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Winning Children and Youth for Ecology

On environmental day hundreds and thousands of plants are distributed and panted all over India. In a casual way I spoke to the children in the neighbourhood who had come to play cricket about environmental day and how they could contribute in beautifying our surroundings. One of them recalled with satisfaction that the plant he had planted last year on this occasion is grown up to his height while another one with remorse said his plant was trampled and destroyed by stray cattle. He added: it is impossible to protect plants from stray animal's.

Referring the UN report that India has the lowest number of trees per head (28 trees per head in India compared to 8953 trees per head in Canada), I told them it is time that we do something about it. To encourage them I quoted a wise saying which goes like this: The breeze that comes through a sandalwood forest will have the aroma of sandalwood and the breeze that comes through a heap of dirty waste will be unbearable and nauseating. The breeze is not at fault if it emanates foul smell. Whether the breeze is sweet or foul depends on the way through which it waves. I proposed that we could plant Flame of the Forest on either side of the road leading to Prakruthi Mithra and suggested that let us make our street beautiful and our homes will have a face lift automatically. They gave a nod signaling that they are not averse to this idea. 'Speak with your friends' I told them and sent my first three missionaries. The idea did not catch up like a wild fire but it has received acceptance in different corners.

It is a known fact that it is much harder to make a plant grow in a public place (in this case on the road side) than growing hundred plants in ones own garden. An undertaking of this kind of planting trees on road side needs active support and collaboration of the community. So I started seeking moral support and a helping hand for this venture from elderly people in the neighbourhood. With elderly peoples support and collaboration forthcoming, the project could now take off smoothly. Meantime a few children were engaged in hunting for seedlings of 'Flame of the Forest' (May Flower) in the forest area. After some frantic search they found a few plants of this particular variety and planted their treasure in polythene covers.

All was set and we found an auspicious time a time that most of us could make ourselves free - to actualize our dream plan into action. It was Sunday afternoon the 11^th June 2018. But the rain that was lashing on for almost a week continued mercilessly and we had to stop our plans abruptly and postponed it for the next Sunday. On the appointed time just two persons turned up. Upon enquiries and umpteen phone calls, I realized that the situation was similar to the one explained by Jesus in the parable of the wedding feast (Mt.22, 1-10). After days of dark, cloudy and cloud bursts, a bright sunny day was an ideal setting for children and youth for outdoor swimming in a pond next to Prakruthi Mithra. Elderly people had many excuses - one was doing the weekend cleaning, another one went with his family to visit their relatives, one has guests at home and one was sick etc. All had genuine excuses and yet promised to come but a bit later. From nowhere came two children and said: mother has told us to go to Father and plant trees. The flop show was slowly getting new life. I went to the pond where children were having their merry and canvassed the attractive prospect of flower trees in front of their homes. The children left their swimming trunk there at the pond and followed us. Children, youth and elderly people began to trickle one by one and what happened thereafter is a near miracle as the pictures shown below.

Yes, we are dreaming nothing less than a colourful bloomy surrounding(picture below) in the years to come and the children when they grow up can narrate their own flowery stories and their helping hand towards it....

Flame of the Forest/Flambouyant(Royal Poinciana/Delonix Regia)
Consistently voted among the top 5 most beautiful flowering trees in the world, this native of Madagascar is covered in passionate clusters of flame-red flowers during spring and summer and turns the plainest of streets into prize winners. Royal Poinciana grows to 10 - 12 metres with an elegant, umbrella-like canopy of lacy leaves.

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