WANTED: Talisman for trees

WANTED: Talisman for trees
STOI features a tale of two trees that have overcome tremendous odds to survive but will need the support of Bangaloreans to live on


Whoever causes any harm to this tree, they will commit the sin of not taking care of their mother.’’ — Muniyappa.
So reads a Kannada stone inscription at the base of a ficus tree, at the lake catchment area of Chennammanakere in Banashankari. Installed on June 1, 1943, the inscription is the tree’s talisman, ensuring the tree protection to this day.
Ironically, even after 64 years, the inscription is relevant to contemporary Bangalore and the city needs many more Muniyappas as rampant tree felling has led to the city losing it’s Garden City tag.
However, Muniyappa’s inscription, which is located near a bus stop, is in danger of getting damaged.
According to residents, the inscription has gone unnoticed even though BMTC buses ply through the bus stop. M R Nataraj, a local resident, recalls some of the stories he heard about the inscription from his elders. “Muniyappa had a great love for trees and he planted the ficus tree. When Muniyappa died, his grandson buried him below the tree.’’ However, there are different versions to the story. According to Sethu Madhavan, a long-time resident, many of the landlords in the area sold their properties and moved to places like Kattriguppe. “It is difficult to trace Muniyappa’s family members and the mystery behind the stone carving. But, it definitely indicates his love towards trees.’’
“Ever since developmental activities began in Bangalore, we have been losing green cover. Added to that, most of the development projects consider green cover as an obstacle,’’ feels H S Sudhira, an IISc researcher who is conducting a study about the inscription.
“The inscription stands as a classic example of our older generations worshipping Nature. Unlike today, this was the kind of ethos people in Bangalore possessed in those days. It is fast disappearing today,’’ Sudhira stressed.
On an average, Bangalore loses 1,500 trees annually, either through developmental work or natural disasters. If the ficus tree has survived for more than half-a-century, even other trees can. All it needs is an individual tree guard like Muniyappa.