BY PRABEER SIKDAR
DEHRADUN, 22 Apr 2009:
Anything attached with a ‘Gandhi’ tag is known to have lasting value (the three generations of Gandhis from Feroze Gandhi to Rahul Gandhi) and also, sometimes, known to command good prices at auctions (Vijay Mallya paid $1.8 million to acquire Gandhi’s glasses, a pocket watch, a brass plate, etc).
It is little wonder that, if Gandhi’s lifeless objects raise that huge a sum of money, then, what would be the price tag of a living tree left behind by Gandhi in Doon? That nobody knows for sure.
Welcome to the Rajpur Road based Christian Retreat and Study Centre (CRSC), where Gandhi planted a Peepal sapling (Ficus religiosa) on 17 October, 1929.
Now, at close to 80 years, the full grown tree not only stands tall at the entrance of the CRSC’s three-acre campus, but also provides support to countless small living creatures in its unique ways.
Life support
For many years (it still does), the branches of the tree have been shelter for black ants, birds, flies and insects, as well as monkeys, who swarm the tree in hordes.
“The tree is a favourite resting place for wild pigeons, woodpeckers and monkeys,” said Sarita Dass, Administrative Assistant of CRSC, adding that in view of its historical importance, ‘two gardeners water the tree everyday’.
The CRSC staff also constructed a round platform encircling the tree to strengthen its trunk base and filled it with earth. At 11 a.m. this morning, the tree had some friendly visitors – a pair of wild pigeons, a group of black ants, who have made a home inside one of the crevices in the tree trunk and a butterfly that hovered above the ornamental plants closeby.
“The tree will get more visitors in the days ahead when it grows new tender leaves,” said Dass, who also acknowledges the historical importance of the tree.
Ramjas and Yogesh – the two gardeners employed by CRSC, take care of the tree by spraying insecticide, watering, etc., at regular intervals.
History
According to Dr Manoj Panjani, a historian and an ex-JNU staffer in the Gandhian Studies Department (1990-96), who is chronicling Gandhi’s travels in Uttarakhand from 1915-1946 in his forthcoming book ‘Gandhi & Uttarakhand’, Gandhi planted the Peepal sapling during his third visit to the state (then known as United Provinces).
“On 17 October, 1929, Gandhi planted a sapling in the premises of what was then known as ‘Shakti Ashram’ in memory of T Keshava Deva Shastri, a doctor. The latter had founded the ‘Shakti Ashram’,” he stated, while pointing out that ‘nothing concrete is known about the activities of the Ashram and nor even about the life of Keshava, himself.
Elaborating further, he said that Gandhi had come to Dehradun on an invitation extended by Mahaveer Tyagi, a Congressman, after the latter promised Gandhi that he would collect Rs 5000 for Gandhi’s Daridra Narayan Fund.
Ironically, there is no record with CRSC management about the person (Keshava) in whose memory Gandhi planted the sapling in 1929.
“We do not have any photograph or picture of Keshava at CRSC,” said Rev RK Tandy, Director of CRSC to Garhwal Post, disclosing that CRSC had purchased the land from Mabel Khan, sister-in-law of Dr Keshava, in 1954 following the deaths of the Keshava couple.
Speaking about Dr Keshava, Tandy told Garhwal Post that the former, who had married an American woman, came to Doon in 1919 along with his sister in law. “Dr Keshava was a renowned doctor during his time,” he said.
Prior to Dr Keshava, the property is said to have belonged to the Salvation Army, which reportedly purchased it from an Austrian Glass manufacturer in the 1800s.
“From 1942-1948, the premises was used to run a Manav Bharti School,” Tandy said, adding that CRSC is now used for holding workshops, seminars, etc., for pastors.
“From tomorrow, we will be holding a 10-day Holistic Development workshop for Uttarakhand pastors,” he said.
Suggestions
According to Dr Manoj Panjani, who is now working as a Research Associate with Doon Library and Research Centre (DLRC), the sapling planted by Gandhi ‘should not be taken lightly’.
“In this time when deforestation activities go on unchecked, this sends a clear message for conservation,” he said, suggesting that ‘an open space should specially be earmarked in the city, where all important visiting luminaries – social, political, etc – should plant a sapling’.
“In this regard, some of the well-known schools of Doon, where children of the rich and mighty study, should take the initiative,” he suggested. He also pointed out the relevance of totemism (nature worship) prevalent in tribal societies in the conservation of the environment.
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