Date:04/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/04/stories/2006100416710200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

`One crore trees worldwide' is his mission

Special Correspondent

A Bangalore college to care for 10,000 plants

SPREADING GREENERY: Joseph V.G., chairman, Garden City College, Bangalore, planting the first sapling at the college campus in support of the venture of M.K. Harikumar (centre).

BANGALORE: It is a different "beat" for this journalist, author and literary critic from Kerala, who was here recently on a "green" mission.

On Sunday, M.K. Harikumar received an assurance from the principal of Garden City College near Krishnarajapuram, V.G. Joseph, that 10,000 saplings will be planted and cared for on the college campus. Some will eventually get planted elsewhere. Another responsibility will be to plant more saplings in the city and its suburbs and to care for them till they grew to become shade-giving trees.

Mr. Harikumar said he was fascinated by the concept of green environment while still in college. He recalled turning different shaped leaves as bookmarks and how his love for beauty in nature also contributed to his passion for writing.

His writing career eventually took him to become a bureau chief of a Malayalam daily and to become known as a poet and author, with eight books to his credit. Today he is worried about the onslaught on environment, not only in his home State but also in other places. He is embarked on a major venture now: a "One Crore Trees Worldwide Campaign" spread across six continents. A small beginning was made at the Bangalore college. Dr. Joseph says: "We are proud of our legacy as environmental caretakers and feel it our duty to protect what nature has given us. If we inspire students to plant a tree, they in turn will inspire many others. This is why Mr. Harikumar's venture makes sense." The college campus was barren land more than a decade ago and it is already filled with greenery and the newly planted saplings will add to it.

Mr. Harikumar is not banking on the Government but a strong network of "friends of the environment" he has cultivated through the years in various countries, cultures and cities.

"Several individuals and institutions have made a commitment to see this venture through. All I am seeking is space to plant trees, nothing more," he insists. His is like the Chipko movement and inspired by the Green Belt movement that won Kenya's Wangari Mathai the Nobel Prize. But he is not looking for such accolades and seeing the trees grow will be satisfaction enough, he says.

His approach is simple, with one crore saplings to be planted across six continents, he will seek land first. Places of worship, public spaces such as parks and educational institutions will be the sought-after venues.

From Bangalore, he hopes the venture will spread to other States and cities.

The focus will be on indigenous trees to enhance the impact of environmental concerns. However, individuals can choose any fast growing type.