Saalumarada Thimmakka, A Century Old Environmentalist
Saalumarada Thimmakka, A Century Old Environmentalist
The invaluable service done by Saalumarada Thimmakka to our environment has got worldwide recognition. She is indeed a daughter whose name the country takes with immense pride. The 106-year-old environmentalist has made herself and India proud to such an extent that even the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) knows her. The reason for her fame is that she has planted over 8,000 trees in 80 years. She has earned herself a spot in the prestigious list of BBCs 100 most influential women. She is the oldest woman on the list for planning the 8,000 trees to fill the void that had been left after she realized she could not bear children. She has also won the prestigious Padma Shri.
According to one of the botanical reports done by a survey, the value of a tree which Thimmakka has planted is nothing less than Rs. 1,75,00,000. One can only imagine the value of all those trees that are planted by her and grown into huge trees now. They are worth several crores of rupees today. Yet, by dedicating all of them in service of the state and the environment and not expecting any reward in return, she has taken a life of a pure, selfless service. But, what is unfortunate is that she is dependent on a pension of Rs. 500/- given by the government as the sole source of her income even today. Having led an active life as a passionate environmentalist and an eternal lover of nature, Saalumarada Thimmakka still cherishes the dream of planting more trees in the future. The enormity of her zeal and confidence must be acknowledged and respected.
How it all begun?
Born into a poor family of Hulikal village in Magadi Taluk, Ramnagar, Karnataka, she never had the opportunity to go to school or have any kind of formal education. She was known by the name of Thimmaka during her childhood. She started working at an early age as a quarry laborer.
In 1928 she was married to Bikkala Chikkayya who was a laborer himself. After several years of marriage when the couple could not have any children, to fill the emptiness in their life the couple decides to plant banyan trees and raise them as their kids. This is when it all started.
In 1948, Thimmakka along with her husband made up their mind to plant trees from their village in Hulikal to Kudoor. Thimmakka and her husband thus commenced a journey of pure dedication, untiring, and unselfish love of planting trees and nourishing them till they bore fruit.
From Thimmakka to Saalumarada Thimmakka
Thimmaka and her husband decided to plant trees from their village to the next village, Kudoor. They chose a stretch of 4 km and there were no trees at all in the locality. Since there were plenty of banyan trees near her village the couple decided to plant trees along the roadside.
They planted 10 young banyan plants in the first year and increased the number to 15 in the second and 20 the year after. The couple not only planted them but tended them to maturity while protecting them from herbivorous animals by fencing around them with thorny bushes.
Every morning after finishing their regular work the couple watered the plants as a part of their daily routine and when they used to run out of the water, they used to fetch it from nearby ponds and wells. They use to cover the whole stretch on their feet watering the plant while returning on their way back home.
They plant the young saplings during the monsoon season so that they could have adequate water for their growth. The couple went to the hardship out of sheer passion for helping the environment and humanity. This never changed their financial status but they never lamented their poverty nor flaunted about their work.
She and her husband plant the young saplings during the monsoon season so that they could have adequate water for their growth. The couple went to the hardship out of sheer passion for helping the environment and humanity. This never changed their financial status but they never lamented their poverty nor flaunted about their work.
An undying passion
Thimmakka’s husband passed away in 1991 but that did not discourage her in any way. She pursued her mission with the same determination and courage. In spite of the fact that heavy rain had washed away her house that year, she with the help of well-wishers managed to rebuild the mud house and applied for a widow pension of merely 75 rupees at that time.
In Kannada language rows of trees are known as Saalumarada. It was then that Thimmakka was given the name Saalumarada Thimmakka. It was given to respect her work towards planting the trees and saving the environment, and the hardship the couple faced during the process. The management of the trees these days is taken care of by the Government of Karnataka.
Additional community services by Thimmakka
She has done much more than planting trees. She is actively involved in the state and national environmental protection campaigns.
Thimmakka also is involved in many other social activities. This includes building a rainwater storage tank for the annual function of her village. She has set up a trust for building up a hospital in her village.
Saalumarada has been an active campaigner in circulating the message of afforestation. She believes every human being on earth should plant trees. She still faces a life of financial struggle. However, this never deterred her spirit from helping mankind.
Accreditations and Citations of Saalumarada Thimmakka
Saalumarada Thimmaka has been a role model for environmentalists all over the world. In 2016, BBC included her in their list of top 100 influential and inspiring women. She is a great example who showed the world how uneducated women can make a big difference to the betterment of society. She achieved all these with sheer passion and undaunted hard work.
At the Padma awards ceremony, it is the President’s privilege to honor 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, though it fit to bless me
Thimmaka was awarded Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award in the country in 2019. it is at the age of 106 that the mother of trees got the award. However, she receiving the award will be fondly remembered for a protocol violation which the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind considers as a touching moment.
In addition to Padma Shri, Saalumarada Thimmakka is honored with many awards for her unwavering efforts towards protecting the environment. She has bestowed with titles like Vanamitra, Nisargaratna, Vrikshapremi, and Vrikshasri. Below is a list of few such awards:
- Padma Shri
- National Citizen Award by the Government of India
- Gait Free Brabiency national award
- National Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award by the Government of India
- Karnataka Rajyothsava Puraskar
- The NADOJA award, Hampi University in
- INDIRA RATNA Puraskar
- Karnataka Rajya Parisara Award
- Women Empowerment Award
- The GREEN MOTHER Award
- PARISARA PRIYADARSHINI Puraskar
- Mother of Tree Award
- Jagajyothi Basavanna Puraskar
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar State Award
- Green India Puraskar
- Sahara India Puraskar
- Padma Shri in 2019
Saalumarada Thimmakka Shade Plan
Hundreds of awards have been bestowed Saalumarada Thimmakka until now. But, with all these, she remains a person of innocence and humility from her. Her name and fame in the world have not affected her humble nature. She has become a legend of her own order and leads a humble and simple life even today. In the felicitation of Saalumarada Thimmakka, honorable chief minister of Karnataka, Sri Siddharamaiah has reserved a substantial amount of money as a fund for “Saalumarada Thimmakka Shade Plan” by giving momentum to the mission of planting trees along 3000 Kms stretch and tending it for five years. This was declared in the year 2014-15. The same plan was reiterated again in 2015-16 & 2016-17, and the necessary arrangements were made for its execution.
THE TITLES AND AWARDS Accorded to SAALUMARADA THIMMAKKA
- National Citizen Award- Government of India -1965
- National Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award-Government of India -1997
- Gait Free Brabiency National award -2006
- The NADOJA award, Hampi University -2010
- Karnataka Rajyothsava Award
- Karnataka Rajya Parisara Award
- INDIRA RATNA Award
- The GREEN MOTHER Award
- Women Empowerment Award
- Mother of Tree Award
- PARISARA PRIYADARSHINI Award
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar State Award
- Sahara India Puraskar
- Jagajyothi Basavanna Puraskar
- Green India Puraskar
- Dr. Shivarama Karantha Puraskar
- VAGDEVI PARISARA RATNA Award -2012
- Green Champion-2012
- Udaya Film Award (Green Award) -2013
- Pampavathi Parisara Award
- VRIKSHA VARSHINI Award-2003
- PARISARA RATNA Award-2013
- Sanjeevani Award
- Suvarna Shri Award
- Kaveri Award
- Vijaya Vithhala Award
- Vachanashri Award
- SEVAK GREEN REVOLUTION Puraskar
- Svananda Kala Award
- Shreematha Award
- An award in the All India Jain Women’s Conference for her total achievement.
- Sagar Award
- Samaj Seva Rathna Award
- Vanasiri Rathna Award
- Vanarani Award
- Mother of trees Award
- Vrikshamathe Award
- Vishwachethana Award
- KENGAL HANUMANTHAIAH Award
- Vishalakshi Award
- C.M.S.B NATIONAL AWARD
- VISHWASHRI AWARD
- Kusumashiri Award
- Garuda Award
- Vishwathma Award
- Kalyana Siri Award – 2016
- Sri Krishna Anugraha Award – 2016
- Bheem Rathna Award – 2016
- Basava Siri Award – 2016
- Naada Chethana Award
Initiation of the government of India
The government of India has taken the initiative of including a poem written on Saalumarada Thimmakka in the CBSE textbooks, recognized her invaluable service done to the society and environment. The government of Karnataka has taken steps to include a chapter in the list of lessons prescribed by its literacy program. Also, the students from the 1st standard till 10th are introduced to Saalumarada Thimmakka’s achievements in their Hindi Textbooks. A lesson about her has been included in the political science textbook prescribed for the class 12th students.
Thus, after having received hundreds of awards for her incredible service, Saalumarada Thimmakka lives a fulfilled life. A humble natured simple woman whose selfless and magnificent service in preserving and protecting the environment is a role model to all of us. She is indeed a daughter whose name the country takes with immense pride.
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