[Traffic noises and car horns]

This is the town of Jorhat in the 
remote North East of India.

I suppose Jorhat is not really that 
different from any other city in India.

People here work very hard.

They keep their heads down and 
push ahead. They don't look back.

Life here is difficult for some and 
even more difficult for others.

My name is Jitu Kalita and Jorhat is 
where I was born and where I live.

My house is located 
just outside of Jorhat.

This is my nephew.

He is suspicious of cameras.

In Jorhat I do many different things 
but mostly I am a photographer.

I love photographing nature.

I take shots of the beautiful birds and 
wildlife that live in our part of India.

In my house I keep some of my photography 
awards but I don't like to show them off.

A few kilometres North of Jorhat lies one 
of the largest rivers in India, the Brahmaputra.

Millions of people live along its shores.

Every year during the monsoon the 
river floods everything in sight.

Destroying homes and farms and eroding away 
hundreds of square kilometres of land.

One of the worst affected 
areas is Majuli island.

Majuli is the worlds largest river island.

And it is home to over 150,000 people.

Since 1917, Majuli has lost over 
half its land mass to erosion.

And the rate of erosion 
has recently accelerated.

Well the erosion of Majuli. There 
are several causes. The first is that:

This islander lost his home and his 
temple. He points to where it once stood.

This temple may be next. It's located 
only 2km from the river bank erosion.

The temple is nearly 250 years old.

Unless something is done in as little as 
5 years this temple could be washed away.

[he sings a prayer]

The Brahmaputra is where I 
take most of my photos.

One day in 2009, I was exploring a barren 
part by boat when I something strange.

It looked like a forest 
far in the distance.

I began walking towards it and when I 
reached it I couldn't believe my eyes.

I had found a dense forest in 
the middle of a barren wasteland.

When I left the forest I saw a man far 
in the distance so I began following him.

I found him by the riverside. At first he thought 
I was a poacher and tried to attack me.

But he stopped when I told 
him I was just a photographer.

I asked him what he was 
doing in the forest.

He explained he was planting trees 
and he had been since the 1970's.

He told me his name was Jadav Payeng.

When I discovered Jadav Payeng and his forest 
I wrote an article about it in the local newspaper.

Soon after he became known throughout 
India. We are now very good friends.

This is Majuli island.

Since I was a child Majuli has 
been a place of wonder for me.

Once, I ran away from home and came here.

I spent days exploring and drawing 
pictures of the plants and animals.

To me Majuli is heaven.

Scientists recently announced that in 15-20 
years Majuli island could be completely gone.

This is the forest mans 
home on Majuli island.

Every morning the forest mans family helps 
him prepare for his journey to the forest.

[motor boat engine starts]

[mobile phone ringtone plays]

Hello?

The forest man is being 
honoured in a nearby city.

Payeng has won dozens of awards 
for his incredible achievements.

But I think he feels frustrated 
by getting awards.

Local government has tried to get Majuli 
listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site

but their application has 
been rejected each time.

Payeng has many brilliant 
ideas about how to save Majuli.

He tells everyone his ideas but so 
far no one has adopted them.

Sometimes I wonder what 10, 100 
or a thousand Payengs could do.

He once told me I worry about the 
fate of the world just like everyone.

I see bad things happening on my 
island and I do what I can to help.

I'm just a simple man. 
There are many just like me.

When I asked him if he thought 
Majuli could be saved he replied - Yes.