The banyan, in the shade

The banyan, in the shade
SWATI MAZUMDER

Vadodara, long known as the `Banyan City', may soon lose the right to such a nomenclature. SWATI MAZUMDER reports on the distinct reluctance of its residents to befriend the tree

What has long given Vadodara, earlier known as Baroda, it distinctive appeal over the years was the ubiquitous presence of the banyan or the Ficus benghalensis. In fact, the city derived its name from vad (banyan in Gujarati) and came to be known as Banyan City.

Today, unfortunately, the trend is quite the opposite as more and more of the city's residents believe that the tree consumes too much time and space. Consequently, when the city's social forestry department decided to initiate a drive to distribute saplings of the banyan in the city recently, there were hardly any takers.

Many who were initially tempted to get these saplings gave up the idea on second thoughts. As businessman Pratik Shah, who stays in the Fatehgunj area of the city puts it, ``We do know that it is important for our city. But it consumes lot of space and takes a number of years to grow -- at least six years.''

Some are also superstitious about the banyan. According to Jaisukh Bhatt, a Vadodara resident, there is a local saying that if someone plants this tree, it could spell his doom and someone from the family would die.

These and other factors have acted as dampeners for the city's social forestry department. But while officials here admit that their awareness campaign has not evoked the desired response from residents, they are nevertheless going ahead. ``Their problems in planting the saplings well inside the residential areas might be justified, but we are urging them to go in for the exercise at least on the outskirts of the city. To get this point across, we will carry out our awareness campaigns,'' says Chief Conservator of Forests, Ashok Kumar.

But not many seem to be convinced. Most of them are opting for fast growing trees. The most preferred ones now are the neem, desi asopalav, samania (better known as the raintree), the seven-leaved saptparni and the kadam. Besides growing in a short span of time, they also consume less space. ``These varieties grow in just three years,'' a social forestry officer points.

But in going for the ``convenience trees'', residents overlook the long-term advantages of the banyan tree. Observes Dr G.M. Oza, general secretary of the International Society of Naturalists, ``It is a virtual sanctuary for birds. It occupies a large cloud space and since its leaves are big it absorbs a large number of pollutants, helping to minimise the hazards pollution spell for urbanites.''

Some residents point out that since a large of residential societies have cropped up in Vadodara over the last few years, the city has acquired a cluttered look and available space has also dwindled sharply. ``There is hardly any distance between residential societies these days and everything is so cluttered. Where is the space for a banyan tree?'' asks Sudeshna Pandit, a student.

But the department's plea to plant banyan trees on the avenues instead of in residential localities also seems to have had little effect. Residents say that it could affect their plans for the infrastructural development of their city. ``Even if it is on the avenue, we won't be able to go for road widening projects in our area because the roots of the tree are widespread and it would be difficult to carry out the digging later on,'' says Pratibha Shah, a city resident.

Ecologists are pained over these arguments. ``It is really a sad trend. The character of this city was due to banyan trees and the people are looking at short term benefits. They thereby give up a natural resource that could, in the long term, pay them great dividends,'' says Somnath Bandopadhyay, a senior ecologist with the Gujarat Ecology Commission.

Banyan trees became popular in the city with a sapling being planted in the compound of the Laxmi Vilas Palace by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III. The sapling was brought all the way from Sri Lanka. The few old banyan trees which still exist are the ones along EME road, and a lovely one near the cricket ground of MS University. The one planted by Gaekwad is still there in the palace compound.

R.O. Shah of the Beautiful Baroda Council, a city-based NGO, cannot hide his disappointment over a city's rejection of its natural heritage. ``The city in fact derived its name from the vad and a religious day -- vad savitri vrat -- is signified by these trees. The reverse trend augurs ill for the city. It will certainly lose its character as the Banyan City.''

Oza predicts a disastrous scenario. ``At this rate, women who keep the vad savitri vrat would now have to purchase the twigs of the tree from outside the city!'' he laments.

Incidentally, the tree has significant medicinal value and is known for its antiseptic and astringent properties. Since it expedites the clotting of blood, it has been used in various indigenous systems of medicine for the treatment of wounds and skin diseases. ``An infusion of the bark is used to treat diarrhoea, excessive menstruation, nervous disorders and diabetes,'' says Yagneshbhai, an Ayurvedic consultant.

But, alas, his arguments appear to make little difference to the average resident of the Banyan City, who has displayed faint interest in befriending this wonderful tree.

Readers can send feedback to focus@expressindiacom.