

Trees are the lifeline of nature, the oxygen we breathe, the water we drink, the fruits we eat, flowers, medicines, all is that we get from trees. To be short, we depend on trees to live. One will understand the true value of these trees, only when they are not with us. But that will be too late. So for each of us to live a life healthy and hearty, I would suggest to plant at least one tree in our life and protect it. So to stress this I have laid down this principle.

You being born in a middle class family, how do you manage to meet your expenses? As we see that you travel a lot to plant trees? You spend money to get and conserve saplings? 

Economically speaking, I have faced many crisis situation. Suppose for an argument sake, if I did concentrate on my job, do my chores, by this time I could have built my own house, I could have satisfied all the needs of my wife and my children. 

Thinking these I get frustrated sometimes, but what makes me to recover and move forward is the feeling that I have spent all my money to a cause, useful to my earth. 

This gives me pleasure and satisfaction. No one here gives money to people who plant trees, but people who cut down trees earn huge (we understood the agony in his face). So far, I have not received any donations or monetary benefits or support from the government. I manage to take care of all the expenses I meet while planting trees and travelling for it from my salary.

Being money or time or effort you sacrifice a lot, Do your family members share the same thought as you? How far is the support you receive from your family?

I am gifted with two female children, they support me a lot, and they stand with me when I face a trouble. At times my wife will get annoyed by seeing the plight of our economic conditions, but she is more involved and absorbed in the activities I do. She supports me all the time. Speaking about my relatives, they always have been unsatisfied in the past, but after seeing the awards and recognition I receive, they praise me a lot. Without the support of my friends, family and relatives I could have not come this far. I am grateful to all those who have supported me.

Throughout your noble journey, did you come across any anti-social elements, forbidding you from planting saplings or encouraging people to plant saplings? - What helped you overcome them? Where did you find your strength and your courage that has sustained you throughout your crusade over all these years?

(After a brief smile Yoganathan continued…) 

Yes I have faced many issues like you said. I have come across many false allegations, baseless and made-up complaints filed against me. Sometimes I have got beaten, harassed by people who feel that I affect their business. 

But I have successfully overcome these challenges by the moral and legal support I received from my friends and well-wishers, especially the friends who are advocates and practice law. Not limited to these, even my superior officers have humiliated me out of jealousy and competition, my truth speaking attitude and a straight-forward way of life saved me from all the dangers I have faced. 

Throughout your journey crusading, you have shown more attention in meeting children a lot, spent a lot of time interacting with them. What is the connection between empowering them and the work of planting trees?

Children learn fast, understand what they learn, spread positive thoughts a lot comparing us, the elders. After interacting with lakhs of children, I learnt that when it comes to planting trees, children face three issues. Firstly, they don’t have saplings to plant or can’t afford to get themselves. I offer them saplings. Secondly, they face trouble when choosing a place to plant. I guide them to choose the right place. Thirdly, they are unaware of how to take care the planted saplings. I teach them techniques, I make them aware of low water consumption methods while watering plants. – Children who don’t use crackers, Schools and colleges decided to stop use plastics, Children who take proper attention in not wasting papers are the success I have accomplished so far. Spending time and interacting with children gives me pleasure and all the positive energy that I need to continue with my cause.

We know you have been traveling around the state and the neighboring ones meeting students, planting trees, talking about your cause. What insights do you have on the state of Tamil Nadu’s environment looking at it from your perspective and experience?

The condition of Environment in Tamil Nadu is very sick and worrisome. In the name of Development trees fall, animals have lost their habitat, this in turn has escalated the man animal conflict, and this has caused severe damage to the livelihoods of humans too. We have destroyed many forests and trees. And if we don’t stop now, we would pay a price we could not afford. I would suggest to the government that periodic census must be taken with trees cover. This will help in keeping a check on illegal exploitation of trees.

After all you have done so far, do you have any specific dream that you need to fulfill? What are your future plans?

I will be fully satisfied and cheer when each one of us plant a tree in our life.  I am also planning to write books and articles on Water, environment, Rain, Sparrows, Elephants, Peacocks. I particularly spend quality time in learning about these. These books will be written in a way that they are useful to students and children. I have written some poems, directed short films and have written articles to various publications, I am planning to expand these activities. And speaking about my life time ambition, in my final days, I am planning to have a small piece of land, say 5 acres, where I will grow saplings to donate free for all.

Nowadays students and youngsters loot out at the world or they hear scary stories and statistics about disasters, global warming, food scarcities, depleted natural resources and it feels so crushing, and often times it can make them just feel stranded to do anything about it. What can they do to get involved? What advice would you give to them who wants to be a part of the change, but just doesn’t know how they can make a difference?

The younger generation holds the key for the future, they have the power to decide what kind of the world they want to live, they can make choices, if they have a determination to change the status quo, and they can do it. 

I have met many energetic children during my journey. I trust them. It is never too late to stop blaming that there is no space to plant trees, we can start growing them in protected spaces like schools, colleges, hospitals etc. I advice students and youngsters to think broad and I know they are capable of it, they  being the sons of soils should contribute to their country. Do something sustainable. Do something which will have your name in it.

And the interview got completed. But no signs of exhaustion in Yoganathan’s face. He was energetic and positive like he was at the beginning.

The Lantern team wishes 👍 Marimuthu Yoganathan for all his future endeavors and we promise that we will support by all means possible. 

*If you want to support Yoganathan or donate to his cause, please write to us to get his personal contact number.