Bengaluru: Padma Shri awardee and celebrated environmentalist ‘Saalumarada’ Thimmakka died on Friday at a private hospital, her family confirmed. The 114-year-old had been unwell for several weeks and was undergoing treatment before she passed away.
Born on June 30, 1911, Thimmakka became a symbol of grassroots environmental stewardship after she planted 385 banyan trees along a 4.5-km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur in Ramanagara district. She earned the name ‘Saalumarada’, meaning “row of trees,” for her extraordinary contribution. Despite having no formal education, she devoted her life to nurturing the saplings as if they were her own children.
Her decades of work earned her widespread recognition and numerous awards, including the Padma Shri in 2019, the Nadoja Award from Hampi University in 2010, the National Citizen Award in 1995, and the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award in 1997.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed deep sorrow over her death, saying she dedicated her entire life to environmental protection. “Thimmakka, who planted thousands of trees and cared for them like her own children, has left behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations,” he said. He added that her passing has left the region poorer, but her love for nature has made her immortal.
