Rafi and Vidyavanam get praised by Modi; 'Miyawaki' forest at Thamarakulam shows presence in Mann Ki Baat

CHARUMMOODU: Alappuzha Tamarakulam VV Higher Secondary School teacher Rafi Ramnath became a star through Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Man Ki Baat. Rafi Ramnath, who is also an environmentalist, has been praised by the Prime Minister for his 'Vidyavanam', a plant garden set up in the school. Rafi grew plants in the infertile area in the 'Miyawaki' style.

Rafi wanted to explain nature and environment in depth to the students. For that, he created a medicinal garden, which became a bio-diversity zone. He named it Vidyavanam. The Prime Minister said in his monthly radio program that only a teacher can give such a beautiful name. There are more than 450 trees of 115 species in the Vidyavanam. Students are also there to protect them. The Prime Minister did not forget to praise Rafi's environmental work and the school where it was implemented.

Rafi has also received the State Biodiversity Board's 2015 Best Environmentalist award. Rafi is the son of Ramanathan Pillai and Subhadra Amma of Santhosh Bhawan in Palliyavattom, Thekkekkara, Mavelikara.
Wife: Srilakshmi. Children: R.S. Advait, RS Parthiv.

Always with nature

Rafi Ramnath, a biology teacher, started the activities by planting 50 medicinal plants in the school with the help of the forest department. Now there are about two hundred and fifty medicinal plants. One of Rafi's proudest achievements was getting a government order in 2012 against putting up billboards on roadside shade trees by nailing them to the trees. Around 100,000 saplings have been planted and protected through biodiversity conservation such as Nakshatravanam, Medicinal Garden, and Butterfly Park, centered around schools, government offices and places of worship.