Nurturing Young Naturalists in Kodaikanal: Dr. R. Rajamanikam’s Story

When Dr. R. Rajamanikam speaks about Kodaikanal’s children and their relationship with the environment, his eyes light up. A scientist by training and a community educator by choice, he has devoted his career to bridging the gap between ecology and local livelihoods.

Originally from a farming family, Dr. Rajamanikam pursued his PhD in Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Pondicherry Central University. His doctoral work began with a simple but profound question: why do local communities get blamed for environmental degradation without ever being given the knowledge to understand their role?

During his research on wetlands, he noticed that migratory birds were being hunted by villagers who had no awareness of the ecological role these birds played. Instead of faulting them, he chose to engage them. Working with 15 schools and several NGOs, he brought children into wetlands, taught them bird-watching, and helped them see how conservation connects directly to their lives. His efforts even contributed to one wetland near Pondicherry being declared a wildlife sanctuary.

After his PhD, Dr. Rajamanikam worked on a waste management project in Auroville and later in Kodaikanal, where he began introducing schools and communities to practical environmental solutions. His philosophy was clear: education is the foundation for conservation.

This belief shaped what has become his most impactful initiative yet, the Junior Naturalists Action Network (JNAN) at the Centre for Environment and Humanity.

Through JNAN, students in grades 6–8 from 17 schools around Kodaikanal are given structured environmental literacy training. Over 23 Saturdays each year, they learn about forests, birds, plants, natural resources, biodiversity, climate change, farming and sustainable development. It’s not just classroom knowledge they step into their own backyards to see their environment with new eyes.

The programme has already reached 1,466 students in the past year alone. Out of these, 315 expressed interest, 178 came forward with their parents, and 60 were finally selected for the certification course. For many, this programme is life-changing.

“These children are often from disadvantaged backgrounds, some are orphaned, others are from families struggling to make ends meet,” Dr. Rajamanikam explains. “But they have the vision, motivation, and courage. With the right support guidance, scholarships, mentorship they could become the next generation of ecologists, conservationists, and forest officers. Within 10 years, Kodaikanal could be home to leaders who shape India’s environmental future.”

For him, KIS and the Centre for Environment and Humanity serve not just as educational institutions but as knowledge hubs for the entire community. The goal is not only to teach but to empower ensuring that young people in Kodaikanal have both the tools and opportunities to protect the landscapes that have sustained their families for generations.