I was 14 when I grew my first sapling. In a layman’s lingo it was called “Neem” and in scientific language “MARGOSA”.This experience was an exciting one because my father’s office had just got renovated and as lover of nature he kept planting such trees but this time it was me who was going to take his place and the excitement started as I was the first girl child to plant a sapling in my family while earlier this was done only by the boys in my family.
The night before it was to be planted I was anxious and infact out of anxiety my dream too was related to mine planting the sapling.The anxiety grew by morning and I got up while the sun itself dint get up.I dressed to my best and asked my dad to take me to the office quickly.
After reaching the office,when the peon famously known as “Jha uncle” gave me the sapling which was placed in a polythene with mud all round I felt as if the nurse was handling me my first child whom I was happy to see yet anxious to know about.I carefully took it to the garden and on instructions by the gardener who had dug the place already but only for formality asked me to dig a bit;I placed it on the ground removing the polythene bag as it’s considered non-biodegradable(thanks to the gardner’s general knowledge).
I felt great and the feelings couldn’t be expressed in words but I can try my best to explain them.I felt above all because I had taken a step towards improving the environment and after taking the first step I ensured that I visualized each and every moment of its growth as I considered it to be my first child.Out of immaturity and affection towards it I named it “Jeevan” as I still remember my great grandmother told me about its medicinal properties.
I never missed an opportunity to notice the changes that occurred in it. The image is still crystal clear in my mind. I watered the sapling daily as a mother fills hr child’s mind with values and rites. The leaves grew as a child’s hands and legs. They changed colour as the child gets its first tooth. The tree today stands tall with leaves that I use as a mediciene.Even though they are bitter but for me they are sweet, they are sweeter than the sweetest sweet in the world because for me who in a way nurtured it; the tree is like a child whose growth is noticed by the mother. Starting from the first teeth to the first step. From the first word to the first writing. From the first poem to the first academic result. From the first opening of the eye to the last closing of breath.
For me the neem tree is like a child.I saw it growing,I saw it getting leaves,I saw them turning dark green,I saw them falling,I saw the tree growing,I saw the tree bending but to help it grow and not bend I gave it support.It feels great to start a life.It feels great to see the life move on,it feels great to see it reach so high…..
Mon Jul 30, 2007 11:15 pm