Covid causes death by asphyxia, also known as hypoxia, a struggle due to lack of oxygen. The importance of oxygen has suddenly come to the forefront, shortage of oxygen cylinders has caused black marketing and cylinders being sold at exorbitant rates, prompting oxygen wars. Suddenly there is a clamour for starting new oxygen factories, oxygen has become the buzzword, as the gas that saves life.
Gautama Buddha was enlightened under a ‘Banyan’ tree also called the ‘Pipal’ tree, a sacred and national tree of India, its botanical name is (Ficus benghalensis)/‘Ficus Religiosa’. This is one of the few trees, that gives out oxygen both during the day as well as the night, though the release of oxygen during the night is less. There are a few other plants that give out oxygen during the day in the presence of sunlight, a process called photosynthesis and during the night in a process called Crassulacean acid metabolism, also known as CAM photosynthesis. There are other commonly known plants like Neem, Areca palm, tulsi, Aloe Vera, etc. that also give out oxygen in the night. Our ancestors specially Hindus must have been very well much aware of the benefits of these plants and planted them, those that grew on their own were protected.
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In cities like Margão, pronounced Madgaum in Konkani, there were many Banayan/pipal trees. In the centre of Madgaum market, we have the “Pimlaped’, a land mark with the tree in the centre; In front of the Madgaum Police Station there was a huge Banyan Tree (Pipol in Konkani), where, in the night all the city crows used to rest, the road leading to Fatorda had several Banayan trees, few still survive near the stadium.
What I decry and breaks my heart, is the indiscriminate cutting down of the Banyan trees, lost mostly to road widening or development, the situation in the villages is not different, let us consider the case of my own village Chinchinim, most coconut grooves had a Banyan tree either by accident or by design, it served the dual purpose of aeration and its leafy branches were cut and used as organic manure for the coconut trees. The biggest assassin of the Banyan tree, I am sorry to say; is the ‘neo-Batkars’ who returns with a bag full of Dinars and Petrodollars and construct their houses close to the Banyan/Pipol tree, then comes the complaint that the areal roots are trespassing into his compound and ultimately the house, the pruning is much harsher and severe this time which unbalances the tree, the next complaint follows, that there are huge serpents,’Bilmazor’(civet cat), bats and owls residing in this cavernous tree, and the grandchildren are mortally scared of the big eyes of the owl which thought to bring bad luck. The adjoining owner of the Banayan/Pipol/Odd is threatened; if the tree falls on the house or family members are bitten by snakes the owner of the Banyan/Pipol/Odd will be responsible. Persuasion and common sense having failed, the tree is axed, snakes like the rat snake(Divol), green snake (Erbel) escape in the nearby bamboo thicket, the slower poisonous ones like the cobra and the Russel viper(Mandol) are killed and burnt.
The civet cat alarmed with the thumping of the axe, jumps to the ground and escapes to the nearest mango tree with minor injuries, the fruit bat (flying fox) was found dead hanging upside down on electric transmission wires, the upside down electric chair. The resident wise owl was found dead many months later in a nearby field eaten by ants. I am in no way jealous and critical of the ‘nouveau riche’ they also have the right to live well, but need to respect the environment. The well-heeled new generation of the old ‘Batkar’ have their own follies of making a fast buck and living life in the fast lane, selling their ancestral properties which they inherited without hard work, the builder makes mincemeat out of the trees with a new tool called chain saw in the name of affordable housing. In the present Covid scenario, God forbid the ‘Morgad’ of the ‘Batkar’ may well land up in the parking lot of a hospital in his BMW, face strapped to an oxygen cylinder gasping for breath.
God has given us natural oxygen generating factories by way of trees and plants which we should not destroy arbitrarily, rather protect them; building oxygen factories out of the tax payers money to supplant trees is lack of vision. In time to come we may soon have to carry our own oxygen cylinder strapped to our back. What use is this false development when our younger generation cannot breathe in a salubrious oxygen rich atmosphere.
Our ancestors planted coconut trees along bhands/bhunds/bands and roads giving us fruit, fresh air, shade and shelter; coconut areca nut, jambool, jackfruit, tamarind, kukum(binda), bamboo, drumstick, mango etc has contributed to the greenery of the village.
We need to follow the example and vision of our ancestors by planting trees alongside our highways and new roads.
(The author is a lawyer and takes keen interest in agriculture.)
