Healing ravines

A social worker in Morena revives economically and environmentally beneficial guggul plants to restore biodiversity and improve livelihoods in barren ravine lands

- RAKESH KUMAR MALVIYA

THE CHAMBAL ravines of Madhya Pradesh are infamous as dacoit hideouts across the country. For people living near them, though, the ravines' notoriety has more layers. Riddled with rugged slopes, the barren ravines are unsuitable for traditional agriculture, leaving local farmers with limited resources and livelihood opportunities. Two decades ago, Zakir Hussain strived to change this by reintroducing an economically viable tree once abundant here—guggul.

Also known as the Indian bdellium or Commiphora wightii, guggul is a flowering thorny shrub highly valued for its gum or resin. In Ayurveda, guggul gum helps manage cholesterol, reduce joint arthritic inflammation and aid weight loss. According to journals published by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the species is critically endangered in India due to exploitation.

For Hussain, born in Bamsoli village of Morena district,