SALUTE THE GREEN WARRIOR

This is the story of a tireless environmentalist and a dedicated, determined nature lover, whose selfless service is commendable and sustained love for mother earth deserves salute, and on whom the Tamil Newspaper  “ Dinakaran “  dated 30-8-2015 featured an article in its supplement.

Smt.Thimmakka, aged around 80 years is that wonderful personality. She was born in a village called Kattanahalli in Karnataka state  and is illiterate. At the age of 19, she was married to Pikkala Chikkaiya., a farmer from Hulligal Village in Ramanagara  District of Karnataka state.

With no flowing rivers to irrigate the fields,  and surrounded by mountainous, barren landscape, coupled with  inadequate  rainfall,  nature presented  a  rough,  dry  posture  in  Hulligal  and  its  surroundings.

Thimmakka entered into happy matrimony and thanked the Almighty for having sent such an affectionate person like Pikkala Chikkaiya, as her husband. But as ill luck would have it, destiny played a cruel game by not blessing the couple with a child. Prayers and penances were of no avail and the couple remained issueless, which tormented them physically and mentally as a big issue for many years. The pain got multiplied with insults, criticisms from near and dear,  and the helpless couple digested the social stigma with patience and resolve.

It so happened that on a hot summer day, Thimmakka and Pikkala Chikkaiya were traveling by foot from Kudhoor to Hulligal, Unable to bear the scorching heat, they searched for a shady place. Unfortunately the road was totally barren, bereft of a grass of green. Left with no other option the couple trudged their way home in the grueling weather. 

The tiresome journey turned a new leaf in their lives and the couple decided in unison to plant and nurture trees in the entire road stretch from Hulligal to Kudhoor, covering a distance of 20 kilometres. This was put into action immediately with the planting of five banyan tree saplings on the very next day. What started as a trickle in the year 1955., gained  momentum with each passing year and their endeavour continued till 1991.   This avocation gave much needed mental relief to the childless couple, who  started  grooming  the  saplings  like  their  children  with care and concern.  Despite several odds, the couple went about watering the saplings and protecting the saplings with tree guards.  Thimmakka experienced  the divine  pleasure of  feeding  children  while  watering  the  saplings.

With the passage of years, the saplings grew to become big trees, providing shade and umbrella cover  from  Hulligal  to  Kudhoor.  Now  they  number  around  386 banyan trees.  The sustained efforts of the couple caught the attention of the forest department officials who extended a helping hand in taking care of the trees and their upkeep, thereby giving the couple  rest,  relief  and  satisfaction. It is commonly said that “ When  God  closes   one  door,  He  will open another “. In the case of Thimmakka and Pikkala  Chikkaiya,  nature deprived them of a biological child, but blessed them with over 386 botanical children. Interestingly the latter ones will have a much longer life span than the former one. Further  they  will  go  to  do  only good and provide shade  to  tens  of   thousands  of  people  who  pass  through  them  daily,  for  years  to come.   

Lending credence to the fact that trees bring copious  rain,  monsoon has kept its regular timetable with  Hulligal  and its peripheries. It has  neither  disappointed  nor  arrived  late.  

Pikkala  Chikkaiya  died some years back, which turned out to be an irreparable loss to Thimmakka. But  the  personal  tragedy  did  not dampen her  spirit  nor  slow  her  speed  in  growing  trees. Till  this  day she  campaigns for  social  and  environmental  causes  among  villagers,  and  has vowed  to pursue them life long. What  a  far reaching,  futuristic outlook  from  a  devout,  dedicated  soul.  

Recognition  in  the  form  of  awards   came  calling,   and  made  a   beeline  on  the  couple  and  Thimakka  from  various  private institutions and government departments, ( including the prestigious Rajyotsava Award  initiated by the Government of Karnataka )  for  their / her   unstinted  work towards nature conservation and environment protection. Thimmakka dedicates  them   all   to   her   dear   husband   who  stands  by  and  blesses  her   from   the  world  unknown.

 The Environment Ministry of  the  Government  of  India  must  recognize and  honour  Thimmakka  for  her  Herculean effort  in  greening  mother earth.  

The lofty trees that dot the road from Hulligal to Kudhoor will stand testimony to the efforts of Thimmakka and Pikkala Chikkaiya and sing eulogies  in  their  memory  and  praise  for  generations  to  come.

                                                         

“ Dharmo Rakshati Rakhsitaha, Vruksho  Rakshati  Rakshitaha “

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