A forest live story________....
Haripada, a farmer, woke up before dawn every day. The villagers often said, "Haripada does not need a clock—the soil wakes him up." And it was true. Before the sun rose, he walked barefoot to his field and touched the earth with his hands. If the soil felt cool and moist, he knew it was the right day to sow seeds.
Haripada was not a rich farmer. He owned only five bighas of land, an old plough, and a pair of oxen. But to him, the land was not just land—it was like his own child. He never ploughed in a harsh way. He worked slowly and gently, as if he were afraid of hurting the soil.
One year, the rain did not come on time. There was suffering everywhere. Many villagers left for the city in search of work. Haripada could have gone too, but he stayed back. He said,
"If the soil does not leave me, how can I leave the soil?"
He started a new method in his field. He covered the soil with dry straw and fallen leaves so that it could hold moisture. The villagers laughed at him and said, "What kind of strange idea is this?"
But Haripada did not lose hope.
After three months, everyone noticed something surprising. Other fields were dry and cracked, but Haripada's land showed green shoots. Slowly, his entire field turned green, and the air filled with the smell of ripening paddy.
On the day of harvesting, the villagers stood in silence and watched. Some of them, feeling ashamed, said,
"Haripada, will you teach us?"
Haripada smiled and replied,
"I did not teach anything. I only listened to the soil."
That year, Haripada gained not only a good harvest but also respect. The children of the village learned an important lesson—that farming is not just hard work, but a mix of patience, love, and wisdom.
Even today, Haripada walks to his field before sunrise. As the sun rises and birds begin to sing, he places his hand on the soil and says,
"Come, let us grow something new together today."