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Photo: S. James

ITS CELEBRTION TIME Students at work in the garden

The term ‘natural environment’ becomes increasingly hard to comprehend.

But not for all. Even in modern society’s concrete jungle, like minded people can bridge the gap.

Take the case of a group of students from Madurai’s Yadava College.

They chose to bring in extra green carpet within the campus and the college authorities joined hands. And what emerged was a unique ‘Birthday Garden’ on the sprawling seven-acres of college premises.

Says P. Rengan, Principal in-charge, “The novel idea of establishing a birthday garden took shape nine months ago, with a motto ‘plant trees for the future generation’.” Under the guidance of the Dean, Infrastructure, M. Subbiah Das and Rengan, the students got involved in the project chanting the ‘Save Mother Earth’ mantra as promulgated by former Prime Minister P. Narasimha Rao at Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit. Anybody who wants to celebrate his or her birthday in a different way just drops in a chit mentioning the birthday date and the celebrations begin. The birthday babies begin their day after a brief prayer at the Lord Krishna’s temple.

Thereafter, the students escort the birthday baby to the birthday garden where all plant saplings amidst applause and shouts of joy.

So far, the garden has a collection of around 620 trees of 17 varieties, all planted by the students to mark a milestone in their lives, says Rengan, adding that an exclusive place for retired professors has been allotted. About 35 saplings have been planted till now by retired professors and VIPs in the college.

“Every tree is named after the professor who plants it,” Rengan says. Besides, the college has also established a separate medicinal plant garden with about 60 varieties.

The saplings planted are nurtured in the college’s nursery only.

To motivate students, the college also distributes free saplings to those who want to maintain a garden in their homes or elsewhere.

Ornamental and flowering plants are also given free to interested students.

It does not stop with just free distribution of tree saplings and plants. The Dean even goes on inspection to students’ houses to see the progress of saplings and plants collected from the college garden. If Subbiah Das finds an ill-maintained sapling, he traces the name of the student from the register and imparts tips with a stern notice.

The college has also appointed two gardeners for regular maintenance in the absence of students.

This miniature attempt in cultivating the birthday garden is a way of creating awareness and spreading the message about importance of environment protection, says B. Saradha, a student. Adds yet another student, M. Imam, “The task of environment protection is a universal responsibility of all of us.”

“Birthday garden is a humble gesture that demonstrates our global concern and helps in making our own little but significant, contribution to the cause,” he says, adding that the students are busy converting young people to the cause.

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