Nanalal Angari: Profile of a Village Leader

One man’s passion and commitment becomes a formidable movement, in which forests are protected and resources enriched…

N analal Angari’s story is that of an exemplary leader. Despite his humble upbringing and lack of formal education, he has played an active role in freeing the surrounding forests from encroachment. His concern for nature and regard for the many ways in which natural resources support human life motivated him to establish community-based institutions for the protection of forests. Nanalal’s contribution has won him many awards, including the Village Hygeine and Cultural Communication Award in 1986 from the District Education Officer as part of the Yuva Netratva Shivir. He also received an award for exemplary work on Self- Governance by Seva Mandir, Udaipur, in 1995. Narratives on village leaders being scarce, this article speaks of the qualities of a true village leader and shares how Nanalal has successfully couched a strong conservation ethic in the beliefs, values and practices of his people.

Nanalal belongs to the Angari clan (ST) that numbers around 36 families in the village of Shyampura, Rajasthan. Nanalal was born in 1952 and is the eldest of four brothers and five sisters. His parents used to earn paltry sums of 75 paise and 50 paise per day and needed extra hands to supplement the total income of the household. Nanalal was, therefore, pulled out of education at an early age. He began to graze the cattle of a prosperous Patel household in Bichiwara to earn some money. He would do household chores and get paid a sum of Rs 200, in cash or kind, for the whole year. These small sums supported a hand-to-mouth existence but did not allow the household to make savings.