Tributes pour in as 114-year-old environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka dies in Bengaluru

A beloved environmentalist known as Saalumarada Thimmakka has died at 114, at a private hospital in Bengaluru. A Padma Shri awardee in 2019, Thimmakka's lifelong work to conserve and expand greenery became a beacon for environmentalists across India. She was affectionately called Vriksha Mata, or 'Mother of Trees', for the way she tended thousands of saplings as her own family.

Born in Gubbi taluk, Tumakuru district, Thimmakka moved to Hulikal with her husband Bikkala Chikkayya after their marriage. The couple, who reportedly had no children, planted 385 banyan trees along State Highway 94 from Kudur to Hulikal, creating a living green corridor that drew attention from around the country.

Over eight decades, Thimmakka nurtured about 8,000 other trees and became a symbol of environmental stewardship. For her extraordinary contributions, she earned India's Padma Shri in 2019, along with honors such as the Nadoja Award in 2010, the National Citizen Award in 1995, and the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award in 1997. In 2020, the Central University of Karnataka announced an honorary doctorate for her, and in 2022 she was named Karnataka's environment ambassador with cabinet rank.

Tributes poured in from across the state after her passing. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah described Thimmakka's life as immortal, saying her devotion to planting and protecting trees had left Karnataka richer in memory. Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre called her a legend who spread the importance of greenery to people around the world.

Thimmakka's enduring message is simple: nurture nature, and it will nurture you back. Her legacy continues to inspire campaigns for forest cover and climate resilience in both rural and urban Karnataka.

Cover image source: 114-year-old environmentalist ‘Saalumarada’ Thimmakka no more Karnataka trees state highway 94 Kudur to Hulikal 🔗

#SaalumaradaThimmakka #TreeConservation #Tribute