In the small village of Piplantri, Rajasthan, lived a government employee named Shyam Sunder Paliwal. His life changed forever in 2007 when he lost his young daughter, Kiran. In his grief, he chose not just to mourn but to transform pain into purpose.
Instead of building a statue or a memorial, he planted 111 trees in her memory. But he didn’t stop there.
He launched a movement in the village:
📌 Every time a girl child is born, the village plants 111 trees.
📌 The family signs a pledge: they won’t marry her off before 18, and they’ll educate her.
📌 A community fund of ₹31,000 is raised to secure the child’s future.
Years passed. What began as one father’s tribute has turned into a model of eco-conscious and gender-sensitive development.
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Over 3,50,000 trees have been planted.
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The village became water-rich, as trees improved the groundwater table.
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Female infanticide dropped.
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Girls started going to school in greater numbers.
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The village, once dry and struggling, became green, prosperous, and progressive.
And yet Shyam Sunder Paliwal never chased the limelight. His name may not be on national headlines daily, but his legacy breathes in every neem tree and educated girl of Piplantri.
Why It Matters for Bharat Aawaz
Bharat Aawaz stands to give a voice to such silent changemakers those who redefine leadership through action, not position. Shyam Sunder Paliwal’s story is a powerful reminder that true nation-building begins in our villages, in our hearts, and in our small, consistent acts of good.
