Published: 14 November 2025The HinduEnvironment
Saalumarada Thimmakka, 'Tree Woman of India', Passes Away at 114
Saalumarada Thimmakka, the legendary environmentalist known as the 'Tree Woman of India' and 'Vriksha Mata', passed away on November 15, 2025 at the age of 114. She was celebrated for planting and nurturing over 8,000 banyan trees in her lifetime, including 385 banyan trees along a 4.5 km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur in Karnataka.
She received the Padma Shri in 2019 and inspired environmental movements worldwide. The TREE (Thimmakka's Resources for Environmental Education) organization in the USA was named after her. Her grassroots legacy underscores the importance of community-driven conservation, a model relevant to Rajasthan's own afforestation challenges in the Thar Desert region.
Mains angle
Q: Discuss the legacy of Saalumarada Thimmakka and its relevance to community-driven afforestation in India. (10 marks)
Answer (50 words):
The Tree Woman of India, Padma Shri 2019, planted over 8,000 banyan trees including 385 along a 4.5 km Hulikal-Kudur stretch in Karnataka. Her grassroots model — echoed by the USA's TREE organisation — inspires afforestation in drylands like Rajasthan's Thar, reinforcing sacred groves and community stewardship as ecological solutions.
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Kamini Kaushal debuted in which film that won the Grand Prix at Cannes?
Explanation · Correct answer CKamini Kaushal debuted in 'Neecha Nagar' (1946), India's first Grand Prix winner at Cannes.
