In a world where skyscrapers rise faster than trees, and cities struggle to breathe through layers of concrete and smog, one man decided to make a change not through words, but through roots, leaves, and soil.
Meet Krishnakumar S, the man who’s literally giving green lungs to Chennai and Hyderabad.
A Beginning Called “Thuvakkam”
When Chennai’s skyline started to replace its green cover, Krishnakumar and his college friends felt the loss deeply. Instead of watching their beloved city suffocate under pollution and heat, they decided to take action. Together, they founded Thuvakkam meaning “a beginning” with one mission: to restore nature, one forest at a time.
Using the Japanese Miyawaki method, they transformed small, unused plots of land into dense mini-forests. What started as a college initiative soon grew into a city-wide movement. In just a few years, Thuvakkam created 25 thriving forests, planting over 65,000 native trees across Tamil Nadu.
From Devastation to Determination
Then came Cyclone Vardah in 2016 a storm that uprooted thousands of trees, flooded neighborhoods, and destroyed months of their work. Many would have stopped there. But not Krishnakumar and his team.
Instead of giving up, they took it as a reminder of why their mission mattered even more. They began again replanting, rebuilding, and reimagining what Chennai’s green future could look like.
The challenges didn’t stop. Government approvals took months, land availability was scarce, and water shortages made maintenance harder. Yet, Thuvakkam stood firm, powered by one belief: there is no Planet B.
Greening Cities, Rebuilding Hope
Today, Thuvakkam has gone beyond Chennai. The team has created over 40 Miyawaki forests, extending their mission to Hyderabad, where they’re planting forests near lakes spaces that cool the air, recharge groundwater, and bring back the sound of birds and butterflies.
Their forests don’t just grow trees; they grow hope, biodiversity, and community spirit.
“There Is No Planet B”
Krishnakumar’s message is simple yet powerful:
“There is no Planet B. We have to take care of the one we have.”
And he’s doing exactly that one sapling at a time.
The Lesson for All of Us
This Friday, let Krishnakumar’s story remind you of something important: change doesn’t always need big resources just big determination.
Whether you’re fighting climate change, chasing a dream, or trying to make a difference in your own corner of the world, remember every small start counts.
Because when people like Krishnakumar lead with purpose, even concrete jungles can learn to breathe again.
Source: Better India
