The tender healing garden

GREEN FINGERS
The tender healing garden
Deccan Herald

B A Khan doesn't like shedding the toughness of a policeman, except when he encounters a tree. The Assistant Commissioner of Police at the City Armed Reserve (CAR-South) even grows wistful, as he touches the tender branch of a tree, whose green leaves and cool shade transport him to his hometown in Malnad.

"Planting saplings is the first thing I do wherever I'm posted," Khan says. "I consider that as a service to the public, apart from my duties as a policeman." In N Prakash, Deputy Commissioner of Police at CAR-South, the ACP found a higher official who is equally enthusiastic about growing trees.

With the help of retired Assistant Conservator of Forest, M M Nissar Ahmed, the officers have developed two unique gardens in the police quarters at Adugodi, where the CAR is located. 'Dhanvanthri', the garden with rare herbal plants was developed some months ago.

Herbal plants

"Most of the diseases like jaundice can only be cured with herbal plants," says Prakash. "These herbal plants, however, are rarer to see and only a few people like Mr Nissar Ahmed know their medicinal values. 'Danvanthri' is our small bit to preserve such plants."

Using Nissar Ahmed's expertise, the officers have recently created Prakruthi Vana, the garden of naturopathy, in the police quarters. The garden contains a unique combination of 60 trees such as Dhathri, Sita Ashoka, Chitte Ala, Krishna Ala, Ashwatha, Kadamba, Bevu, Garige, Kanagile etc, whose collective presence proved to have healing powers.

"The trees are chosen from the Vedic texts," explains Prakash. "They're planted in a circle and we've followed the scriptures in choosing a tree's position from the centre of the garden. It's scientifically proven that these trees can work on a person's body and remove impurities."

Bilva Patra or Aegle marmelos (a special variety brought from Varanasi), for instance, detoxifies the system. Its aroma helps brain cells develop greater consciousness and subdues impatience. As a result, whoever coming into contact with the tree finds their self-control enhanced (according to the Vedic texts).

"It took years for me to work out the angle and the distance between each trees," says Nissar Ahmed. "The presence of Brahmi (Bacopa Monniera) and other trees create a mini-climate change, as you enter the garden. They also emit cheritonian along with oxygen, which cleanses the five sensory organs."

Nature therapy

The retired forest officer mentions that Prakruthi is the first nature-therapy garden in the state. "The entire garden has been developed by the policemen," mentions Prakash. "They've contributed money and have also done the necessary physical effort to creat it."

While special tracks have been laid for regular walkers (the public), the officials say they are also planning to construct a pyramid structure at the centre, which, they think, would fully harness the energy the trees exude.

Encourage public

"We think efforts like this would encourage the public to develop green-zones in other neighbourhoods, which would reduce the suffocation caused by shrinking lung-space in the city," Prakash hopes.

The Deputy Commissioner also believes that the garden would be much more effective after the rains, when some of the saplings would grow thicker and sprout more leaves.

Here’s an example of what even those in public offices can do to keep the City green and show the way for others to emulate.