Daripalli Ramaiah, Telangana’s beloved ‘Vanajeevi’ and Padma Shri awardee, passed away on Saturday at 87, leaving behind a towering legacy of environmental stewardship.

The revered green crusader suffered a heart attack at his home in Reddipalli village, Khammam district, family sources confirmed.

Ramaiah, a potter with no formal education, earned the title ‘Man of Trees’ for planting over one crore saplings across decades, transforming barren landscapes into lush greenery.

His unwavering commitment saw him and his wife, Janamma, champion afforestation, often spotted with a board proclaiming, “Vriksho Rakshati Rakshitah” (save trees, and they will save you). Despite poverty, Ramaiah’s mission thrived, earning him the Padma Shri in 2017.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi mourned him as a “champion of sustainability,” noting his work’s lasting inspiration for youth. Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy called his death an “irreparable loss,” praising Ramaiah’s societal influence.

Andhra Pradesh’s N. Chandrababu Naidu hailed his crore-sapling feat as a beacon for conservationists, while Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and BRS leader K. Chandrasekhar Rao lauded his environmental devotion, urging future generations to follow his path.

Ramaiah’s life, marked by selfless dedication, continues to inspire. From cycling with saplings to gifting trees at celebrations, his actions spoke louder than words. As Telangana grieves, his verdant legacy stands tall, a testament to one man’s power to nurture nature for generations to come