I woke up and read the newspaper two days ago and saw the news of Balan leaving us. It instantly reminded me of all the great stories I had read about him in my early social sciences classes. Kallur Balan, the man who painted the hills green with his heart and hands, the quiet guardian of Kerala's forgotten forests was more than just an environmentalist, he was a poet of the soil. 
In a world that often measures success by spotlight and applause, Balan chose a different path, one of silent, patient devotion. His canvas was the barren hills of Palakkad, Thrissur, and Malappuram, and his brush was a simple bamboo staff. Day by day, sapling by sapling, he transformed over 100 acres of desolation into a living, breathing forest. It wasn’t a grand, thunderous revolution, it was a soft, green rebellion.

From Barren Hills to Blooming Forests
Born the son of a toddy tapper, Balan’s life might have followed the same humble trajectory, but fate had other plans. An encounter with the teachings of Sree Narayana Guru stirred something deep within him. He found his calling not in the bottle, but in the bark and branches of the trees. It started as a simple habit of planting saplings along roadsides, in public spaces, and across hilltops but soon blossomed into an all-consuming purpose.
He didn’t just plant trees; he nurtured them. Each sapling was a child, each leaf a promise. His mornings began with gathering discarded fruits from market traders, a humble offering he carried to the forests to feed the wildlife like monkeys, birds, and even wild pigs that learned to trust his familiar voice. Balan didn’t speak the language of global climate summits, but the trees and creatures understood him perfectly.

A Legacy Rooted in Green
Recognition came, albeit late, when he was honored with Kerala’s 'Friend of the Forest' award in 2011. But for Balan, the real reward was never a trophy, it was the rustling leaves, the cool shade along a once-scorched path, and the soft chirps of birds returning to their restored home. His signature attire, a green shirt, green lungi, and green headband wasn’t just a style but it was a statement. He wore his mission like a uniform, a silent pledge to the planet. One of Balan’s most remarkable contributions was his effort to sustain Palmyra trees, an enduring symbol of Palakkad. He understood that saving a tree meant saving an entire ecosystem. It was never just about the greenery, it was about the life it cradled.  

Forever Breathing in the Forests
As I reflect on Balan’s journey, I realize he taught us a quiet yet powerful lesson: change doesn’t always roar like thunder, it often grows like a tree, steady and silent.His forests are proof of his strong spirit, showing that one person’s dedication can bring big change—or in this case, turn barren land green again.

Kallur Balan passed away on February 10, 2025. And though his hands may no longer plant, his roots run deep. His legacy thrives in the sway of the bamboo, the whisper of the neem leaves, and the shade of the tamarind trees. He hasn’t left us, he lives in the trees he has planted.