Bangalore: Eighty-year-old Saalumaradha Thimmakka is a real eco-warrior in rural Karnataka. Far from air-conditioned conference halls, this unlettered and unschooled octogenarian works for the environment non-stop.
Her full name -- Saalumaradha Thimmakka -- in Kannada means 'The one who planted rows of trees'. And if the rows and rows of banyan trees that line the three-km stretch to her village Hulikal could speak, they would agree that the description fits her late husband Bikkalu Chikkaiah as well.
"It was all my husband's idea. Even 25 years after our marriage, we were not blessed with children. He said, lets at least plant trees, that will give us 'punya'," Thimmakka said.
From then on, everyday for 10 years, Thimmakka tended to the hundreds of saplings like her own children. She carried water for them on her head in the hot sun. All this bore fruit - though years later - as she now has a roomful of awards and a grateful younger generation.
"It is because of her hard work that we have all these trees today. She is a 'parisara devathe' (eco-goddess)," said Pradeep, a college student.
The amazing green cover is all thanks to what she and her husband did more than 50 years back. She doesn't realise it, but Saalumaradha Thimmakka is one of the biggest environmentalists of our times.