The unfamiliar man
appeared at breakfast time. I hardly noticed him
as we rushed to get our equipment set up.
I was with a team of volunteers from the U.S. who
had come to the Trees for Life Learning Center in
Sambalpur, Orissa, India to videotape what was
taking place there.
We were rushing to get an early start to beat the
merciless heat. Very soon the temperature would
rise to 110ƒ F, so every minute of our day had
to be carefully planned.
One of our Indian friends said that this man was
a farmer who had come from his village to see
Balbir Mathur, the president of Trees for Life.
He wanted to speak with us also, but
unfortunately we had a busy schedule to keep.
As we worked frantically through the morning, I
noticed the farmer stood patiently to one side
with a large black notebook under his arm. When
we finally got a breather, I greeted him, and
through a translator apologized for keeping him
waiting.
He smiled and told me his name was Chakradhar
Pradhan. He had come from the village of
Jhanapada, some 40 miles away.
“How did you come here this morning?” I
asked.
Chakradhar stated that he rode his bicycle.
“What?” I said in surprise. He must
have started long before sunrise to arrive that
morning on his bike.
“What brought you here?” I wondered
aloud.
“Trees for Life helped me start my lemon
trees,” he said. “Now I am able to
provide for my family. I brought pictures of my
trees to show Mr. Mathur. He said I should talk
with you also.”
By this time David and Scott, two other Trees for
Life workers, had joined us. Chakradhar pulled
some dog-eared snapshots from his shirt pocket.
“These are my trees,” he beamed. The
treasured photos had obviously passed through
many hands. Now he asked us to keep them.
Then he opened his big notebook for us to see.
Page after page was filled with careful records
of his income and expenses. Although the writing
was in Orriya script, we could see how
meticulously the records had been kept.
“In the last three years my income has
increased eight-fold,” he said. “But
you will understand these records much better
when you see the lemon trees yourselves. You have
to come see my trees.”
We were in a quandary. We had such a tight
schedule, and yet there was something compelling
about this humble man. He was right. We had to go
see his lemon trees. David, Scott and I consulted
with each other.
“We’d love to see your lemon trees, but
unfortunately we can’t leave until four this
afternoon,” David, our team leader,
explained to him. “We were not expecting
you.”
Chakradhar agreed. He patiently waited all day
long, while we scurried around at a hectic pace.
It was almost four when we could finally start
for his village.
Chakradhar squeezed into the car with us and all
of the video equipment. It took us almost an hour
to get to his farm. As we drove along the hot,
dry, dirt road, Chakradhar’s story unfolded.
“Before starting the lemon orchard my
financial condition was not good. I have 4 acres,
but it is not good land. And there were no jobs
to be had. It was hard.
“Eight years ago I learned about Trees for
Life from other farmers in my village. With their
advice I planted one tenth of my land with lemon
trees. Trees for Life helped me get some of the
best quality lemon trees available in the
country. They were a special breed from Bangalore
— I could not have obtained them by myself.
“In between the trees I started cultivating
vegetables, which helped me earn a small living.
I reproduced my lemon trees, and gradually they
covered the entire four acres. Then in the last
three years it all started to pay off. Now I am
earning more than eight times what I was earning
before.” He opened his notebook to show us
the actual figures.
“How did you learn bookkeeping?” Scott
inquired.
“I had to quit school after seventh grade.
My father needed me to help on the farm. So I
promised myself that as my classmates advanced I
would also continue to learn. One of the things I
taught myself is bookkeeping.”
By this time we had reached Chakradhar’s
farm. As we set up our video equipment a small
crowd gathered. Chakradhar started to bring
people forward by the arm and say, “I
trained him . . . I trained him . . .” They
met us with shy grins, but there was also pride
in their eyes. They looked like students
receiving their diplomas.
“What do you mean you trained them?” I
asked.
“When I got started with Trees for Life, I
was asked to help two other people in the same
way I was helped,” Chakradhar said. “I
give them seedlings and show them how to plant
and care for the trees. I also teach them
accounting — it is so important.”
“How many people have you helped?” I
inquired. It was obvious he had already taught
more than two people.
Chakradhar thought for a moment. “I figure
more than a hundred by now.” he said
matter-of-factly.
“What?” Perhaps I had misunderstood the
translation. “A hundred?”
Chakradhar simply nodded his head in agreement. I
looked at him and felt a deep respect. Here was a
man who had given of himself to hundreds of
people. I felt as if I had just videotaped Johnny
Appleseed himself.
It was late by this time, and the brilliant
orange sunset gave an almost magical glow to
Chadradhar’s lemon trees. Nearby, his wife
was holding their infant boy in her arms. I
thought how, with only a small hand up from Trees
for Life, this child will not have to give up his
education because of poverty. Then I thought of
all the unseen children of the people Chakradhar
had helped, and what it means for their future as
well.
As we left, the family gave us lemons, cucumbers,
gourds and coconuts. I was very touched. As the
car started to roll away we were discussing this
ending to our day.
“It must be in the soul of these people to
give,” Scott said. David agreed.
I was silent. For me, the day’s events
answered a nagging question I had brought to
India. I had heard many times about the Trees for
Life commitment of each person to help two
others. But I wondered, does it work out that way
in reality? Do people really teach two others?
During my time in India, I was shown the answer
many times. Now the living proof of
Chakradhar’s life was overwhelmed me.
I realized that giving is not only in the soul of
these villagers. Giving is the very soul of all
people. And that’s what makes Trees for Life
work. |
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Chakradhar
Pradhan met us at the Learning Center in
Sambalpur, Orissa, India. “Trees for
Life helped me start my lemon
trees,” he said. “I am now
earning eight times more than I earned
three years ago, and I am able to provide
for my family.”
With a little help from
Trees for Life, Chakradhar Pradhan and
his wife and son were able to obtain high
quality trees they could reproduce and
share with others.
Chris Brown with his young
friend Gurauv.
Chakradhar
has shared seedlings and taught more than
a hundred other farmers how to plant and
care for lemon trees. “I explain how
the lemon trees will help their families
and the environment.”
“I thought how, with only a small
hand up from Trees for Life, this child
will not have to give up his education
because of poverty. Then I thought of all
the unseen children Chakradhar had
helped, and what it means for their
future as well.” — Chris Brown
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