The Tracking Indian Youth Attitudes Media Fellowship presents the next in a series of stories capturing the socio-political views and experiences of young people across India.
Shaurya Goyal, a 28-year-old entrepreneur and environmental activist, is actively involved in the fight to save Dol Ka Badh, a forest threatened by development projects. In this conversation he talks about activism, asking questions and reimagining development in cities.
“I’m still searching for a reason not to be inspired. What surprises me more is how some people remain unaffected. There are a few basic needs—food, water, and air—and right now, even your air is being taken away. Saving trees and protecting spaces like these is one of the most important things we can do.”
Read his full story below. Profile by Paridhi Jain.
Paridhi: Hello, thank you so much for taking out time. Can you tell me about yourself?
Shaurya: My name is Shaurya Goyal and I am 28 years old. I was born and raised in Jaipur. Currently, I am building a sports nutrition brand while also fighting to save Dol Ka Badh forest in Jaipur.
Paridhi: What does a typical day in your life look like?
Shaurya: In the morning, I start work for my company. I also check for developments around the forest on our WhatsApp group where volunteers and citizens regularly share updates and monitor any developments near the forest. Evenings are usually spent walking in Dol Ka Badh and at night I do pending work for the Let Jaipur Breathe movement.
Paridhi: What is the Let Jaipur Breathe movement, and how did it start?
Shaurya: We started the Let Jaipur Breathe movement back in 2021 when the government proposed a Fintech Park in this forest area. Now, the government wants to build a PM Unity Mall, as well as hotels and living spaces.
The government can save this place and turn it into a biodiversity park— and earn revenue from that. We never said to leave the land unused. I want the government to use it and gain revenue.
Paridhi: Do you feel heard by policymakers, especially after the movement gained momentum on social media?
Shaurya: Not really. We first started counting the trees at Dol Ka Badh back in 2021 and we found over 2,500— many of them native species like Khejri, Babool and Rohida. We decided to do it ourselves after noticing some people using machines to count trees and marking numbers on them—but they were only counting one out of every three or four trees. That made me suspicious.
There is not much reporting on this issue. The truth is, big corporations pay a lot of money to these news outlets in the form of advertisements. That creates pressure on them not to report many things.
This time round, we geotagged each tree and uploaded the data to Google Maps, so the truth can’t be hidden.
Paridhi: Have you taken legal action?
Shaurya: We filed a case in 2023. The court directed to minimize damage and plant 10 trees for every tree cut. But when you’re talking about trees that are 100 years old, 10 new trees aren’t equivalent. Often, the government plants ornamental trees, not native ones. We also went to the High Court, but they dismissed our case. Still, I believe in the judicial system and hope for relief, as happened in the Hyderabad case. If needed, we’ll go to the Supreme Court.
Paridhi: What’s your long-term vision for Dol Ka Badh?
Shaurya: My long-term vision is to turn this place into a world-class biodiversity park—something that becomes Jaipur’s crown jewel. The government can build a museum here to highlight Rajasthan’s unique flora and fauna. Look at the Netherlands—they’ve turned their row houses into a cultural identity. Dol Ka Badh can give Jaipur a unique identity. It’s so close to the city but feels like the wild.
My vision for Jaipur is nothing short of Singapore. I want a city with no trash, good transportation, low crime, and where citizens hold officials accountable. A city with both modern buildings and thriving nature. A city can’t thrive without trees and water. You can live without the internet for a day, but not without oxygen for even a minute.
Paridhi: What advice would you give to young people who want to take action but don’t know where to start?
Shaurya: First, look at who influences you and what values you hold. See what you give to the world and what you get back. Successful cities like Singapore, New York, and Tokyo have green spaces and systems to hold officials accountable. Remember, this is a democracy—your money is being spent, so ask questions and demand accountability.
Development should mean something real to you.
Paridhi: Do you think the youth should be more involved in initiatives like these?
Shaurya: Absolutely. If we mobilize the youth, it will bring big change—not just for Dol Ka Badh, but for years to come. The government will know people aren’t ignorant— we are educated and able to ask the right questions. Speak up, get involved, and make sure your actions reflect the standards you expect from others.
Change is the reality of this country, but we have very little time to bring about this change. This can only happen if the youth of this country stands up.
Paridhi: What inspires you—within or outside the activist world?
Shaurya: I’m still searching for a reason not to be inspired. What surprises me more is how some people remain unaffected. There are a few basic needs—food, water, and air—and right now, even your air is being taken away. Saving trees and protecting spaces like these is one of the most important things we can do.
My startup is still in its early stages so I work from home for now. But when I launch, I will have an office with lots of trees.
This is an ongoing series of profiles documenting the experiences of young people across India. Stay tuned for more stories from the youth of India. Follow us on social media for more updates.
