“Today a sapling, tomorrow a tree, and the day after, a forest.”

That simple message from Kollakkayil Devaki Amma G captures the life philosophy of the 92-year-old Kerala environmentalist who has now been honoured with the Padma Shri for her decades-long afforestation work.

Born into an agricultural family in Kerala, Devaki Amma grew up closely connected to nature and farming traditions. But the turning point in her life came nearly 44 years ago after a major accident left her bedridden for a long period.

In an interview with All India Radio, Devaki Amma recalled how the difficult phase completely changed her outlook towards life and nature.

“That was when the awakening happened. I got an inner call that I should do this,” she said, speaking about her journey into environmental conservation.

What began with planting a few saplings near a local temple and in the backyard of her house slowly grew into a lifelong mission. Over the years, Devaki Amma transformed barren coastal land in Kerala’s Alappuzha district into a thriving green ecosystem filled with indigenous trees and medicinal plants.

Today, the forest-like green cover nurtured by her efforts is home to more than 3,000 rare and medicinal plant species. Her work helped improve biodiversity, strengthen soil stability, and restore environmental balance in the coastal region.

Devaki Amma’s conservation work did not begin as a large environmental project. It started quietly, with a personal commitment to planting and protecting saplings one by one.

Despite physical challenges after the accident, she continued planting trees consistently over the decades. Her focus remained on preserving native species and maintaining ecological balance.

At a time when climate change, deforestation, and rising environmental concerns dominate global discussions, Devaki Amma’s story stands out for its simplicity and persistence.

Her life journey — from recovering after a serious accident to dedicating decades to planting trees — has turned her into one of the most inspiring human-interest stories among this year’s Padma Shri awardees.