In 2025, change did not arrive through big announcements or sweeping policies alone. It took shape on barren hills, polluted rivers, dry village springs, and overheated city streets.

Across India, ordinary people responded to ecological stress with persistence and care. They planted trees where soil had given up, slowed rivers clogged with waste, rebuilt water systems by hand, and brought forests back into concrete neighbourhoods. Each effort began locally, shaped by the land and communities it served.

This year’s sustainability trailblazers showed restoration in action. 

Here are seven changemakers whose work reshaped landscapes and strengthened communities in 2025.

Dr Shankar Lal Garg, a retired professor from Indore, transformed a barren hill into Keshar Parvat, a flourishing 22-acre forest with over 40,000 trees. His journey gained momentum after a fire in 2019 destroyed 1,000 of his trees, a moment that could have ended his efforts. 

Instead, he saw it as a chance to rebuild and grow even stronger. Today, Keshar Parvat stands as a vibrant green haven, providing shelter for wildlife, improving the local environment, and inspiring communities to believe in the power of perseverance and nature’s revival.

Read his full journey here

Pankaj Kumar, a former corporate professional from........

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