The Dabla Talab reservoir, located near the village of Uttamdesar in the Bikaner district of Rajasthan, suffered substantial devastation due to relentless gypsum mining for over two decades.

The rampant extraction of gypsum, a common mineral in the region, led to the disappearance of many animal species and native grass. Before the advent of the Indira Gandhi Canal, the reservoir was the primary water source for the villagers and wildlife.

Sadly, these operations left the area riddled with deep pits and towering hills of mining waste. This severe environmental degradation not only stripped the land of its resources but also instilled fear among the locals, as women were particularly hesitant to pass through the deserted locale.

In 2022, an initiative led by environmentalist and teacher Shyam Sunder Jyani sought to restore this 84-hectare area.

By engaging the local Jasnathi community and halting illegal mining, the area was fenced, and native trees and grass was replanted, gradually transforming the once barren land into a flourishing grazing ground.

While doing so, Jyani not only spent his salary for the cause but also survived threats. We sat down with the professor to learn how he led the transformative restoration mission with the help of thousands of villagers.

Creating a movement for the land devoured by greed

It all began when Jyani found himself walking through the gates of a government college in Rajasthan’Bikaner as an associate professor in 2003. It was a prestigious position for a sociologist from a farmer’s family, but his scholarly ambitions took an unexpected turn.

The neem trees on campus were withering, dying under an unyielding sun and utter neglect. Despite being urged by his principal to concentrate solely on academic responsibilities, the sight of dying trees stirred something deep within........

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