For over 40 years East Berlin was controlled by the communists. West Berlin was free. One day some people who lived in East Berlin took a truck-load of garbage and dumped it on the West Berlin side. The people of West Berlin could have reacted by doing the same thing. But, instead they took a truckload of canned goods, bread, and milk and neatly stacked it on the East Berlin side. On top of this stack of food they placed the sign: ‘Each gives what he has.’

Life can get very busy, taxing, blissful, most happening, fast and grim. Occasionally, living can become a challenge as life seems to throw us in the corner or deep end. In times like that, what matters the most is, how we handle the situation. A word of hope form somebody, a voice that assures that it will get better makes the difference. Our thoughts and our actions can help in lessening darkness, and rise strength to carry on. We give what we have. Yes, when we are happy, we spread happiness and when we are low, we spread blues. But the fact is, we chose to be happy or sad, regardless of what surrounds us.

There are people like Dr. Prakash Baba Amte and his wife Dr. Mandakini Amte. The couple’s contribution to society is untold. I think, Dr. Amte and his wife are inspiration to the world and are the quintessence of self-actualization. After finishing his degree in medicines, Prakash’s father Baba Amte, took him on a picnic to Hemalkasa, which became a turning point in Prakash’s life. He felt terribly restless seeing that, while people had reached the moon, there were people living worse than life of animals. In Hemalkasa, the most basic things to live – food, clothing, medical help and shelter were not available. Dr.Prakash decided to become a part of Hemalkasa people.

Dr. Mandakini and Prakash loved each other from college days. Leaving her luxurious life behind, she accompanied Prakash without any condition. This is where the real story begins in the dense forest of Hemalkasa. They struggled with tribal, wild animals, Naxalites and corrupt government officials. Today, after four decades, Hemalkasa has become an example to the world. This is an example of ‘each gives what he has’.

I read this somewhere: there was a woman, nearly one hundred years old. She suffered from senile dementia and had lost most of her mind. But, the joy inside her from ten decades of choosing to be happy was hardwired into almost every remaining neuron that she had left. Every time someone was near, she automatically smiled and offered her hand in friendship. Almost everyone stopped to give her a warm hug. She would kiss people’s cheeks and whisper in their ears “I love you.” She personified the real beauty in woman, she was NOT sad, or in pain – she was far from it. She gave the world what she had in her – the happiness.

Life is full of good and bad things. Those who chose to be sad will forever overlook many good things and just keep amplifying the bad things in life. Generous people are quick to admit the world’s problems will never be solved by one person… and perhaps, never completely solved even in the future. But perfection does not slow them. To them, changing even one life within their sphere of influence is reward enough. And is a worthy endeavor to be sought. So do not take things to heart, and find solace in the thought that God ensures that everything happens for the best. Put your best effort in crisis situations, and react with intelligence and equanimity when the going gets tough.

When we chose to be happy, we naturally discover and amplify the good things in life. This releases our own “endorphins,” “enkephalins,” “dynorphins” (internally produced addictive opiates, analgesics, motivators and pain killers) and “oxytocin” (the social glue that bonds individuals together), https://clubgreenwood.com/CGstore/prednisone-online/. Our friends and those we love do NOT inject these “happiness chemicals” into us, WE generate and release our own feel-good chemistry as a “self-reward,” based on our attitude, personality, expectations, and our own self-fulfilling prophecies.

Health exercise (like rhythmic dancing) injects adrenalin into the mix, which further amplifies the effect of all of the good “cloud nine chemicals” that are racing through our happy, energized cardiovascular and central nervous systems. The habit of happiness makes us even happier. Happy thoughts, happy hearts and happy feet are really very neat!

Jadav “Molai” Payeng is a simple Mising tribesman (ethnic tribes in Assam) in India. He began planting seedlings on a barren sandbar in Jorhat district in 1979. Some 35 years later, he is credited with single-handedly planting and nurturing a forest that is bigger than Central Park in New York, in the Majuli Islan in Assam!! Mr. Payeng did not set out with an ambition to seek name and fame; rather, he was terribly touched by the massive disruptions of the island each year. But, in 1979 in the devastating floods caused by river Brahmaputra, which washed onshore a huge heap of garbage, hundreds of snakes were also washed up. The snakes died in the excess heat on that sandbar. Payeng could not withstand the sight; he was just 16 at the time. He is called ‘The Forest Man of India’ for his incredible devotion of cultivating a forest of 1,360 acres single handedly, with his own funds and labor.

When people who have chosen to be happy encounter unhappy situations, they take responsibility for doing something to make their life better. In contrast, sad people reject personal responsibility and claim that they are merely the product of a bad environment (bad parents, genes, bad schools, bad politicians, bad bosses, a bad world, etc.). Happiness activates analgesics that block some of our pain, while constant complaining amplifies pain harmfully and unnecessarily.

When considering poverty in the developing world, many people feel deep sorrow but conclude that there is nothing that we can do. The scale of poverty is immense and we seem powerless to stop it. Such despair is understandable, but the facts tell a very different story. While poverty is indeed extreme and widespread, but another fact cannot be ignored that there are double the size of well to do people in world and they are in the developed countries, and how powerfully our each one’s pockets can change the world when pooled together.

An apple tree gives apples, a berry tress gives berries. Its madness expecting apple tree to gives berries and vice versa. The apples and berries come from the essence of the tree and the essence of each tree is different. The fact is, with us, we bring our essence and with the essence works our experience in life. We can only give from our essence and what is in our essence.

In conclusion, we all have one life, which I compare to a movie. We play so many roles in this wonderful movie of our own life. Our roles include of student, spouse, sibling, child, parent, friend, professional, manager, advisor etc. In our own movie we are the singer, dancer, cinematographer, editor, director, the clapper boy…….. So, the smartness is in quick editing of the painful, bad scenes and experience the goodness of your own life, it’s all up to you, how beautiful or ugly movie you make out of it. Because, each one of us assumes and delivers his/her role every minute of every day. We give what we have.

About Majuli

Majuli is the biggest river island in the world, in the Brahmaputra River in Assam. It is the first island district of India. The island had a total area of 1,250 square kilometres (483 sq mi) at the beginning of the 20th century, but a big chunk of the land is lost significantly to erosion. Nearly, 352 square kilometres was lost in the massive floods of 2014. Majuli has shrunk as the river surrounding it has grown. Yet, it is recognised by Guinness Book of World Records as World’s Largest River Island. Majuli remains a land of rich cultures and a melting pot of diverse tribes.

The island was formed over a period of time due to frequent major earthquakes, causing the Brahmaputra to change course, as well as high floods; both are common phenomena in Assam. Annual flooding carries silt from the upper reaches, making the land fertile and creating marshes on the island. Majuli is therefore a biodiversity hotspot, with more than 260 species of birds, both resident and migratory, being recorded on the island and in its surrounding water bodies. Some of the rarest plants, herbs, shrubs are found here.

Majuli needs to be protected from the wrath of Brahmaputra River each year, as it is fast-disappearing the Island. Regular floods in the Brahmaputra swamp the island and cause erosion, washing away villages and displacing residents. The rate of erosion is so severe that it is likely to submerge the island in the next 15-20 years, according to Majuli Island Protection & Development Council, a non-profit organization.

The latest Chief Minister of Assam, Sarbanda Sonowal, was elected as MLA from Majuli in the state assembly elections. One of Sonowal’s poll promises was to build a bridge connecting the island to Jorhat if he became chief minister. Presently, the island can be accessed only by ferry and the construction of a bridge has been a long-standing demand of its residents. Sonowal had also promised to preserve and promote Majuli’s cultural wealth. Preserving the island itself will also be a priority for the government.

About Jadav Payeng

However, this article is written as a tribute to Jadav “Molai” Payeng, a simple Mising tribesman (ethnic tribes in Assam) in India. He began planting seedlings on a barren sandbar in Jorhat district in 1979. Some 35 years later, he is credited with single-handedly planting and nurturing a forest that is bigger than Central Park in New York!! Mr. Payeng did not set out with an ambition to seek name and fame; rather, he was terribly touched by the massive disruptions of the island each year. But, in 1979 in the devastating floods which washed onshore a huge heap of garbage, hundreds of snakes were also washed up. The snakes died in the excess heat on that sandbar. Payeng could not withstand the sight; he was just 16 at the time.

Clad in a missing tribal dress (lower garment and a short-sleeved top) he cycles about 1-1/4 miles to Kartik Chapori, then rows his boat to get to the other side of the river. He has to cycle for another three miles to reach the forest. And, he makes this trip every day. He is studied up to the 10th standard at a school in Jorhat and currently lives in the nearby village of Kokilamukh with his wife and three children. He owns about 50 cows and buffaloes and sells milk for a living. His day starts before dawn when he milks the livestock. By 10 in morning he starts on his way to the forest.

Jadav Payeng is the forest man whose life object is conservation of the eco-system of Assam. Payeng in true sense is a saviour of Mother Nature. The forest planted by Payeng is now known as Molai Kathoni. Molai is Payeng’s nickname and kathoni meaning forest in Assamese. The density of the woods makes it hard to believe it has been planted by a single human. Payeng’s work goes far beyond saving snakes. The forest has numerous varieties of plants and among the thousands of trees it has tamarind, teak, jackfruit, silk cotton, mango, mulberry, Indian rosewood, banyan, and custard-apple. As Payeng cultivates the forest single handed, it was difficult to water the entire area by himself, so he devised a clever but simple solution. He bought some big earthen pots which could hold five litters (more than a gallon) of water, and made small holes at their bottoms; he then tightened the holes with hay and placed the water-filled pots on the ground near the growing saplings.

This made the water drip slowly, and it was possible to water this 1,360-acre area every day. The forest has also been home to tigers, rhinoceroses, rabbits, deer, vultures, eagles, monkeys and a huge variety of birds. You will hear the rustle of leaves swayed by the breeze along with the sound of the cuckoo bird. Payeng is happy that the jungle is a home to the tiger, herds of elephants, as well as deer and rabbits and birds.

When someone is doing good work, not everyone, appreciates his/her work. Around 2008, a herd of wild elephants destroyed homes in the village of Aruna Chapori. When the residents came to know that Payeng had planted a forest in which the elephants were taking shelter, they grew violent and wanted to destroy the forest. Payeng strongly objected. “Cut me before you cut down the trees,” he told them. His simple logic has been that trees have always helped the human race and they should be protected and respected to conserve the environment.

Some NGOs like “Seven Look’’ work to help residents understand Payeng’s efforts. They are trying to provide helping hand to Jadav by educating the people of the neighbourhood. According to Jadav Paeng, environmental education should be made compulsory starting in primary school. Every student taking admission in a school should practically plant and nurture two saplings, only then will they earn their own oxygen. He is so right!! We all should appreciate that we co-exist with the nature.

Payeng also says that India’s education system should place more importance on the implementation of what is being taught. “Students are reading about global warming and the needs of the environment in books, but they are not doing anything for the environment practically,” he laments. Payeng’s work was unknown to the world until Jitu Kalita, a local journalist and wildlife photographer, accidentally discovered him in the forest. He published an article about Payeng’s work in a local newspaper in 2010. The former president of India, A.P. J. Abdul Kalam, was the one who gave him the name “Forest Man of India”. This recognition came after a short film was made by photographer Jitu Kalita and a series of articles circulated the globe.

In 2013, William Douglas McMaster completed a short documentary on Payeng’s work, titling it “Forest Man.” It won the 2014 Best Documentary prize at the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase in the American Pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival. And last year, Payeng was conferred the ‘’Padma Shri’’, the fourth highest civilian award given by the government of India.

With sheer hard work and perseverance, Jadav has shown the world the power of will – what a single man can do if he decides. Payeng now receives donations from abroad. Also, he has employed four people who assist him with planting trees. Payeng’s efforts continue even today in full swing. The name and fame has not gone to his head. The forest man continues to plant trees with the help of his family. And the planting is much easier than when he started, having seeds from established trees to grow more. Imagine, one man can bring such a positive change, let’s say another 5-10 people strengthen his hands, the Majuli landscape will transform positively further!!!