Mother of 284 banyan trees in hospital

Salumarada Thimmakka, 85, noted environmentalist whose very name, Salumarada, means ‘row of trees’ in Kannada, has been in hospital for a week. “Doctors tell me I could soon be discharged,” she said, as she lay in her hospital bed at Victoria. “I am worried about some trees I’ve planted; I would be happy to get home,” she added.

Thimmakka has been suffering from a skin ailment. She has also had high blood pressure. A native of Hulikal in Magadi taluk, Bangalore Rural district, Thimmakka is renowned for having planted 284 banyan trees on a four-km stretch of the Bangalore-Nelamanagala highway.

Thimmakka received no formal education. She worked as a casual labourer in a quarry. She was married to cattle herder Chikkaiah, who died in 1991. The couple could have no children. There are those who claim that Thimmakka and her husband took to planting trees as a couple might nurture children. Thimmakka and Chikkaiah used their own resources to plant saplings; they also carried pails of water for up to four kilometres to water the saplings.

On Monday, members of the Youth Congress Committee visited Thimmakka. S Manohar, president of the city wing of the Youth Congress, said, “Thimmakka was treated for the same skin ailment on June 16, 2007. The government did not pay for her treatment then. Even now, the government has not borne her medical expenses. In 2007, we met her as a party delegation and offered Rs20,000 towards her treatment and welfare. I learnt that she receives a paltry Rs400 per month as pension.”

Thimmakka’s follower Vanashree Umesh, said that doctors are confident that she is on the way to recovery. Her blood pressure has stabilised. However, financial worries continue to plague her, as the old age pension is her only income.

Thimmakka had been admitted to the judicial special ward of Victoria Hospital, in close proximity to former minister Hartal Halappa, accused of rape; so no one was allowed to meet her. Later, with the intervention of superintendent BG Tilak, she was allowed visitors.

Thimmakka, who has been honoured with the National Citizen’s Award of India, the Indira Gandhi Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra award, and many other awards, now needs help. You could make donations at her account number, 54055023965, State Bank of Mysore, Hulikal branch.