• Know about the biodiversity rich campus of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini i.e. at Gorai near Mumbai.

Mumbai is the financial capital of India and capital city of Maharashtra. With urbanization spreading beyond the municipal limits, the larger Mumbai Metropolitan Region has also assumed the look of a concrete jungle in the past few decades.

According to historians, biologists and elders, originally this area was known to be a verdant paradise of jungles, orchards and fields, set in the wet tropical region of northern Konkan, sandwiched between the sea and Sahyadri or Western Ghats! Fortunately, pockets of green still remain, from the sprawling mountains and valleys of Borivali National Park to the myriad gardens dotting the metropolis. Many unknown or lesser-known emeralds also grace this coastal city and its environs, which should be explored by the average Mumbaikar as well as the visitor!

One such lush marvel is the Keshav Srushti spread over 100+ acres and home to several educational, agricultural and social endeavours.

One among them is Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini (RMP) that has been engaged in social research, capacity building and training since 1982. In keeping with the holistic ancient Indian ethos and the modern-day need for a greener environment, both Keshav Srushti and the RMP campus called Dnyan Naipunya Kendra (Knowledge Excellence Centre) have meticulously retained the original vegetation of the area and planted lakhs of new trees over the decades.

As one journeys away from the Bhayandar railway station, the urban jungle gives way to open lands, fields and mangrove forests lining the adjoining creeks. Further ahead on the road to Uttan and Gorai, the vehicle takes several turns in the hills to the west and soon is snaking its way on the approach road of Keshav Srushti passing quaint local villas and houses with gardens, on the way.

Wealth of trees!

The vegetation clad hills of Keshav Srushti and the surrounding lands can be seen in every direction as one nears the RMP entry arch. Taking a majestic turn through thick vegetation of Mango, Banana and Pink Stick trees one arrives at the campus.

Internal road in campus.  

A stately Raintree greets the visitor right in the beginning with more specimens to be seen ahead near the main administrative building called Tejonidhi (Repository of energy)! The road up to the main building is lined by Golden Shower (Bahava), Blackboard Tree (Saptaparni) and Pride of India (Taman), native trees that blossom into light yellow, fragrant off-white and lavender-coloured flowers respectively, every spring! Interspersed with them are Copperpod, trees with pock-corn shaped bright yellow flowers. The immediate environs of Tejonidhi are adorned with various species from the Bougainvillea genus of pink and white hues, and several species of ground lily and croton, and Crape Jasmine.

Banyan Tree. 

Blackboard Tree (Saptaparni). 

Taman (pride of India). 

On the way to the cafeteria, aptly named Shabari, one comes across dense bushes of Sonki and Periwinkle, along with specimens of Bottle Brush and Temple Tree. Majestic palms including Palmyra palm, Coconut and Bottle Palm catch the eye on one side, while the medium sized Peacock Flower and Yellow Oleander trees are to been seen in dense plantations on the other. Behind the cafeteria are dense Bamboo clumps that remind one the Tiger landscape of Tadoba! Towards the auditorium complex of Ekatma Bhavan, one comes across various shades of the Hibiscus genus including the flashy red variety, small and medium sized ferns and the very beautiful Purple Orchid Tree (Kanchan) that blooms with attractive pinkish flowers. The entrance of this building is designed in such a way that it looks framed between two large Banyan trees, which are among the five huge specimens on the campus.

The area around Ekalavya complex, that can house over 250 visitors and seminar participants at one time, is lined with graceful Kadamb trees on one side. Scarlet Cordia and Holy Basil (Tulsi) are to be seen on both sides of the neatly-tiled pathways. Large manicured patches of Elephant Grass beautify several areas of the campus with Wiregrass (Durva) present in some patches. Standing like sentinels in between are trees such as Java Fig (Nandruk), African Tulip and Flamboyant Tree (Gulmohar). Near the staff quarters stands a grand old Sacred Fig (Peepal) and some Papaya trees, while the rainwater collection pond has trees in the vicinity such as Pongam Tree (Karanj), Jackfruit and Fishtail Palm. Shrubs from the Ixora genus and Night Queen are seen in various places, while here and there are some specimens of Indian Almond, Sita Ashok and Siamese Cassia. A giant Laurel Fig with hanging roots very similar to Banyan, and a couple of specimens of Bayur Tree (Muchkund) with rough large leaves, adorn the way to Deen Dayal Museum.

Avian haven

With so many small and big plants throughout the campus, birdlife is bound to be abundant. Flocks of both, Rose-ringed and Alexandrine Parakeet are seen noisily flying past over the open areas in the morning and evening like flashes of vivid green! On a quiet afternoon, the rhythmic ‘Pook Pook Pook’ of a Coppersmith Barbet is sure to catch the one’s attention. On and off one hears the mysterious calls of Greater Coucal or sees the large brownish black bird hopping in the dense shrubbery. Evenings are marked by the cacophony of Indian Myna calling to each other before roosting on the Banyan trees in their hundreds! This for sure makes the atmosphere very very lively.

The chirpy and active White-browed Fantail is seen jumping from branch to branch on the various shrubs with incessant notes conveying something to its companions. With the proximity of various creeks and wetlands, flocks of cormorants and egrets gracing the sky in the evening are not uncommon. With the ubiquitous House Crow seen often, can the Koel remain far behind! The males and females of the species are regularly seen and heard among the dense canopy. Purple and Purple-rumped sunbirds are a regular sight on the myriad flowering trees and shrubs, flitting timidly from flower to flower and reminding one of the humming birds of the far distant South America!

Ground Lily.

Palmytra Pam.  

The acrobatic feats of Ashy Drongo in search of insect prey and the melodious tweeting of Red-whiskered and Red-vented bulbuls in large numbers are never missed on the campus. In some particularly dense thickets one can sometimes listen to the heavenly sweet metallic song of the Tickle’s Blue Flycatcher. All this bird activity keeps one connected to nature and brings a charm of its own to the visitor despite his hectic schedule of discussions in the various conferences that are always taking place. If one stays overnight, one will get to hear the peculiar call of the Indian Nightjar, which reminds one of a table tennis ball bouncing away. Animal life is represented by various species of snakes including the non-venomous Rat Snake, and Palm Squirrel, with the latter scurrying from branch to branch and from the ground to the tree trunks and vice versa. There are a good number of Golden Jackal in the vicinity in areas adjoining the Gorai Creek.

RMP building and Ribbon Fan Palm. 

Conclusion

Thus, a visit, stay or activity in the RMP campus is always invigorating not only due to the energy of knowledge emanating from the conclaves and workshops; but also, from the tropical flora and fauna that is well represented in this jewel tucked away in the fastness of the Uttan hills to the north of Mumbai.

Well, visiting RMP or Keshav Srushti isn’t difficult at all. A quick drive on the road to Essel World from Bhayandar or a bike-through-boat ride from Gorai jetty followed by riding along a dozen kilometres of rural roads, and one is right there at RMP, in the lap of Mother Nature. 

So, whether you love attending seminars on hobbies and career development or thought-provoking sessions as professionals in the social, environmental, economic or cultural domains, the lively greens of Knowledge Excellence Centre are sure to create lasting memories and an urge to visit again!

The author works as the Public Relations Officer at Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini, Mumbai.

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Also read  Sacred Plants of India