Monday, November 24, 2008

Heritage Trees: Five, and counting

The committee for protection of heritage trees has named a 300-year old tamarind as a heritage tree on the Gangothri campus. It is the fifth one to be identified for the heritage status by the committee, comprising 30 plus environment enthusiasts in Mysore.

The Hindu reports that among other heritage trees identified by the committe are 1) the big banyan on T Narsipur Road;2) a peepul on Manasagangotrhi campus;and 3) a silk cotton in Curzon Park. The newspaper hasn't named the fourth one.

Would the committee fill us in on the location of this heritage tree? We could also do with their photos.

On the status of the Gangotri tamarind, committee spokseman Prof.Ramalingam said a major branch of the 300-year-old tree was in a state of decay; and that the tree has perhaps only a few more years of life left in it. The professor noted that tamarind was very susiptible to lightning strikes.

There are scores of other trees awaiting heritage cerification. Wouldn't it be nice if Prof. Ramalingam and others in the committee share their thoughts on the criteria for identifying a heritage tree? This would help tree lovers to recommend trees for the committee cerification.

Meanwhile we would like to draw the committee's attention to some of our 'finds'in the city. Not all of these tress may merit heritage status.
The banyan at the Baden Powell Public School. "I cherish the memory of this tree because here I spent my boyhood evenings as a scout and this beautiful banyan was the ideal spot for we scouts of the Ramblers' Scout Group to learn roping and earn a badge," says veteran journalist, Mr Gouri Satya.
This tree at a Dewan's Rd.temple must be as old as the temple.
This tree on the SJCE campus was phtographed by tree enthusiast Gagan K. He says he has more such photos in his archive, and would post them here,if the heritage committee would care to consider them.
An aged tree vandalised with graffiti at Pinjrapole. Wonder if such matters come within the purview of the committee to protect heritage trees. the photo was mailed to us by Prashant, an IT professional.
Another photo by Prashant taken at Mysore Pijrapole.
A massive tangle of drop-roots of an aged tree on JLB Road.
This tree at Hotel Metropole, JLB Rd., may not merit heritage status. But it might be worthwhile for the committee, with the support of the hotel management, to bring out a profile of this tree, its history, and the tales it might carry, for the benefit of environment-conscious tourists staying/visiting the hotel.

1 comment:

Dinakar KR said...

I used to swing on those drop-roots there on Jhansi Lakshmi Bai Road, when they and I were a lot younger. That was a regular route on that calm wide road, with wide foot paths on either side, for our market errands or to the Rotary Club with my grandfather. We went by foot to most places if we had time - we usually had - and went by bus at other times. Those roots bring back memories when I pass by it even now 35-40 years later. I only hope those trees will not be chopped down to make more way for the already broadened road.