Padma Shri awardee Saalumarada Thimmakka was appointed as Karnataka environment ambassador with a government cabinet rank by the Bsavaraj Bommai-led government. (Read Full Story: 111-year-old environmentalist given status of a cabinet minister, who is She?)
When 107-year old ‘Mother of Trees’ Saalumarada Thimmakka broke protocol & blessed President Ram Nath Kovind while receiving Padma Shri award in 2019.
Now popularly known as the Mother of Trees, 111-year-old Thimmakka has emerged to become one of the most prominent environmentalists from Karnataka, and shot to fame for planting and nurturing 365 banyan trees along a four-kilometre highway stretch, between Hulikal and Kudoor village, near her husband’s native place in Tumakuru.
For her work, she has won the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, Hampi University’s Nadoja Award and National Citizen Award by Government of India, among many other national and international awards.
Thimmakka, who has earned the sobriquet of ‘Vriksha Mathe (mother of trees)’ for planting 8,000 trees including over 400 banyan trees, was honoured along with other personalities at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 16 March 2019.
In a ceremony marked by strict protocols, Thimmakka, dressed in a light green sari, with a smiling face and ‘tripundra’ on her forehead, approached the dias to receive the award from President Ram Nath Kovind. As the president, 33 years younger to Thimmakka, asked her to face the camera, the centenarian touched his forehead to bless him. Her innocuous move brought a smile on the faces of the President, Prime Minister and all the guests who burst into a rapturous applause for her.
Also Read: What does the story of Marada Thimmakka teach us?
Thimmakka’s story is of grit and determination. She reportedly wanted to commit suicide in her 40s as she could not conceive, but with the support of her husband, she found solace in planting trees. The couple arduously worked in the fields during the day, planted trees and cared for them. From 10 plants in the first year, they kept planting more saplings in the later years. Sometimes even bringing water from over 4 kilometers for their plants.
Born in Hulikal village in Karnataka, Thimmakka has planted over 8,000 trees during a period of 65 years. Her husband passed away in 1991.
