By Sangeetha KB.
I stepped inwards doubtfully, as well as the screeching noise shape the gate made her facial expression upwardly towards me. She smiled as well as said she knew I was coming. She offered a portion of her lunch, some ragi mudde and rasam. H5N1 dozen crows surrounded her to portion her lunch. She smiled as well as sheepishly mentioned that this sharing was a daily affair. At that moment, I knew that my ii hr ho-ho (hop on hop off) coach journeying was worth it. I was alongside Salumarada Thimakka this morning, as well as I’m glad I spent some fourth dimension alongside her.
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| Salumarada Thimakka |
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| Thimakka's trees |
Thimakka is an octogenarian; she lives inwards Hulikal Taluk (about seventy kilometers from Bangalore) as well as is a woman nurture to over 800 banyan trees. Yes! Over 800 of them. H5N1 position out she refuses to advert because she does non appreciate the logic of counting her actions. Frail as well as friendly, Thimakka as well as her slow hubby took upwardly this epic chore of planting Banyan trees to teach over the fact that they didn’t receive got children. They’d walk many kilometers every twenty-four hr catamenia to tend to the saplings as well as H2O them. As expected, people laughed at their insanity. But Thimakka never gave up, she knew what others didn’t. She works life her calling inwards beingness the ‘Green Champion’.
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| Thimakka’s awards |
Our conversations continued as well as she spoke at length nearly her village, the people, the changes inwards climate, state politics as well as everything yous could facial expression from your grandma :) Though she complained of physical disease as well as nearly her fractured leg, she ever ended her statements alongside a deep feel of peace. Her solid is adorned alongside plaques as well as awards inwards recognition of her commitment towards the trees. She modestly admits that it was a articulation attempt alongside her husband, as well as cannot accept total credit for her actions.
Her adjacent conception is real clear. She insists on having a primary wellness middle inwards Hulikal as well as is fighting caput on alongside the state to liberate the funds. She knows it volition accept fourth dimension as well as isn’t certain if she’d go live to reckon it happen. But in that location is no bitterness inwards her tone. She has organized religious belief as well as knows it volition happen. Simple as well as practical.
Thimakka had a bully aura around her. She spoke non alongside pride but alongside humility, equally if she wasn’t responsible for all this but it was bestowed upon her yesteryear some magic. As I was leaving, she handed me a pocketbook total of beans grown locally, because she believed that people who see her, shouldn’t teach empty handed.
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| The Green Tunnel |
She wanted to walk alongside me as well as innovate me to her trees, similar a curator would walk yous through a slice of art. She was likewise fragile to walk, as well as and then I promised her I would reckon every 1 of her trees earlier I caput dorsum to the city. Her beaming smiling kept me smiling for the adjacent 4 kilometers that I walked inwards the canopy.
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| Salu Mara |
In Kannada, salu way draw as well as mara as well as trees, which gives yous Salumarada Thimakka. As I walked the stretch, on both sides of the route were gigantic banyan trees aligned as well as spaced beautifully. seventy years as well as withal growing strong, these trees formed a coveted greenish tunnel. H5N1 walk inwards the hot afternoon was a walk inwards the park, literally! At the terminate of the tunnel, I knew what Thimakka as well as her hubby planned when they began tending to banyan saplings. They did it, non for themselves, but for generations to come. If yous take in grandmas could exclusively narrate stories, I happened to encounter 1 grandma who created the story. I took a leafage from her life & several leaves from her trees.
Practical Information
Salumarada Thimakka tin sack go visited equally a twenty-four hr catamenia trip from Bangalore.
How to reach: Take 1 of the buses that teach towards Kunigal, Bangalore. Get downward at Marur Housing Post (I receive got no take in why it is called a Housing Post). Take an car / coach to accomplish Kudur coach stop, which is 10 kms away. half dozen kilometers from Kudur is Hulikal, as well as in that location are many buses that would drib yous at Hulikal.
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| Kudur Bus Stop |
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| Thimakka’s House |
What to expect: Typical hamlet scene, every solid volition receive got goats as well as cows. Coconut as well as mango trees adorn both sides. The local people people are polite as well as to a greater extent than than happy to help. Don't immature lady the java as well as vada at Thimakka’s house, reserved for every guest.
Author Bio: The writer is from Bangalore. She travels to teach a life as well as works equally a draw organisation analyst for a living. She believes that every journeying has something novel to offer, the take in is to stay disconnected from the noise as well as connect to the place, as well as you’ll selection upwardly a lot to a greater extent than than simply souvenirs. She tin sack go reached at sangeethakb@gmail.com.
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