Dr. Ram Kataria – The Man Who Created the Gandhians Farm.
He had always been close to nature, and passionate about gardening. But at the same time, he was disturbed by the environmental legacy his generation is set to leave behind for posterity. He decided to sell his house and relocate to a place where his vision for change could take shape. Dr. Kataria bought out tracts of land owned by family members and partners, and ultimately had to his name an expansive, bone-dry patch that covered 100 acres in Kadus gaon in Taluka Rajgurunagar, about 50-odd kilometers from Pune. He still recalls being called “crazy” by friends and family alike when he let go of his home. “But my madness is my strength,” he chuckles. More than 12 years have passed since The Gandhians Farm first started taking shape. Dr. Kataria conceptualized the look and landscaping of the place and roped in the labor of villagers living around. Together they spent countless hours in mud and sunshine, planting and nurturing the over one lakh trees and plants that stand there today.
