Doctor-Turned-Entrepreneur Is Turning Lakhs of Mango Seeds Into Free Fruit Saplings for Farmers

“Paddy farming was slowly wearing me down,” says 50-year-old farmer Bapi Bhandari, from rural West Bengal. “The soil became weak, water was scarce, and the returns never matched the amount of work I put in. I had to ask myself, is this the future I want for myself, or my children?”

Bapi’s words are echoed by thousands of farmers across India who are caught in an unending cycle of low yield, environmental stress, and increasing reliance on chemical inputs. For many, it is a life of struggle, with little room to break free from the chains of traditional and unsustainable farming practices. But against this backdrop of despair, somebody is bringing hope and light to the lives of these farmers.

Jasmit Singh Arora, a 51-year-old entrepreneur from Kolkata, West Bengal, has become a national figure and is popularly known as the ‘Gutli Man of India’. His journey in this field is worth talking about.

Trained as a doctor, Jasmit spent the first three decades of his life building businesses in IT and pharmaceuticals. It was a career that afforded him the independence he craved, the freedom to be his own boss, and make his own choices. Yet, despite his professional success, a soulful calling began to grow inside him. He wanted his life to have more meaning and to contribute something that would make a difference in the world.

How compassion planted the first seed

“I always knew I was not meant for a job,” the 51-year-old recalls, his eyes reflecting a deep-seated conviction. “I needed the freedom to choose how I live. But after years of success, I began to realise that true success is not just about what you achieve for yourself, it is about what you give back. I wanted to do something that would uplift people and protect the environment,” he tells The Better India.

This desire to make an impact was rooted in his upbringing. His mother, a trained nurse, had volunteered during the 1971 war, not for profit, but to help those in need. “Her spirit of service has stayed with me,” he says with a wistful smile. “She was my inspiration. She pushed me to believe that I can do something that leaves the world better than I found it.”

It was during visits to rural villages that he started finding ways to make a difference. He witnessed firsthand the struggles of farmers, particularly those dependent on paddy cultivation. The land was overworked, the water supplies dwindling, and the children of these farmers had no desire to follow in their parents’ footsteps. 

“There was no legacy,” he explains, his voice tinged with concern. “The next generation did not want to take up farming because they saw their parents struggling with little monetary gains. Without a stable source of income, there was no foundation to build on,” he adds.

The entrepreneur knew that to break this cycle, he had to offer something sustainable, something that could restore not just the farmers’ livelihoods, but also their faith in farming. And that’s when the idea struck him: why not turn to mangoes?

A beloved fruit across India, mangoes are not only a staple in homes but also a valuable cash crop. He realised that this fruit can be the solution to many problems; it will give farmers an alternative to the unstable income from paddy farming, offer long-term financial benefits, and, most importantly, help the environment by offsetting the damage caused by deforestation and carbon emissions.

“I thought, what if we collect mango seeds, also known as gutlis, from across the country, grow them into saplings, and give them to farmers?” he explains. “They could move from short-term, unsustainable crops like paddy to long-term fruit cultivation. And along the way, we can plant trees that help the environment.”

From laughter to legacy: The man who was once mocked for collecting seeds

And thus began Jasmit’s mission in 2019. He turned his simple idea into a massive initiative. He started collecting mango seeds from schools, individuals, and anyone who was willing to contribute, turning them into viable saplings and gifting them to farmers free of charge.

In the early days, he was met with scepticism and even ridicule. People would call him “Mango King” or “Gutli Man,” but these were not with admiration. “It was not easy at first,” he recalls. “Even my friends could not understand why I was collecting mango seeds. But I had a vision, which was something bigger, and I was not going to give up on it.”

Despite the doubts, he kept on following the plan he had in mind. The early stages were difficult, with only a small percentage of the seeds germinating into saplings. But in 2024, everything changed when the social entrepreneur, in a moment of frustration, asked his daughter, Gunmeet Kaur Arora, to help him make a video about his mission. Little did he know, this would be the turning point.

“The video went viral,” he laughs, a sparkle in his eye. “I just wanted more seeds. But what happened next was unbelievable.”

Calls started flooding in from all corners of India, from Jammu to Kanyakumari, Assam to Gujarat. Schools, army personnel, senior citizens, juice vendors, and people from every walk of life began sending mango seeds. By the end of the season, he had received more than 11 lakh mango seeds.

“The name ‘Gutli Man’ does not bother me anymore,” he says with pride. “Now, it represents something powerful. People understand the cause, and they have come together to help. They do not mock me anymore for collecting gutlis, instead, they try to help out in whatever capacity they can.”

From gutli to graft - The science behind the saplings

Once the seeds arrive, the entrepreneur begins his work. The seeds are sorted, dried, and planted in raised soil beds, as mango seeds need minimal moisture. Germination begins just before the monsoon, and within a few weeks, the seeds begin to sprout.

“When the saplings reach about four or five feet tall, we graft them with local mango varieties like Langda or Gulab Khas,” the entrepreneur explains. “This guarantees that the trees will flourish in their environment and bear fruit. A Kesar mango from Maharashtra will not survive in Bengal, so we adapt.”

He carries out the germination and grafting process in two main locations in West Bengal, Diamond Harbour and Burdwan, where the saplings are carefully nurtured before being distributed to farmers. One of his partners, Ashok Modi, plays an important role by generously providing land. He makes sure to help the entrepreneur in every way possible, to support his initiative. The grafting process is crucial, assuring that the mango trees are suited to the specific regional climate, which helps farmers grow healthy and fruitful crops.

Jasmit’s dedication to learning and understanding the science behind mango farming has been key to his success. “I had to learn everything from scratch, how to germinate seeds, graft saplings, care for them organically, and even manage pests without chemicals,” he explains. “I spent countless hours speaking with experienced farmers, reading books, and consulting experts. I knew that if I was going to guide others, I had to be sure of what I was doing.”

And it is not just about the mango trees. The real impact is being felt on the ground. For farmers like Bapi, this initiative has brought a ray of hope.

Farming is not just survival anymore 

“Before receiving the mango saplings from Jasmit Singh Arora, I did not know the basics of fruit farming,” Bapi admits. “But he guided us, taught us how to use compost and cow dung instead of harmful chemicals. The results have been incredible.”

His soil is healthier, the water consumption has decreased, and the need for expensive chemical fertilisers has almost disappeared. “It is still early to comment, but I can already see the change,” he says, his voice filled with optimism. “My children see farming in a new light now. It is no longer just survival. It is about creating something sustainable and something they will want to continue.”

This initiative not only helps farmers, but it is also a solution for the environment. His larger vision is what he calls the “Carbon Protection Force”. “We are constantly releasing carbon into the atmosphere,” he explains. “I want to be the person who protects carbon and stores it safely in trees. A single car’s emissions need about 50 mango trees to offset them. If we are producing CO2, we need to plant O2.”

That is why every mango seed, every gutli, matters. “When someone sends me a gutli, they are doing something extraordinary. They are not just helping to plant a tree. They are providing shelter for birds, hope for a farmer, and oxygen for the planet. It is a beautiful cycle,” says the social entrepreneur.

Over the years, Jasmit has touched countless lives, distributing more than six lakh fruit tree saplings, the majority of them being mangoes, without charging a single penny. In 2024 alone, he received around 11 lakh seeds from across the country. From these, with care and patience, he nurtured around 80,000 grafted saplings for farmers.

Behind the scenes of the mango seeds movement

Every mango season, his home becomes a warehouse for mango seeds. But his family supports him through it all. “My wife, Anju, bears the brunt of the madness,” he chuckles. “But she has never complained. She knows how important this work is to me and supports me whenever I need her.” His daughters, too, play a fundamental role in expanding the initiative by helping with videos, packaging, and spreading the word.

And the support keeps growing. Schools across Kolkata, such as La Martiniere, St Xavier’s, and Birla High, have run their gutli drives, educating students about the importance of the environment. The entrepreneur expresses proudly, “The same people who laughed and were unsure in the beginning are now collecting seeds for me. This is what makes me believe that I have been successful in driving the initiative.”

As the mango season is here again, Jasmit is excited to scale the initiative, bringing in more schools, more land, and more volunteers. “These trees will outlive us,” he says quietly, with a sense of peace. “They will give shade, fruit, and oxygen, and keep improving the environment, long after we are gone. That, to me, is legacy.”

If you would like to contribute to this movement, it is as simple as sharing a mango seed. To donate mango seeds or learn more about the initiative, contact Jasmit Singh Arora in Kolkata at 9831459390.

Edited by Vidya Gowri; All pictures courtesy Jasmit Singh Arora