Padma Shri Awardee 'Vrikshamata' Tulsi Gowda passes away
Ankola: Tulsi Gowda, popularly known as the 'Vrikshamata' (Mother of Trees), passed away at the age of 86 at her home due to age related ailments in Honnalli village, Ankola taluk, on Monday evening.
Tulsi js survived by two children and four grandchildren.
Tulsi Gowda earned her nickname by planting and nurturing millions of trees over decades, dedicating her life to environmental conservation. Known for planting over thirty thousand saplings annually, she contributed significantly to reforesting barren lands and promoting greenery. Her efforts earned her the prestigious Padma Shri Award from the Indian government.
Despite facing personal challenges, including losing her husband at a young age and raising two children as a widow, Tulsi joined the Forest Department as a daily wage worker. Her passion for nature turned her job into a lifelong mission. She collected seeds, cultivated saplings, and reforested vast areas, which led to her becoming a symbol of environmental dedication.
Tulsi Gowda, a member of the Halakki tribal community, possessed remarkable knowledge of trees, their uses, and their care. Her expertise surpassed that of many professionals, and forest scientists often marveled at her understanding of sapling production and seed care. She grew trees like mango, banyan, and jackfruit while promoting eco-friendly species to combat environmental degradation.
Her selfless commitment to the environment extended beyond her retirement. Even in her later years, she continued nurturing plants in the forests near her home. Visitors from across the state sought her guidance and inspiration, recognizing her as a beacon of environmental consciousness.
Tulsi Gowda's contributions were celebrated with numerous accolades, including the Indira Priyadarshini Vriksha Mitra Award, the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award (1999), Smt. Kavita Memorial award, Indavalu H. Honnaiah social service Award and several other honors for her tireless work in environmental conservation. She continued her mission even while living a modest life, relying on a small pension and the support of her two sons, who work as laborers.
Tulsi often expressed concern over the environmental degradation caused by modern practices like the widespread planting of acacia, which she believed harmed groundwater levels. She advocated for the cultivation of traditional, eco-friendly trees, urging society to prioritize sustainable practices.
Tulsi Gowda's legacy lives on in the countless trees she planted and the lives she inspired to protect the environment for future generations.
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Wildfires race across Chile, leaving 15 dead, forcing thousands to flee
Penco (Chile) (AP): Wildfires raging across central and southern Chile on Sunday left at least 15 people dead, scorched thousands of acres of forest and destroyed scores of homes, authorities said, as the South American country swelters under a heat wave.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe in the country's central Biobio region and the neighbouring Nuble region, around 500 kilometres south of Santiago, the capital.
The emergency designation allows greater coordination with the military to rein in two dozen wildfires that have so far blazed through 8,500 hectares and prompted 50,000 people to evacuate, according to Chilean Security Minister Luis Cordero.
“All resources are available,” Boric wrote on X.
But local officials reported that for hours on Sunday, destruction was everywhere and help from the federal government was nowhere.
“Dear President Boric, from the bottom of my heart, I have been here for four hours, a community is burning and there is no (government) presence,” said Rodrigo Vera, the mayor of the small coastal town of Penco in the Biobio region. “How can a minister do nothing but call me to tell me that the military is going to arrive at some point?”
Firefighters were struggling to extinguish the flames, but strong winds and scorching weather hampered their efforts Sunday with temperatures topping 38 C (100 F).
Residents said that the fires took them by surprise after midnight, trapping them in their homes.
“Many people didn't evacuate. They stayed in their houses because they thought the fire would stop at the edge of the forest,” said John Guzman, 55, surveying the scene in Penco, where smoke blanketed the sky in an orange haze. “It was completely out of control. No one expected it."
Although the total number of homes burned nationwide remained unclear, one municipality of Concepcion in Biobio reported 253 homes destroyed.
“We fled running, with the kids, in the dark,” said Juan Lagos, 52, also in Penco. The fire engulfed most of the city, burning cars, a school and a church.
Charred bodies were found across fields, homes, along roads and in cars.
“From what we can see, there are people who died ... and we knew them well," said Víctor Burboa, 54. "Everyone here knew them.”
