URBAN ECO WARRIORS fight for city’s trees ………Sukhada Tatke
Mumbai: The father of Indian cinema, Dadasaheb Phalke, announced his decision to move into a bungalow in Dadar several years ago. In Harishchandrachi Factory, the recently released Marathi movie that celebrates the filmmaker, characters exclaim with surprise when they hear of the presence of a bungalow in a “jungle’’. For people in the audience, the moment presents an opportunity to break into laughter.
But jokes aside, there is an army of Mumbaikars who are fighting tooth and nail to ensure that the city does not become a concrete jungle. They are fighting on behalf of the trees, and have taken it upon themselves to make Mumbai a little greener by planting trees in their neighbourhoods and beyond.
They come from different walks of life, but their mission is same. TOI profiles three such crusaders.
Corporates gone green
SATISH VIJAYKUMAR & RANJEET WALUNJ | CORPORATE PROFESSIONALS
We don’t want to change the world or end economic sanctions in Zimbabwe, we are working towards a simple mission, to plant and share saplings to one and all in different parts of our city.’’ Short and simple, these are the opening words of the website that explains the philosophy of these two friends in the 30s.
Satish Vijaykumar (31) and Ranjeet Walunj (33) decided to cash in on their passion for trees. Disillusioned with the fact that the tree plantation drives were always carried out at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park or Aarey colony, where people often forgot to go back and check on the trees that are planted, they decided to knock on citizens’ doors to drive home the message.
“It is the housing societies and offices that are very important. People can go back and ensure that the trees they have planted are taken care of and grow satisfactorily,’’ said Satish.
Both Satish and Ranjeet, professionals from the corporate industry, have taken the initiative to make the city green, one tree at a time. “If the city has to develop, trees get hewed. But then somebody has to take the responsibility of doing something. We have taken on that responsibility to do what we can in our capacity,’’ said Ranjeet.
The duo started a community on Facebook and created a website; they christened their endeavour ‘The Sapling Project’. They not only began planting saplings on their own initiative, but also distributed them—mainly Ashoka and Neem trees— on awareness drives. “The joy of seeing a tree you’ve planted grow is unparalleled,’’ they said.
The duo’s optimism was reflected in the way their drive was received on January 26. “All we want is for this to snowball into a people’s movement where everyone keeps planting trees.’’
Dr Green is on a mission
Dr ASHOK KOTHARI | GENERAL PRACTITIONER
Adoctor by profession, 67-year-old Ashok Kothari is fondly known as “Doctor Green’’. Born and brought up in a vast green neighbourhood in Gujarat, he was disappointed by the lack of greenery when he came to Mumbai more than four decades ago. Not only did he name his clinic in Santa Cruz (West) the “Tree Shade Clinic’’, but he also made it a leafy haven. The clinic, as it stands now in a bustling locality, is lined with several trees.
“I spent my childhood under the shade of fragrant Bakul trees. They are the ones that remain my favourite. When I started practising in Mumbai, I realised that there were several patients with respiratory ailments, common coughs and colds. Along with prescriptions, I would give them a tree,’’ said Kothari, who then went on to create tree plantation drives for the Rotary Club, Friends of Trees and became an active member of the Bombay Natural History Society.
Kothari has also written several books on Indian trees. “I remember presenting the principal of my daughter’s school a sapling. That was more than 20 years ago. Now, that tree is flourishing, and I feel happy when I pass by it. It takes me back in time to my daughter’s early years. Trees have a way of bringing back fond memories,’’ he said.
Kothari has lost track of the number of trees he has planted. Police stations, schools, cemeteries, railway stations and so on across the city are lined with a number of Kothari’s favourite trees: Bakul, Putranjiva, Ashoka and the like.
“All it takes to plant a tree is the will. The saplings are inexpensive. All one has to do is dig a pit, put the sapling in it and tend to it as though it were a little baby. And then look after it over the years, and revel in the eventual pleasures of the grown-up child,’’ said Kothari.
He dreams of orchards
U N SINGH | HORTICULTURIST
For 61-year-old U N Singh, his tree bank in Khopoli is one of the most precious things in his life. When he’s
not spending time amid the trees around his little bungalow in Andheri (East), you’ll find him in the company of more than a 100 trees in his tree bank located outside Mumbai.
not spending time amid the trees around his little bungalow in Andheri (East), you’ll find him in the company of more than a 100 trees in his tree bank located outside Mumbai.
“As a child, I dreamed of planting trees wherever I went. I grew up in a home that was surrounded by an orchard. One of the earlier maxims I was taught in life was that good families plant good trees. In 1973, I bought 15 acres of land with a dream to start a nursery. Seeing my dream come true has been the best thing of my life,’’ Singh said.
“I spend nearly 16 hours a day in my tree bank. Time passes so smoothly there.’’ Singh, who was born and brought up in a farmer’s family in Uttar Pradesh, has a post-graduate degree in horticulture. “I was always interested in trees and their lives. I started planting trees in college and encouraged others to do so. Soon, our campus was full of trees that students had planted,’’ he recalled.
“I spend nearly 16 hours a day in my tree bank. Time passes so smoothly there.’’ Singh, who was born and brought up in a farmer’s family in Uttar Pradesh, has a post-graduate degree in horticulture. “I was always interested in trees and their lives. I started planting trees in college and encouraged others to do so. Soon, our campus was full of trees that students had planted,’’ he recalled.
Singh bought a small cottage in Andheri, and made a garden around his house. “I found it impossible to live in a flat in Mumbai. So, I bought my house and planted trees the way I wanted to. Wherever I go, whether in the city or outside, or even abroad, I carry saplings with me as gifts for other people,’’ he said.
Singh, who is also a part of the Tree Authority, has helped many people and organisations in their passion to plant trees. Not only does he share his professional expertise with those who wish to listen, but also arms them with saplings. “It may be a far-fetched dream, but the day will come when each and every individual will know the importance of trees and plant them,’’ he said.
* GREEN CRUSADERS: Satish and Ranjeet carry out awareness drives across Mumbai
* PATIENT CRUSADER: Patients leave Kothari’s clinic with prescriptions and saplings
* CHILDHOOD PASSION: U N Singh has an oasis of greenery in the outskirts of the city