At a “green” session of the Tejas zone institute in Delhi titled Dhanyavad – Gratitutde to Mother Earth – protect, preserve, prosper, Rotary’s favourite philanthropist and RI District 3192 DGE Ravishankar Dakoju explained why he had given his mega tree planting and environmental initiative across India the intriguing title Dakoju Dhanyavad.
He said that like most Rotarians he was “a sensitive and emotional person”. During the Covid pandemic, for no particular reason, “I started feeling low, guilty, suffering from anxiety and anguish.” Not able to figure out why he was feeling so, he tried several remedies such as dabbling in alcohol, and praying at various religious institutions like temples, churches and mosques. But none of it helped him. Professional help from an expert at Bengaluru’s NIMHANS and the medicines the specialist prescribed didn’t help either. “I didn’t know what to do. Because of Covid, we were not going anywhere. I started going for a walk in Lal Bagh. I wanted to find why I was feeling anguish, anxiety and depression. Then my two daughters Ekta and Samta got married, and I thought I’ll be alright.”
But nothing changed. He couldn’t even share his state of mind with his wife Paola, not wanting to worry her. During his walks in the huge 250-acre garden, he’d gaze at the tall trees and the hillocks close by. Slowly he turned to nature for an answer to his suffering. “Instead of spiritual leaders or medical consultants, I turned to the trees and the mountain for an answer.”
I decided that let me plant something which will continue to say dhanyavad for decades to come, and even after I go. But I thought I shouldn’t plant these trees only in my city or my neighbourhood, but far away in places which have nothing to do with me.
— Ravishankar Dakoju
DGE – RID 3192
Months of gazing at these finally brought a sign… an answer… both the trees and mountains had a triangular or conical shape… “just like a namaste, which is actually gratitude, or dhanyavad.” The message he gleaned from his long walks in the midst of nature was that instead of blaming anybody, he should enjoy or celebrate life and express his gratitude.
After some reflection, said Dakoju, “I decided that let me plant something which will continue to say dhanyavad for decades to come, and even after I go. But I thought I should not plant these trees only in my city or my neighbourhood where I, my family would benefit, but far away in places which have nothing to do with me.”
He went to the Western Ghats, the Sahyadri range in a remote place of Maharashtra and wanted to plant trees there, but realised he couldn’t do this alone. After consulting his friend in Rotary and fellow environmentalist Neil Joseph, they decided on putting together a team, into which RC Kudal past president Gajanan Khandalgaonkar was also roped in. “We began planting trees inside forests, graveyards, cremation grounds, schools, backyards of homes, lake and river beds and so on.”
In two years, his team had planted 48,000 saplings, but it was still less than half of his target of 100,000. During this time, he was elected to a leadership position in his district, and from DGN became DGE, and while undergoing training with his batchmate DGEs, discussed with them doing something which was transformational and would outlive them.
Rotary’s mega project on polio was almost ending; but during the discussion the topic came up that while Rotary was ending polio from the world, “our planet itself has got polio… in terms of climate change and global warming, so why don’t we do something about that? For polio we have drops. Now let’s plant trees.”
As the project became more ambitious with the goals constantly growing…. now to one crore trees… more partners were roped in. While several of his batchmates have come on board, the project, titled Dakoju Dhanyavad, found a major partner in the Ryan International Group of Institutions.
For generations, nature has nourished us with air, water, food, energy and beauty. But our impact on earth has reached a point where gratitude must run into responsibility… to value, protect and safeguard the fragile ecosystem.
— C Basker, Past RI Director
At the institute, an MoU was signed between Dakoju (Rotary Environment Trust) and Ryan Pinto, CEO of the Ryan Group. The key terms of this MoU include planting of 50,000 saplings in one day at the Ryan schools across India on the day Dakoju gets sworn in as governor in July 2026. This will be an attempt to create a Guinness World Record. Other terms include an undertaking by the Ryan Group to start 165 Interact clubs in one year in its schools. And, along with Rotary, it will strive to plant one million saplings across the country. With 165 schools in over 20 states of India, this was achievable.
Addressing the meet, Ryan group CEO Ryan Pinto said for his group this was a “momentous occasion; it is with great pride and honour that we associate with Dakoju and the entire Rotary family in this project, the core of which is to protect our planet, our environment. This is something that is embedded in our institutional DNA, and the vision of our founder Dr E F Pinto and our CMD Grace Pinto. We would be very happy to imbibe the spirit of protecting our planet in our students.”
Pinto said that their schools educate a quarter million children every day. It was important to let them know that “it is not just for marks and degrees that we want to educate them. We want to empower them with good values so they can become good custodians of this planet, good citizens of this nation and ambassadors to protect Mother Earth.”
He announced that while these were the terms of the MoU they had signed at the event, he assured Dakoju that the entire Ryan group would work along with him in his other admirable initiatives such as improving the tribal schools, and giving water to animals and birds. “We are very excited to partner in these projects as well.”
An overwhelmed and grateful Dakoju said: “We didn’t expect this! We had asked him for one, he has given ten. We had asked him to open Interact clubs in all his schools and partner with us in planting trees. But he has now volunteered also for tribal education and the water for animals initiatives. We are very grateful.”
To the Rotary leaders in the audience, he asked a simple question… Pinto was not even a Rotarian but he admires Rotary’s work so much that he wanted to partner with them. He sought a show of hands on how many in the hall were running schools, colleges or entire universities, and urged them to join the greening initiative.
RI director K P Nagesh said: “When I hear that somebody associated with Rotary is not a Rotarian, I can’t digest that.” He removed his own pin, and requested TRF trustee Ann-Britt Asebol to use it to induct Pinto into Rotary, and thanked him for his partnership with Rotary, particularly the promise to start Interact clubs in all his 165 schools. “Saving Planet Earth is our collective responsibility,” he added.
Earlier, addressing the session, PRID C Basker said the session’s title — to protect, preserve, prosper — was most appropriate “as it reminds us that we are not owners of this planet, but only caretakers. For generations, nature has nourished us with air, water, food, energy and beauty. But our impact on earth has reached a point where gratitude must run into responsibility…. to value, protect and safeguard the fragile ecosystem. We have to redefine growth and take urgent action to preserve what we have… our forests, rivers, oceans, biodiversity and ensure they remain for future generations.”
That is why what Dakoju was doing was important and had made “not only his club or district, but the entire Rotary world proud.”
Spelling out the objectives of the Rotary Environment Foundation, its treasurer Vijay Tadimalla said the long-term goals were to create 1,500-acre Rotary forests, plantations in the north, south, east and west of India, particularly Assam, Goa, the Sundarbans of West Bengal, in educational institutions, temple lands, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. The objective was to involve Rotaractors in this initiative in a big way.
The ultimate goal was millions of trees through Rotary, youth and partner networks, support for tribal education through the Ekal Vidyalaya support, compassion-led Rotary campaign for animals by putting up water feeders in schools, communities and homes in partnership with the NGO Water for Voiceless. The idea was to “instil empathy towards all living beings, not just humans. In essence, Dhanyavad is gratitude in action. It’s more than a promise that is planted, nurtured and sustained. A thank you turned into a tree, a child’s education, a forest, a fund, a legacy. And the person who turned that idea into action is a Rotarian who has pledged his time, leadership and wealth to the planet — DGE Dakoju.”
Rotarians from all the four zones who had pledged money for TRF’s Endowment Fund and those who had come forward to partner with the environmental initiatives were recognised at the session.