Surat: Environmentalist Viral Desai, popularly known as the Green Man of Surat, has achieved a new milestone with his “Tree Ganesha” campaign officially recognized in the Asia Book of Records. The initiative, the world’s only religious-cultural celebration centered entirely on environmental conservation, has mobilized lakhs of youngsters to become “environment warriors.”
The inspiration behind this campaign traces back to a defining moment in Desai’s life. Recalling his experience at a medical camp in the tribal-dominated Dang district, he shared, “That moment changed me. If living in harmony with nature can protect people from such deadly diseases, imagine the benefits if our cities embraced greenery. That is when I decided to adopt tree plantation as my lifelong mission.”
Over the years, Desai has set himself a massive target of planting over one crore trees, though he believes even that will not be enough to offset the damages caused by deforestation and climate change.
“One crore trees is only a beginning. To truly heal our planet, every citizen must contribute. If we don’t act today, future generations will pay the price,” he warned.
For the last eight years, Tree Ganesha has blended devotion with ecology, where instead of traditional idols, saplings are planted as an offering to Lord Ganesha. Running under Desai’s larger movement, Satyagraha Against Pollution and Climate Change, the campaign has already prepared over one lakh students as active green warriors. With strong institutional backing from the Surat Police, Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) and the Forest Department, the initiative has scaled significantly.
Acknowledging the Asia-level recognition, Desai remarked, “Tree Ganesha is not just a festival but a revolution. The Asia Book of Records honor is proof that our collective effort is making a difference. But recognition is only a milestone, the real goal is to secure the future of our planet.”
Beyond the festival, Tree Ganesha has also expanded into study tours and workshops on biodiversity, ecosystem restoration and urban forests, giving young people practical exposure to environmental challenges.
As his movement continues to grow, Desai remains vocal about the urgency of climate action.
“We must move beyond symbolism. Planting trees, conserving biodiversity, reducing pollution are not optional choices any more. They are survival strategies,” he said.
With a personal mission to plant more than one crore trees, Desai continues to inspire communities across Gujarat and India. For him, every sapling planted represents not just greenery, but a step towards healthier lives, cleaner air, and a sustainable future.
