UKHRUL, NOVEMBER 17: Rainforest Club Tamenglong Founder, Dr Chambo Gonmei, was awarded the Guardians of Himalayas Award 2025 at the 7th edition of the Dehradun Literature Festival held at the Doon International School, Dehradun on Sunday, November 16.
The Guardians of Himalayas Award is instituted by the Dehradun Literature Festival to recognise those who have dedicated themselves to preserving the soul of the environment, Dr Chambo Gonmei, former director of Health Services, Manipur Government, is the first recipient of the award. The award seeks to celebrate individuals and organisations whose work embodies the spirit of guardianship towards our natural environs.
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“As Uttarakhand completes 25 years of its statehood, it stands at a moment of both celebration and reckoning, a time to reflect on the cultural and ecological currents that define our shared future. The recent floods and landslides across the Himalayan belt have reminded us that progress cannot come at the cost of balance, and that preservation and innovation must walk hand in hand. In this spirit, the Guardians of Himalayas Award honours individuals and institutions across India and beyond who embody this ethos – those who, through their work, creativity, or leadership, help safeguard the delicate harmony between humanity and nature, culture and conscience, growth and gratitude,” an official statement read.
Dr Gonmei was awarded for his exemplary work in environmental conservation and community-led preservation. As founder of the Rainforest Club, Tamenglong, he has championed the protection of forests and inspired collective action to sustain the fragile ecology of the Himalayas.
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