Saalumarada Thimmakka, India's 'Tree Woman,' dies at 114
What's the story
Padma Shri awardee Saalumarada Thimmakka passed away on Friday at the age of 114. The renowned environmentalist had been suffering from respiratory issues since 2023. Thimmakka, who is also known as the "tree woman of India," was being treated at Apollo Speciality Hospital in Jayanagar. The doctors stated she had a history of heart and pulmonary problems and had been receiving routine follow-up checkups.
Name
Saalumarada meaning
Thimmakka was born on June 30, 1911, in Gubbi taluk of Tumakuru district. She rose to national fame for her decades-long devotion to greening rural Karnataka. She earned the name "Saalumarada," which means 'row of trees,' after planting 385 banyan trees along a 4.5-kilometer stretch between Hulikal and Kudur in Ramanagara district, Bengaluru.
Journey
Their journey
She married Sri Bikkala Chikkayya at the young age of 12 but never had any children. While the couple had no children, they took care of trees as their own. They began their journey by planting 10 trees in the first year along a five-kilometer stretch near the neighboring village of Kudur. They planted 15 more the next year and 20 the next year.
Awards
She was awarded Padma Shri in 2019
Over the years, she and her husband planted 384 banyan trees, which are now valued at roughly ₹15 lakh and are maintained by the Karnataka government. She became a symbol of environmental responsibility after planting and caring for over 8,000 trees along highways. For her work, she received 12 major honors, including the Padma Shri in 2019.