Les belles promesses

Pierre Lemaitre

Description

This book was not born from ambition.
It was born from worry.

From the quiet fear that one day our children may read about forests the way we read about extinct civilizations—through pictures, footnotes, and regret.

India has always been a land of abundance. Forests once stretched endlessly, rivers flowed freely, and wildlife moved without borders. Elephants carved ancient paths, tigers ruled vast territories, birds migrated without fear, and humans lived close enough to nature to understand its moods. But somewhere along the journey of development, speed replaced wisdom. Concrete replaced soil. Profit replaced patience. And responsibility was quietly shifted to "someone else."

The Rise of Vanrajyas asks a simple but uncomfortable question:
What if forests were not treated as leftover land, but as living states of their own?

This book imagines—and argues for—the creation of 20 Forest States (Vanrajyas) in India, dedicated entirely to forests, wildlife, water, and ecological balance. Not symbolic reserves. Not tourist parks. But full-fledged states where nature comes first, governance serves life, and humans act as caretakers rather than owners.

This is not a technical policy document.
Nor is it pure fiction.

It is a tale—rooted in reality, driven by science, inspired by possibility.

Through the journey of two ordinary individuals, Shera and Rahul, the story explores extraordinary ideas: forest-only governance, wildlife-centered laws, degraded land restoration, biodiversity integration, and a nation choosing restraint over exploitation. Their struggles reflect real challenges—poaching, corporate pressure, political resistance, public apathy. Their victories reflect what is possible when intent is honest and vision is long-term.

The Vanrajyas described here do not rise through force, but through understanding. Their assemblies are simple huts made from forest produce, not monuments of concrete. Their power lies not in extraction, but in protection. Their success is measured not in GDP, but in birdsong, clean rivers, fertile soil, and balanced ecosystems.

At its heart, The Rise of Vanrajyas is a reminder that forests do not need saving heroes. They need space, patience, and laws that respect their right to exist. If given a chance, nature heals faster than we expect.

This tale is written for policymakers and students, conservationists and citizens, skeptics and dreamers. It is for anyone who believes that India's future cannot be secure unless its forests are.

If this book leaves you with one thought, let it be this:
Protecting forests is not an environmental issue alone—it is a civilizational responsibility.

The Earth has waited long enough.
Perhaps it is time we listened.

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