Kollakkayil Devaki Amma: The Woman Who Gave Birth to a Forest

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In an age dominated by discussions on climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, true environmental action often comes not from conferences or policies alone, but from quiet, consistent dedication. One such extraordinary example is Kollakkayil Devaki Amma, a simple woman from Muthukulam village in Alappuzha district of Kerala, who transformed her personal tragedy into a lifelong mission to restore nature. Through patience, resilience, and deep respect for the environment, she single-handedly nurtured a thriving forest, proving that one individual can indeed make a lasting difference.


Early Life and Inspiration

Kollakkayil Devaki Amma was born around 1934 in Muthukulam, Kerala. Her love for plants and nature was inspired early in life by her grandfather, who introduced her to horticulture. After marriage, she worked alongside her family in paddy cultivation, which was a way of life for generations of women in her household. Her husband, M. K. Gopalakrishna Pillai, a schoolteacher by profession, played a crucial role in shaping her environmental outlook. Every time he returned from his travels, he brought home seeds of different tree species, instilling in the family the habit of planting and nurturing trees.

A Life-Changing Accident and a New Beginning

In 1980, Devaki Amma’s life took a dramatic turn when she was involved in a serious accident that left her bedridden for nearly three years. The injury forced her to abandon paddy farming permanently. While this could have marked the end of her engagement with agriculture, it instead became the beginning of something far greater. Once she regained mobility, she planted a single sapling in her backyard. That simple act of hope gradually evolved into a lifelong commitment.

What began as a modest effort to stay connected with the soil slowly transformed into an ambitious reforestation project. With encouragement from her husband and later support from her children and grandchildren, Devaki Amma continued planting saplings year after year on her privately owned land.

The Birth of a Man-Made Forest

Over more than four decades, Devaki Amma cultivated a dense forest spread across 4.5 to 5 acres, now known as “Kollakkal Tapovanam.” This forest contains over 3,000 trees and around 200 species of plants, including native, medicinal, rare, and exotic varieties. Teak, mahogany, tamarind, mango, bamboo, pine, njaval (Syzygium cumini), ankolam (Alangium salvifolium), Lakshmi Tharu (Simarouba glauca), Chinese orange, and krishnanaal are among the many species thriving there.

The forest is so dense that locals say not a single drop of rain reaches the ground directly, as the thick canopy absorbs it. Devaki Amma relied entirely on organic manure, rainwater harvesting, and traditional methods of care, making her forest a model of sustainable, low-impact environmental restoration.

A Living Ecosystem

Beyond trees, Devaki Amma’s forest supports a vibrant ecosystem. Ponds, wetlands, and natural water channels within the forest provide ideal habitats for wildlife. Over the years, numerous birds, including peacocks, owls, paradise flycatchers, emerald doves, bluethroats, black-winged stilts, and even migratory birds like the Amur falcon, have found refuge there. Monkeys and other small animals also inhabit the forest, coexisting peacefully with the plants.

Rather than fencing out wildlife, Devaki Amma created nesting spaces and water sources, allowing nature to regulate itself. The forest now supplies fruits, vegetables, flowers, and medicinal plants, contributing to both biodiversity conservation and local food security.

Cultural and Mythological Significance

Devaki Amma’s forest also holds cultural and mythological importance. Certain plants mentioned in Indian epics and folklore, often believed to exist only in poetry, grow here. Trees like Krishnanaal and Kayamboo, associated with Lord Krishna, add spiritual depth to the forest, making it a place of ecological as well as cultural heritage.

Recognition and National Honors

Though she worked quietly for decades, recognition eventually followed. In 2002, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, honored her with the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award. She later received several state-level awards, including the Vanamitra Award and Harita Vyakti Puraskar.

On the national stage, Devaki Amma was conferred the Nari Shakti Puraskar by the President of India for her contribution to biodiversity conservation. In recognition of her lifelong service to nature, she was also awarded the Padma Shri under the Unsung Heroes category for protecting and nurturing around 3,000 rare plants.

Legacy and Message to the World

Even in her advanced age, Devaki Amma continues to spend time with her forest, walking among the trees and caring for them like family. Though her health no longer allows her to plant new saplings, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren carry forward her mission, turning tree planting into a family tradition.

Devaki Amma’s life delivers a powerful message: environmental protection does not always require large budgets, advanced degrees, or global platforms. Sometimes, it begins with one sapling, planted with love and patience. At a time when the world debates solutions to climate change, her story reminds us that individual action, sustained over time, can restore ecosystems, neutralize carbon footprints, and inspire generations.

            Kollakkayil Devaki Amma stands as living proof that age, education, or adversity are no barriers to meaningful environmental action. Her forest is not just a collection of trees, it is a testament to resilience, dedication, and the deep bond between humans and nature. In a world rapidly losing its green cover, Devaki Amma did not wait for change; she planted it.

Location: India
Welcome to EcoVisionary. I'm Dr. Anitha V, an environmentalist passionate about exploring and sharing insights on the intricate relationship between humans and the natural world. Having successfully completed my Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences, my goal is to raise awareness of pressing environmental issues and inspire actionable solutions for a healthier planet. Through engaging articles, in-depth research, and thought-provoking discussions, I aim to empower readers to embrace sustainable practices and become stewards of the environment. Join me on this journey to create a more sustainable future, where every small step can lead to significant change.

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