Rename All Trees as ‘Ashvattha’ So That They Won’t Be Chopped! Why Not?

By
Alfie Dsouza, Team Mangalorean.
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Rename All Trees as ‘Ashvattha’ So That They Won’t Be Chopped! Why Not?

Rename All Trees as ‘Ashvattha’ (Peepal) So That They Won’t Be Chopped! Why Not?

Mangaluru: Yes, trees are sacred in India, and often associated with a god or a goddess. Some scholars believe that it is the tree that was worshiped first, maybe for its medicinal or symbolic purpose, and that the gods and goddesses came later. That may be the case but today trees are an integral part of a deity’s symbolism. The Ashvattha ( Peepal) tree is associated with Yama, the God of death and the tree is often planted outside the village near crematoriums. The Peepal tree does not let a blade of grass grow under it. Thus Peepal tree does not allow for any rebirth and renewal. While Peepal offers shade from the sun, it offers no food. That is why it is not part of fertility ceremonies like marriage and childbirth where food-giving, rapidly renewing, plants with short lifespan such as Banana, Mango, Coconut, Betel, Rice and even grass, are included.

Thus, it emerges that in Indian thought, there are two types of sacredness – one that is associated with impermanent material reality and the other which is associated with permanent spiritual reality. The Banana and the Coconut fit into the previous category; the Peepal fits into the latter. Banana is the symbol of the flesh, constantly dying and renewing itself. Peepal is the soul – never dying, never renewing itself. That is a little bit of history of a Ashvatta Tree.

Few weeks ago a large Peepal Tree grown near Bunts Hostel Road was saved from the hands of tree cutters by Saffron activists and environmentalist since the tree was sacred and need to be saved. So this said tree was transplanted a few yards away at a cost of Rs 3 lakhs plus in front of Sujir C V Nayak Hall, and it is surviving since the taxi drivers who park their cars near to this tree, water it daily, if not it would have been dead, like a bunch of other transplanted trees in the city, which have dried up. A peepal tree has been saved in front of Infosys, even though the road had to be divided due to this tree. Name and values of trees matters, I guess!

While a few trees are saved in the city depending on their identity, many others are chopped down either for road development or the trees are blocking the view. So why all this discrimination against the innocent trees. Few weeks ago, a bunch of trees were felled opposite to Kafri Market, to give way for an MCC project that is coming up in that area. Couple of days ago, while passing by I noticed a huge tree in front of “Marian Promenade apartments” on Kadri Kambala Road was chopped down, leaving behind only the little bottom part of the tree. ( See pics). When asked one of the workers there piling up the wood, why the tree was cut-the answer was that the tree was old and literally dead.

That was one answer from a daily wage laborer, but yet another answer from an apartment owner came was, that the tree was blocking the view of the apartment. Now who is speaking the TRUTH, need to be clarified by the forest department officials and the hard core environmentalists. Whether permission was granted by the concerned authorities to chop down the tree, is to be checked.

In conclusion in my perspective, why is that some trees are saved depending on their nature and names, while other trees are cut no matter what the circumstances are. That is TOTAL DISCRIMINATION against trees?  Ha.. Since we change names of streets, roads, halls, building etc, why not rename all trees to “Ashvattha” so that they could also live forever like the former. and on the other hand what is the logic behind Tree transplanting? Transplanting trees in certain cases, and chopping it down in other cases. Total nonsense, and doesn’t make any sense. Trees need to be shifted no matter what, either they got uprooted by weather or they are obstructing a development project. In the case of an age-old tree or a religious importance tree, we don’t allow a tree to be axed or to die, but how many of us would come forward to spend tax-payers money to help a homeless or destitute sick who is about to die on the road. Seems like human life is not important for our administration. How about taking care of starving stray dogs, who lose their lives due to starvation- does any one cares about it. Seems like lives of animals are not our concern. I guess ONLY TREES at the moment?

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