Meet the 63-YO Who Fought Cyclones, Paralysis & Drought — to Bring Forests Back to Odisha’s Hills

In Odisha’s Berhampur, a 63-year-old retired teacher has done the unthinkable; he has turned 20 barren hills into lush green forests.

This is the story of Sudhir Rout, a man who planted hope where there was none. In 2007, Sudhir left his teaching job to take on a different mission -- to revive nature. PC: ETV Bharat

Armed with saplings, endless patience, and a heart full of love for the earth, he began planting trees, one hill at a time.

Even when Cyclone Phailin wiped out many of his saplings in 2013, Sudhir didn’t give up. Instead, he replanted everything he had lost, believing that true change demands perseverance, not just passion.

But how can one man reforest an entire region without heavy machinery or teams of workers? Sudhir’s answer was simple, seed balls. He mastered the art of throwing life back into barren soil, one seed ball at a time. PC: ETV Bharat

Every year during monsoon, Sudhir makes and throws thousands of seed balls across the hills. He waits patiently, knowing that not every seed will sprout, but every effort counts in the battle to bring life back.

Today, the hills he once saw stripped bare are thriving with fruit trees, flowering plants, and tall forests. Birds, bees, and animals have returned, and the dry streams have begun to flow again.

What’s even more inspiring is that Sudhir does all this with partial paralysis. Yet, he never let it become an obstacle.

Sudhir’s dream is bigger than just green hills, he wants every child to grow up breathing fresh air and drinking clean water. "Forests are not a luxury," he says. "They are survivors."