13th day rites for chopped trees, Mysureans do it in style

Citizens from different parts of Mysuru participated in a unique event called the Appiko movement to offer homage to three trees which were felled on the night of December 13 at Gokulam in Mysuru on Sunday.

This is the area where the house of noted English writer R.K. Narayan is situated. The house has been converted into a museum which is visited by hundreds of people every year. Today being the 13th day after the trees were cut, the final rites were offered to the trees by a priest.

Citizens brought flowers and garlands to show their affection for the trees. Parasurame Gowda, convener of Parisara Balaga was the first participant to urge citizens to complain whenever they see illegal felling of a tree before the priest started the last rites ceremony. This may be the first time a solemn ceremony was held for ‘near and dear ones’ on the 13th day after their death.

Dr. Bhamy V. Shenoy explained the reason for the event and said the forest official concerned was unfriendly when he was informed about the tree cutting. He said that unless he is given information on who was behind the feeling, he can do very little and he was too busy. The officer further argued that unless a complaint is given in writing, he cannot act. The event was organised to highlight the dereliction of duty on the part of the forest department , he said adding that despite making a request to the forest department, they did not send any representative to the event.

He recalled that when a similar event was held in the early 90s when some trees were felled on JLB Road, in Mysuru, then Conservator of Forest, Dr. Kodhira Kushalapa had participated.
Srikanth Bhat of Kotivraksha also narrated his experience of how forest officials are lax in prosecuting those who indulge in felling trees. He also shared his experience of organizing the ‘last rites’ when an old peepal tree was felled in Srirampur.

He also agreed to work with elected leaders to increase the penalty from Rs. 50,000 to Rs 3 lakh or more. Earlier Dr. Shenoy said the value of a tree is about Rs 6 crore as per the scientific quantification by Dr Das. He expressed his readiness to work to protect trees not just in Yadavagiri, but anywhere in the city.