Through her trust, Dr. Renu Wadhwa is dedicated to promoting environmental awareness through sacred plantation drives across India. By educating people about the medicinal and Ayurvedic importance of locally grown plants, she believes in connecting traditional Vedic knowledge with nature conservation and public awareness.

Renu Wadhwa is a Social Worker and the Founder of the Somnath Nakshatra Vatika Trust, Jaipur.

Dr. Wadhwa also has a keen interest in educating people about various types of flora, especially locally grown plants such as Gudhal (Hibiscus), Chameli (Jasmine), Genda (Marigold), and Champa (Frangipani), along with many other plants whose medicinal, cultural, and ecological significance is often not well understood. She emphasizes the value of local plants and encourages every household to grow and maintain a Tulsi plant for its medicinal benefits.

Talking about her work, Dr. Renu informs that, Somnath Nakshatra Vatika Trust is a cultural and educational organization dedicated to preserving and promoting India’s mythological heritage and astronomical traditions. Guided by the principle of “संकल्प से सिद्धि” it focuses on linking ancient Vedic concepts, such as the impact of Nakshatras on our lives, with environmental and spiritual awareness through experiential learning and cultural exhibits.

They promote the development of Nav Grah Vatika, Rashi Vatika, and Nakshatra Vatika, where plants associated with different planets, zodiac signs, and stars are cultivated. Through these initiatives, the trust aims to preserve traditional knowledge and educate future generations about the importance and uses of sacred and beneficial plants.

Under the supervision and collaborative efforts of the trust members and local communities, Environmentalist Dr. Renu has developed several Nav Grah Vatikas in cities like Jaipur, Haldwani, Hardoi, Bareilly, and Vrindavan. Trees and plants associated with the Nav Grahas are systematically planted and maintained, helping people connect environmental awareness with cultural and spiritual traditions.

Dr. Wadhwa further expresses her thoughts by saying that while developing a Nav Grah Vatika, planting certain large trees, such as the Peepal tree—associated with Brihaspati —is not always feasible in every location. In such cases, alternative plants like Safed Aakde ka Ped (Calotropis) are used to represent the same planetary association. Similarly, where planting large trees is difficult, smaller plants linked to specific planetary energies are selected while still maintaining the traditional framework of the garden.

She also prioritizes creating Nav Grah Vatikas in public spaces so that the general public can benefit from the collective presence of these plants. The aim is to spread environmental and spiritual awareness, promote calmness, and contribute to a more peaceful living environment through green spaces.

A key perceived benefit of the Nav Grah Vatika, she explains, is that it serves the entire community rather than individuals. Unlike gemstones such as Panna, Neelam, or Munga, which are typically recommended individually based on astrological consultation, the Nav Grah Vatika initiated under the Somnath Nakshatra Vatika Trust is designed to benefit everyone collectively without discrimination. Additionally, since plants are living and continuously growing, they are seen as offering long-term environmental, ecological, and wellness benefits to society as a whole.

Apart from Jaipur, the Somnath Nakshatra Vatika Trust initiative has also distributed Tulsi plants in places like Vrindavan, Somnath, Haldwani, and various parts of Haryana. In Delhi, Tulsi plants have been offered at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib as “Booti Prasad,” and similarly at the Govind Dev Ji Temple.

The renowned social worker Dr. Renu Wadhwa also expresses her happiness for working with Sai Ji from Amrapura and shares that whenever Tulsi plants are requested by them, she happily provides them as a form of prasad. At times, the distributions include 11,000 or even 21,000 plants. Dr. Renu has also been able to supply plants such as Rudraksh, 12 varieties of Tulsi, and Vat Vriksh saplings for his gaushala.

Dr. Renu Wadhwa was felicitated with a Doctorate Degree by the Columbia University South Asia Institute during an event in Vrindavan. Dr. Renu considers this recognition meaningful and believes it is especially significant to be acknowledged in Vrindavan, a city closely associated with Lord Krishna.

Working in this field for around 12 years, her journey began during her childhood when her father, who worked in a NTPC Limited, was transferred across different cities and remote locations. While spending time living in rural and tribal (Adivasi) areas, Young Renu closely observed local traditions and lifestyles. Through learning about various communities and also worshipping at temples and deities, she developed a strong reverence for forests, trees, and plants as part of their daily spiritual practices.

These experiences naturally developed an understanding of seasonal fruiting plants, the association of certain plants with specific deities, and the traditional methods used in local rituals and ceremonies. Dr. Renu describes this exposure as a meaningful and enriching learning experience, which has continued to influence her work and interests over time.

A key incident that influenced the beginning of Somnath Nakshatra Vatika Trust in Jaipur occurred after her marriage, when she moved to Jaipur. She observed that during Amla Navami, women would worship a branch of the Amla tree as part of the ritual, but the branch would often be discarded afterward. Dr. Renu found this practice disheartening and felt that instead of worshipping a detached part of a plant, it would be more meaningful to worship and nurture a living tree itself. This incident became her motivation to promote the planting and preservation of living sacred trees, encouraging a more environmentally conscious and respectful approach toward nature and traditional practices.

Recalling her childhood, Dr. Renu shares that she completed her schooling across different states due to her father’s transferable central government job. Born in Hisar, she spent her early childhood in Srinagar and Baramulla. She later completed her college education in Sirsa, Haryana, under Kurukshetra University.

At a very young age of around 2.5 years, her family moved to Bihar. Over the years, she continued to travel and lived in various places including Maijapur (Uttar Pradesh), Singrauli (Madhya Pradesh), Riyasi (Jammu and Kashmir), regions along the Godavari area in Andhra Pradesh, multiple cities in Madhya Pradesh, Korba in Chhattisgarh, and even in Nepal.

During her school years, young Renu was encouraged by her mother to participate in co-curricular activities. This early support helped her develop an interest in music, and later in life she organized and headed a group named “Sur Mitra.” The “Sur Mitra” group was formed by Dr. Renu herself along with like-minded friends who shared an interest in music. The group was created as a space to sing together, spend meaningful time, and build emotional connections through music, especially as a way to stay positive and connected during life’s challenges. Wadhwa has remained a permanent member of the group, while also being one of its key and long-standing contributors.

At present, the initiative “ Sur Mitra” also aims to bring young people together and encourage unity. In collaboration with community groups such as the Punjabi Samaj and Arora Samaj, they work for youth engagement through initiatives like “Yuva Arorvansh.” Under this platform, they have organized activities such as cricket matches, blood donation camps, and cultural programs.

Over time, the focus expanded beyond recreation to cultural awareness and identity-building. The idea is to motivate young people to stay connected with their heritage, understand their cultural roots, and develop a stronger sense of belonging and responsibility toward their community and country.

Talking about her role models, Dr. Renu Wadhwa says that she draws inspiration from several public figures, including Yogi Adityanath and Hema Malini. Appreciating their efforts in promoting and revitalizing cultural and religious spaces in cities such as Vrindavan, Mathura, and Varanasi. According to her, such initiatives have encouraged many young people to take interest in cultural heritage, which she considers a positive sign for preserving traditions for future generations.

Her key personal reflection emphasizes discipline and respect in places of worship. Dr. Wadhwa observes that in gurdwaras, even young children follow practices such as covering their heads as a sign of respect. However, Dr. Renu feels that similar discipline is sometimes lacking in temples, where people may leave water bottles behind or partially consume prasad and leave the rest, which she believes affects the cleanliness and sanctity of the space. Activist Dr. Renu emphasizes that maintaining respect, cleanliness, and discipline in all places of worship is important both for preserving their purity and for personal spiritual growth.

Under the slogan “ संकल्प से सिद्धि तक, घर-घर में तुलसी ” the initiative of the Somnath Nakshatra Vatika Trust, Jaipur promotes the idea that every household should cultivate a Tulsi plant and adopt it as part of daily life and tradition.

Along with environmental awareness, her initiative also emphasizes cultural and spiritual education. It encourages families to teach children about their religion, scriptures, and traditional knowledge systems so that the next generation remains connected to its roots. The belief behind this effort is that awareness of sacred texts and traditions should not be limited, as even many people in the younger generation—and in some cases older generations as well—are not fully familiar with texts like the Vedas and Puranas. Through this approach, the initiative taken by the Somnath Nakshatra Vatika Trust aims to strengthen cultural understanding, encourage learning, and preserve traditional knowledge for future generations.

With a firm belief that every individual goes through challenges and struggles in life, Dr. Wadhwa feels that faith in the divine can help a person find a way out of difficult and dark phases of life. She also expresses that while destiny may exist, human effort and dedication play an important role in shaping one’s life.

With sincere work, discipline, and faith, individuals can transform their circumstances and move toward a more positive and meaningful path. However, Dr. Renu also acknowledges that not everyone may be able to actively join initiatives like her, but one can contribute in simple yet impactful ways, such as keeping water for birds and animals during extreme summer heat. Emphasizing more on the importance of responsibility in plantation efforts—explaining that planting trees is not enough unless they are properly cared for until they grow.

While working on projects like Nav Grah Vatika, Dr. Renu Wadhwa, along with her coordinators, focuses on educating local communities about her plantation drives and the intentions behind them, so that people in the surrounding areas understand their purpose and take collective responsibility in nurturing and protecting the plants.

She emphasizes working by valuing and using locally grown and traditional resources, and highlights the importance of environmental responsibility in daily life. The environmentalist also encourages people to reduce the excessive use of air conditioners and suggests using one AC per household where possible. Additionally, she advises being mindful of vehicle use, recommending limited and responsible usage to reduce pollution and ease traffic congestion. Dr. Renu Wadhwa advocates moving towards simple lifestyle changes that can collectively contribute to a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future.

On her journey toward a greater good, Dr. Wadhwa’s husband, Sanjay Wadhwa, has been a constant support in her life, both professionally and personally. He has been involved in both small and significant decisions, including supporting her during the formation and functioning of her trust, while maintaining a practical and positive approach to using resources only as needed. He also helps her in day-to-day activities such as managing logistics, assisting with tasks, and handling accounts and administrative responsibilities.

Somnath Nakshatra Vatika Trust, Jaipur Founder, Dr. Renu Wadhwa also emphasizes the importance of meditation and maintaining a calm, focused mind. In her view, inner peace and mindfulness improve clarity of thought and support the effective continuation of social and spiritual initiatives.