The Guardian of the Tide: How 28-Year-Old Swapan Suin is Reclaiming the Sundarbans

In the heart of the world’s largest mangrove forest, where the land meets the sea and the tides dictate life, a young man is rewriting the future of his home.

Meet Swapan Suin, the 28-year-old visionary known to the nation as the “Mangrove Boy of India.” While most of his peers sought the stability of city life, Swapan chose the saline mud and the rising tides of the Sundarbans. For the last eight years, through his Sukher Swarga Foundation, he has been proving that a single individual can indeed be the catalyst for a green revolution.A Living Shield: 500,000 Roots in the Mud To many, the Sundarbans represent a beautiful mystery; to Swapan, it is a frontline in the battle against climate change. Having witnessed the devastation of cyclones firsthand, he knew that the only way to protect the coastal villages was to return to nature. The Green Wall: Since the age of 20, Swapan has manually planted and nurtured over 5 lakh (500,000) mangrove saplings. Empowering the Community: In 2025 alone, his foundation’s nursery produced 100,000 saplings. This isn’t just environmental work—it’s an economic lifeline. By involving local Self-Help Group (SHG) women, he has turned conservation into a source of dignity and income for the community. Nature’s Defense: Today, these trees stand tall as a biological barrier, absorbing the fury of storm surges and holding the fragile soil together against the relentless erosion of the tides.Beyond the Roots: The Seeds of KnowledgeSwapan realized early on that a forest cannot survive without a community that understands its value. This conviction birthed Safalya Academy, the region’s first English-medium school. The Evolution of a Dream: What began in 2018 as “Safalya Pathsala”—a humble coaching center run by Swapan and a dedicated team including Anirban Das, Tarun Mandal, and Rudrendu Giri—has blossomed into a pillar of modern education. Breaking Barriers: Today, over 300 children are enrolled, receiving a quality of education that was once a distant dream for those living in the delta. A Shared Vision: The school’s growth has been accelerated by the generosity of supporters like Ms. Prabha Poddar (Lions Club of Calcutta Chetna), whose contributions have turned a vision of bricks and mortar into a sanctuary for learning.Why Swapan’s Mission EchoesSwapan Suin isn’t just a “climate warrior”; he is a restorer of hope. He understands that to save the environment, you must first empower its people.> “Our mangroves will protect the land, but our students will protect the future.” — Swapan Suin> At 28, Swapan’s journey is far from over. With a track record of eight years of relentless service, his eyes are now set on his next milestone: planting one million trees and providing a world-class education to a thousand children.Be Part of the StoryThe Sundarbans is a global treasure, but it survives because of local heroes. You don’t have to be in the mud to help. * Visit the Mission: www.sukherswarga.org * Take Action: Sponsor a sapling or support a child’s education at Safalya Academy. * Spread the Word: #MangroveBoyOfIndia #SwapanSuin #Sundarbans #ClimateAction #SukherSwargaFoundation