Tamil Nadu   

Kulapathi award presented to conservationist

Special Correspondent

RECOGNITION: M.R. Srinivasan, former Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission (right), presenting the Kulapathi Munshi Award to conservationist Tarun Chhabra in Udhagamandalam on Wednesday.

Udhagamandalam: The prestigious `Kulapathi Munshi Award' of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, the Nilgiris Kendra, was conferred on well-known Nilgiris-based conservationist Tarun Chhabra at a function organised here on Wednesday.

Conferring the award instituted in memory of the founder of the Bhavan, K.M. Munshi on Dr. Chhabra, the former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, M.R. Srinivasan, said that the recipient besides being a leading dental surgeon of the Nilgiris was also the founder of the `Toda Nala Vaazhvu Sangam' and the `Edhkwelhynawd Botanical Refuge Trust'.

Cultural programmes

He also listed the cultural programmes organised by the chapter since it came into being about three years ago.

Participating as a special invitee, the former Governor, Ramamohan Rao, recalled his association with Dr. Chhabra and commended the interest taken by him in the preservation of the unique Toda culture, the shola trees and flora which were endemic to the Nilgiris.

Green campaigner Vanya Orr emphasised the need to protect the environment of the Blue Mountains since the wealth of the plains depended on the health of the hills. If the ongoing destruction of forests and grasslands continued, most of Tamil Nadu would become a desert by 2050, she cautioned.

Senior advocate and committee member, BVB, R. Sunder read out the citation.

Species of plants

Replying to the felicitation, Dr. Chhabra pointed out that about 100 species of plants can be found only in the Nilgiris. They were inextricably intertwined with the culture of the Todas. All efforts should be made to protect them. The secretary, BVB, Nalini Prakash, proposed a vote of thanks.

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