Thimmakk: The Tree Mother

 

Who wants to suffer sorrow and pain in life? Almost all of us want a life free from sorrow and pain. But, is it possible to lead a life free from them? Happiness and sorrow are the two integral part of human life. Life is a mixture of both. We can’t avoid sorrow and pain. Sometimes it hurts us deeply. But if we can lead our sorrow and pain to the direction of light it may make our life enlightened. To do that one needs the touch of light that is the touch of love. If it is possible, then a wonderful light comes of in the womb of darkness.

There are many people in the world who wrote the golden chapter in the pages of history by guiding their sorrow to the path of light. One such amazing woman is the great environmentalist Thimmakka who is popularly known as ' Saalumarada' Thimmakka.

Thimmakka was born into a very poor family in Gubbi Taluk, Tumakuru District in Karnataka. Her parents Chikkarangia and Vijayamma were both daily workers. Thimmakka didn’t have the opportunity to go to school due to poverty. She had to help her parents in their work from an early age. She also worked as a labour in a quarry next to his house.

Thimmakka was married to Bikkalu Chikkaiya in 1926. He was a resident of Hulikal village in Magdi Taluk of Ramnagar district. Bikkalu was also a labour. Inspite of poverty the couple was very happy. But this happiness didn’t last long. The darkness of sorrow came to their life.

After 25 years of marriage, they had no children. Infertile women had to go through various unpleasant situations in the society. Thimmakka's life was no exception. People used to tell her various unpleasant words. At one time the society forced them to lead the life of solitary confinement. Due to these reasons, Thimmakka was emotionally broken. To get rid of this mental torture she even tried to commit suicide. Fortunately she was saved. At that time her husband, Chikkaiya stood beside her. He found an alternative way to make her forget the sorrow of childlessness. He told Thimmakka that they would plant trees and nurse them like their own children. Thimmakka liked the idea.

The couple decided to plant banyan trees on both sides of the four-kilometer stretch of road from their village Hulikal to the neighbouring village Kudur. They planted ten trees for the first year; fifteen next year and twenty for the next. Thus the numbers of planting trees were increasing every year. They not only planted trees but also took proper care of them. They made fences around them, watered them everyday. There was a great problem of water in their village. They had to carry water from long distance. The work was extremely difficult. That is why they started planting trees in the rainy season. Thus they planted nearly 365 banyan trees and the number of other trees was about eight thousand. Little by little, Thimmakka became the mother of trees. 

People noticed her work. The society that once drove her away took her as their own. She was affectionately known as 'Salumarada' Thimmakka. The word 'Salumarada' in Kannada means a row of trees. The childless Thimmakka became the 'tree mother' Thimmakka.

Thimmakka lost her husband in 1991. It was the biggest blow of her life. After the death of her husband, she somehow managed to make ends meet with a small amount of widow's allowance. However, there was no interruption in planting and nursing trees. It continued as before. Little by little her activity spread around. She received the 'National Citizen Award' in 1997 for her work on the environment. Gradually her activities spread throughout the country. Some voluntary organizations extended their helping hand to her. The Karnataka government took charge of the trees she planted. 

During the construction of Bagepalli-Halaguru road in 2019, the concerning authority decided to cut some of the trees planted by Thimmakka. The mother was shocked. They were not merely trees, they were her children. Is it possible for a mother to bear the brutal death of her children? Thimmakka requested the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka not to cut down the trees. Finally, the government granted her request and planned for an alternative route.

The Government of India awarded her with the Padma Shri in 2019 for her outstanding and selfless contribution to the environment. President Ramanath Kobind handed over the honor to her. During the award ceremony, Thimmakka broke the protocol and blessed the President with her hands on his head. Such a sweet touch of a loving mother moved the President too. In a twit he remarked, “It is the President’s privilege to honour India’s best and most deserving. But today I was deeply touched when Saalumarada Thimmakka, an environmentalist from Karnataka, and at 107 the oldest Padma awardee this year, thought it fit to bless me.”

A documentary was made on her life in 1999 called 'Thimmakka Mathu 284 Makkalu'. It was screened at the International Film Festival in 2000. An US Environmental Organization named their organization after her name, as Thimmakka Resources for Environmental Education. She was also received the Nadoza Award of Thampi University, Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award, Veerachakra Prashasthi Award, Karnataka Kalpavalli Award, Green Champion Award etc. In 2020 the Karnataka government awarded her with honorary doctorate degree. 

The woman who was once kept in solitary confinement by the society now became known to all over India. She was involved not only in tree planting programme but also in many other environmental social activities. It is undeniable that she could not have reached this place without the help her husband. The man showed her the new light of life. He brought her out of the deep darkness and led her into the path of life.