2009 August 15, I had an opportunity to plant one tree. Thanks to VGN School & Kammavar Youth Welfare Association Arakkonam. I suggest each citizen should plant at least 1 tree in a year. (Of course you have to maintain it,  till it grow self dependant). Planting a tree gives a self satisfaction, when you see it grow taller than you! :)  Dont you believe it?  Try one now. If you  don’t  have any place, request any school or factory nearby you to give you a space or  donate them  tree saplings, may be anyone who has a space to plant one.

By each year the summer is getting very hot and specially my Vellore district becoming a dry state, meter touching 106 Average. The first reason for such heat accumulation is the lack of trees that give shadow and observe the heat, secondly majority of the district is covered by thorn tree's, which does not give any shadow and they are best known for transmitting/reflecting the heat.

Having this cause in mind, for quite few years I wanted to plant trees in my village, somehow things were not getting to co-ordinate, this year I had plan to do that on May 1, bud had no clue where to start and how to execute. Fortunately, I happened to meet my headmaster of my government primary school  Mr. Philip at a marriage function, under whom I have studied between 1980 to 1985. He was a best known HM for teaching discipline, giving branded punishment , very strict for  attendance  and not completing homework. (But these days, I don’t guess any teacher has such freedom/dare  to punish any student, else he will run between courts or even get treated from the student itself, modern parents also support children and stand against teacher and punishment)

He worked in our village school for almost 25 years, whole village gave him a nice send-off  11 years back( Hard luck I was not present), but my invitation gave him little surprise and asked me, Devarajan is it so necessary and already 11 years gone after I left your village?  I said YES.  As rquested he had made his presence at given time.  He was our chief guest and helped us by initiating the tree plantation, all through the event I had an opportunity to listen to his ex-students, also the one current village president. HM Philip also gave a speech to youth and children’s on topic……how to be a good citizen.?

Few quotes I listened to him...

1) One tree can never become a forest.
2) Respect your parents.
3) Be a responsible citizen to home first.
4) Keep involving in social activities.

A great moment, all enjoyed and planted about 39 Tree saplings, each of them now been handed over to children’s, who took interest to maintain it.  Hard thing……………I have 2 in my account..need  to check safety of the saplings and to water at least  in alternative days!  Also I got a remark on this event.....reason.....many other ex-students, shouting at me for not informing/inviting them.....................:(
I assure you all, will surely invite you on the next event. Please excuse me.

Note : I would like to thank The Forest Officer, Tiruvellore for his support by giving saplings at subsidized rate and making it a collection of types. His Forest Office is located near to Tiruvellore Railway station and River Bridge. Anyone interested in getting Tree saplings…in and around Chennai(non-commercial  trees) Please send me a request I will try to assist.

Best Wishes
Devarajan G