It was during a heart-warming telephonic conversation that HULAHUL Times spoke with Padma Shri Mahesh Sharma commonly known as ‘Gandhi of Jhabua’, is a man whose life has been a long journey of dedication and service. His voice carried a calmness that reflected simplicity and conviction with the qualities that have guided his work for decades in the tribal region of Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh.

Born in the small village of Ghughsi in Datia district, Mahesh Sharma’s early life was deeply rooted in rural surroundings. “Our village was about 24 kilometres from Datia, near the border of Shivpuri,” he shared. “It was surrounded by dense forests and rivers, especially the Maha River. The area was known for dacoits, so fear was a part of daily life. But amidst that fear, there was love and unity among the villagers.”

He spoke fondly about his primary school teacher, Shri Sohan Singh, who left a deep impact on his mind. “He was a remarkable teacher who believed in equality. He made all of us, children from different castes, sit and eat together. He would organize collective prayers and community activities at temples and rivers. These small practices taught me the value of unity and social harmony.”

Reminiscing about his childhood days, he added, “Every 26th January, we used to sing patriotic songs like Jhanda Ooncha Rahe Hamara and Vijayi Vishwa Tiranga Pyara. Those songs still echo in my memory.”

Education was always valued in his family. “My father was an educated man. He was very good in mathematics and Hindi pronunciation,” Sharma said. “He used to teach us and other children of the village too. His belief in the power of education stayed with me throughout my life.”

Sharing about his early education, he recalls that in 1975, he completed class 11, the same year when the Emergency was declared in India. “At that time, the education system was different. Class 11 was a board class, and after that came first, second, and final year of college,” he explained. “I chose Hindi Literature, Sanskrit, and Economics for my graduation.”

Those were politically charged times. “Datia was a small place, but the atmosphere was full of fear and uncertainty during the Emergency,” he recalled. “The Congress leaders Shyam Sunder Shyam and Shivcharan Pathak were prominent figures in the area.”

In 1974, a year before the Emergency, Sharma had joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). “That became a turning point in my life,” he said. “It connected me deeply with Indian culture, values, and national consciousness.”

During the Emergency, Sharma continued his work quietly. “Many of my colleagues were arrested. I worked carefully, but I never stopped,” he said. Later, he moved to Gwalior and completed his second and final years of college from Maharani Laxmibai College.

“When the Emergency ended in 1977, a new spirit emerged across the country,” he shared. “The student movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan inspired me deeply, and I actively took part in it. Those years taught me what courage and conviction mean.”

Through his involvement with ABVP, Sharma came in close contact with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). “It was during this period that I understood the importance of service and discipline,” he said. “In Gwalior, I started attending daily shakhas and gradually became more active.”

In 1978, while appearing for his exams in Kurukshetra, Haryana, he was offered the opportunity to become a pracharak, a full-time worker of the RSS. “It was not an easy choice,” he admitted, “but I felt that my life should be dedicated to something meaningful. So, I accepted it.” From 1978 to 1989, Sharma worked directly with the RSS, after which he was given the responsibility of Sangathan Mantri (Organizing Secretary) in Vidya Bharati, where he contributed to the expansion of Shishu Mandirs and educational institutions for nearly a decade.

“In 1998, I was assigned to the Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad, and that’s when my journey in the tribal regions began,” he said. “That decision changed my life forever.”

Furthermore, the Jhabua–Alirajpur region, home to the Bhil community, was where Sharma found his life’s purpose. “Nearly 87 percent of the population there belongs to the Bhil tribe,” he said. “The biggest challenge was migration. Every year, families would leave their villages because of water scarcity and lack of livelihood.”

During a Hindu Sangam event in 2002, the idea emerged that if water could be conserved and a second crop could be grown, migration could be reduced. Sharma and his team decided to act.

“The Bhil community already had a wonderful tradition called Halma where people gather to solve problems through collective effort,” he explained. “We realized that this tradition could be the foundation for change.”

In 2007, Halma was revived as a social movement. Every year since 2008, people from hundreds of villages have been gathering for Halma to work for water conservation, forest protection, and soil rejuvenation.

“Through this collective effort, 130 lakes have been built in 130 villages, and about 1,000 crore liters of water are conserved annually,” he said proudly. “We also formed groups of Gram Engineers with the help of experts from GSITS Engineering College, Indore. These local youth became the technical backbone of the movement.”

He continued, “Our goal is to build 3,000 lakes in 1,320 villages, to make Jhabua a water-abundant region once again.

With the success of the Halma initiative, the movement grew into a larger mission, The Shivganga Jhabua. Under this initiative, several verticals began to work together for holistic development.

“In the area of afforestation, we have planted over 2 lakh trees in 190 Matavan (sacred village forests),” Sharma shared. “Our dream is to develop 3,000 Matavan in 1,320 villages, creating a lush-green Jhabua.”He also spoke about organic farming. “Over 200 farmers are now growing organic fruits and vegetables. We have also formed the Jhabuanchal Farmers Producers Company, which brings together around 300 farmers. Our aim is to promote chemical-free farming across all villages.”

In the area of social entrepreneurship, initiatives like Jhabua Crafts have helped local artisans earn sustainable livelihoods. “We have 10 master trainers and over 100 bamboo craftsmen who are now selling their products online,” he said. “This is helping preserve traditional skills while making families financially independent.” Besides this he shared that The Aarogya vertical focuses on healthcare. “We organize monthly training camps for women, and our Aarogya Rath has reached seven locations, treating over 2,830 patients,” he explained. “Through our Rogi Sahayta Kendras, we have assisted more than 2,000 patients, saving around ₹60 lakh in total.”

Education too has been an integral part of the mission. “We have established Gram Vachanalay (village libraries) in 900 villages, and have developed study materials in the local language through Gram Gurukul Prakashan,” Sharma said. “We also published Mera Jilha – Jhabua, a social science textbook for classes 6 to 8. Education rooted in local culture can build both confidence and pride.”

Sharma emphasized the importance of building local leadership. “More than 20,000 youth have been trained in various empowerment camps, and around 3,000 social leaders are now active in 900 villages,” he said. “The Mangarh Swabhiman Yatra saw the participation of 45,000 people from 1,000 villages. This shows how self-awareness can transform communities.”

Upon asking about his inspiration, Mr. Sharma said, “The thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi have guided me since childhood. His simplicity, humility, and faith in self-reliance have deeply influenced my work. In Jhabua, we are trying to bring Gandhiji’s ideas into practice through people’s participation.”

He believes that Halma represents Gandhian philosophy in its truest form. “When people come together for the common good, it becomes a festival of service,” he said. “It’s a reminder that collective strength can solve even the toughest problems.”

For the tireless work that he has been doing, he was honoured with the Padma Shri award in 2019. “This award is not mine alone,” he said humbly. “It belongs to the awakened consciousness of the people of Jhabua. They are the real heroes.”

Back in 2000, his organization had already chosen the name ‘Vananchal Sashaktikaran’, meaning the empowerment of forest regions. His vision for the future remains grounded yet inspiring.

“Our goal is simple,” he said. “Every village should become a pilgrimage place where there are water, greenery, love, and unity. We want every villager to feel that ‘I must do something for my village.’ When that feeling comes, real change begins.” He paused and added, “The conservation of water, forest, land, animals, and people should be the foundation of prosperity. Conservation opens the door to progress, while exploitation only leads to destruction.”

As the conversation came to an end, Mahesh Sharma’s voice reflected hope and confidence. His journey from the ravines of Datia to the hills of Jhabua stands as a reminder that real transformation begins when one decides to serve with selflessness.