Padma Shri Vanajeevi Ramaiah Passes Away

Padma Shri awardee and green crusader Daripalli Ramaiah, popularly known as Vanajeevi Ramaiah, today passed away following a heart attack.

Ramaiah had been dealing with health issues for some time and was receiving treatment at the Khammam government hospital. He was 88 years old.

He is survived by his wife Janakamma and their four children.

Ramaiah, a native of Reddypalli village in Khammam Rural mandal, dedicated his life to plantation and environmental conservation. Alongside his wife Janakamma, he had planted over one crore trees, achieving a remarkable milestone in his lifelong mission. He was responsible for planting hundreds of thousands of saplings in and around Khammam, focusing on indigenous species that provided shade, fruit and biofuel.

His passion for nurturing greenery began in his early years and continued unwaveringly. He was known affectionately as Chetla Ramaiah (Trees Ramaiah), and often seen cycling with saplings and pockets full of seeds, driven by his relentless commitment to turning barren land green.

In 2017, the Union government honoured him with the Padma Shri in recognition of his exceptional contribution to social forestry.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, Union ministers G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay, BRS working president K T Rama Rao, and leaders from various political parties condoled the demise of Ramaiah.

Taking to X, Modi said, "Daripalli Ramaiah Garu will be remembered as a champion of sustainability. He devoted his life to planting and protecting lakhs of trees. His tireless efforts reflected a deep love for nature and care for future generations. His work will continue to inspire our youth in their quest to build a greener planet. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this sad hour. Om Shanti."

Revanth Reddy termed Ramaiah's demise an irreparable loss to society, and expressed deep condolences to the bereaved family. "Daripalli Ramaiah, popularly known as Vanajeevi, firmly believed that the survival of mankind was impossible without preserving nature and the environment. He began tree plantation as an individual effort and eventually inspired the entire society," he said.

In his message, Jishnu Dev Varma said, "Ramaiah was a true son of the soil, whose unwavering commitment to environmental conservation and afforestation left a profound impact on Telangana and beyond. His lifelong dedication to planting and nurturing trees stands as a testament to the power of individual action in protecting nature. He will always be remembered for his selfless service and deep love for the environment."