I saw a tree, wait it’s a
TREE!!! Never before had I been so happy on the sight of a tree. I just
ran and gave it a big hug…and cried! I had always laughed off the idea of
Chipko Movement. I do support the movement, but I thought what’s the need to
hug a tree! And probably millions of us think the same, and at times even those
who support it fully will not think twice before a cutting a tree if it brings more
land under their control. The sight of this tree had bought so many things to
my mind. What does a tree do for us?
Fruits to eat; shade from heat or rain; clean air to breath;
the tree even lets a house be built on it; it gives wood to make houses, furniture,
doors; the same wood even acts as an insulator; the first wheel was also made
of wood; the first airplane had a wooden frame; the first boat was of wood; a
single piece of wood can save a drowning person, the tree just has too many
uses. Never had I realized it…I am sorry tree! You are so much precious to us!
Let each one of us also thank a tree and hug it. If tree cutting is necessary, let’s
plant more trees as well.
I was still hugging it. It never told me to back off, it
never tells anyone. You can be any person, male-female, any religion-caste,
human-animal, anything and anyone, tree will always be there. I could feel God
inside that tree. Lesson learnt no 1 - the importance of a tree. Will this
ordeal teach me many more lessons? Actually wanting it to teach me, teach me
the importance of what we have, the importance of god’s gift to us!
After working hard (i.e thinking about how useful and important a
tree is to us) I was feeling hungry. I looked up the tree. It had a wide trunk,
the branches started from about 8-9 feet from ground. The leaves were lush
green and the branches were thickly populated with leaves and some round
things, probably fruits. Ok, so I got this equation in my mind
FRUITS=EAT=STOMACH KEEPS QUIET
But couldn’t quite guess which fruit it might be. Looked around,
needed a stone or something but the area around me was like the Presidents
Estate here in New Delhi. Clean short grass all around. Thought of taking my
boot off and trying for an aim. But the sneakers I was wearing were too light
in weight. It won’t solve my problem. So do I have to do the thing which I was
avoiding…climb the tree!!!
Phew! Tried 3-4 times but couldn’t get a foot hold on the trunk
and the branches were too high to get hold off. Then I remembered the ease with
which the locals in Goa and Kerala climb the coconut trees with some sort of
belt. I had just seen the videos but never tried. I wish mom had never stopped
me from climbing Apple trees which are a regular feature in Himachal Pradesh
highways if you go to Shimla via car from Delhi. Lesson learnt No 2- you should
know how to climb a tree; not only for fruits but at times to save yourself as
well.
However, I was too hungry and with the clear fact in my mind that
I wont be getting any help, I had to try it. Took off my belt and tried. Tried,
tried and tried. And again tried, tried and tried. Finally after 7-8 attempts,
I was able to reach half way mark on the trunk. The lowest branch on which I
could balance myself was about 2 feet away. Just a little more and I would be
there. AND then again the inevitable happened…my mind interrupted my acrobatic
act with fear. What if there are snakes up there??? I was hanging in balance and then...
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