'I had no money, only determination': Tulsi Gowda’s journey from wage worker to Padma Shri

2026-03-22 - 03:09

Tulsi Gowda, a tribal woman from Karnataka, dedicated nearly five decades to the Forest Department, nurturing countless saplings and becoming an "Encyclopedia of the Forest." Despite humble beginnings and a life of quiet, uncelebrated labor, her profound knowledge of indigenous plants earned her the Padma Shri award, recognizing her lasting environmental impact.