Let me take you halfway across the world to a land where plants are worshipped and gardening is considered God’s work. India is a land of various cultures and ethnicities that differ in many ways but share a mutual love for its natural ecospace.
There are innumerable stories of perseverance and inspirational willpower showcased by individuals who share a special bond with nature.
One such individual is the 113-year-old Saalumarada Thimmakka, who clad in her saree (a six-yard traditional garment worn by women in the Indian subcontinent) and led her environmental crusade to plant thousands of trees in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.
A Life of Hardship and Turmoil
Not one of your regular “book-inspired” environmentalists, she has no formal education and spent most of her childhood and youth doing hard labor from dusk till dawn.
Unable to conceive a child after 25 years of marriage, Thimakka chose to plant saplings and nurture them into trees.
An Inspirational Journey
Actively supported by her husband, Thimakka started by grafting saplings from Banyan trees in her village of Hilukal in Karnataka. With limited and meagre resources the couple carried on their journey, that became a beacon of inspiration for the entire nation, reflecting on the fact that one person can make a big difference. The couple used to carry pails of water for kilometers to nourish the saplings and protect them from grazing cattle.
Despite her husband’s demise in 1991, The plants they nurtured together, more than 50 years ago, gracefully line several miles from Kudur to Hulikal, bearing an emblem of love and determination to their cause. In regard of Thimakka’s phenomenal work, the local population has bestowed upon her the name ‘Saalumarada’, meaning row of trees in Kannada.
Recognition and Accolades
Thimakka was awarded the Padma Shri in 1995, one of India’s highest civilian awards and the National Citizens award in 1995, along with various other accolades. Honoring her undaunting work, a U.S. environmental organization was formed in Los Angeles, California called Thimmakka’s Resources for Environmental Education. In 2019, the BBC, listed her in the top 100 most influential women in the world.
In her incredible journey, Thimakka planted 395 Banyan trees and around 8000 other plants throughout the Indian state of Karnataka. Her resilience continues to inspire many other saree-dwelling women who have broken the shackles of society and devoted their lives to making a long-lasting impact on the world.
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