Saalumarada Thimmakka

Saalumarada Thimmakka
Thimmakka in 2011
Born(1911-06-30)30 June 1911 (claimed)
Gubbi, Kingdom of Mysore, India
(now in Tumakuru district, Karnataka, India)
Died(2025-11-14)14 November 2025
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
OccupationEnvironmentalist
Spouse
Chikkaiah
​
(died 1991)​
AwardsPadma Shri (2019)

Saalumarada Thimmakka (died 14 November 2025), also known as Aala Marada Thimmakka, was an Indian environmentalist from the state of Karnataka, noted for her work in planting and tending to 385 banyan trees along a 4.5-kilometre (2.8 mi) stretch of highway between Hulikal and Kudur, Ramanagara district. She also planted nearly 8000 other trees.[1]

She received no formal education and worked as a casual labourer in a nearby quarry.[2][3] Her work has been honoured with the National Citizen's Award of India. Her work was recognised by the Government of India and she was conferred with Padma Shri in 2019.

A US environmental organisation based in Los Angeles and Oakland, California called Thimmakka's Resources for Environmental Education is named after her.[4] Central University of Karnataka has announced an honorary doctorate for Thimmakka in the year 2020.[5]

Thimmakka died in Bengaluru on 14 November 2025, at the claimed age of 114.[6]

Early life

Thimmakka was said to have been born on 30 June 1911[7][8][9][10] (although some sources have claimed she was born around 1928[11]), in Gubbi Taluk of Kingdom of Mysore, presently in Tumakuru district of Karnataka.[12] She was married to Chikkaiah, a native of Hulikal village in the Magadi taluk of Ramanagara district in Karnataka. She received no formal education and worked as a casual labourer in a nearby quarry. The couple could not have children. It is said that Thimmakka started to plant banyan trees in lieu of children.[13] The name word Saalumarada (row of trees in the Kannada language) is how she is referred to because of her work. Thimmakka had a foster son named Umesh.[14]

Achievement

Ficus (banyan) trees were aplenty near Thimmakka's village. Thimakka and her husband started grafting saplings from these trees. Ten saplings were grafted in the first year and they were planted along a distance of 5km near the neighbouring village of Kudur. 15 saplings were planted in the second year and 20 in the third year.[15] She used her meagre resources for planting these trees.[13] The couple used to carry four pails of water for a distance of four kilometres to water the saplings. They were also protected from grazing cattle by fencing them with thorny shrubs.

The saplings were planted mostly during monsoon season so that sufficient rainwater would be available for them to grow. By the onset of the next monsoons, the saplings had invariably taken root.[15] In total, 384 trees were planted, and their asset value has been assessed at around 1.5 million rupees.[3] The management of these trees has now been taken over by the Government of Karnataka.[13]

The 385 banyan trees planted and nurtured by her came under threat of being chopped down for the widening of Bagepalli-Halaguru road in 2019. Thimmakka requested the Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara to reconsider the project. As a result, the government decided to look for alternatives to save the 70-year-old trees.[16]

Later activity

Thimmakka's husband died in 1991.[17] Thimmakka was invited to many afforestation programs in India.[3] She was also involved in other social activity like constructing a tank to store rainwater for the annual fair held in her village. She also had a dream of constructing a hospital in her village in remembrance of her husband and a trust has been set up for this purpose.[3] In 1999, a documentary titled Thimmakka Mathu 284 Makkalu was made on her work and it featured in the 2000 International Film Festival of India.[18] She underwent a hip surgery in December 2020 and was announced to be successful.[19]

BBC recognition

In 2016, Saalumarada Thimmakka was listed by the British Broadcasting Corporation as one of the most influential and inspirational women of the world.[20]

Alleged misuse of name

Delhi-settled comedian, Ritu Vasu Primlani has been accused by Thimmakka of misusing her name. Thimmakka filed a private complaint before the Ramanagara Judicial Magistrate First Class (JFMC) court on 9 May against a non-resident Indian, Ritu Primlani, for running the organisation named after her for at least 14 years without her consent or knowledge.[21]

Primlani had started the non-profit organisation more than a decade prior to the allegations.[22] Thimmakka's adopted son, Umesh has claimed that the organisation misuses her name to collect donations. Primlani had visited Thimmakka back in 2003 where photos were taken of her gifting Thimmakka with a saree. Now she is said to have allegedly taken Thimmakka's fingerprints, while she says Thimmakka okayed the non-profit back then in front of a judge.[23]

Following the complaint, a policeman arrived at Alliance Française and Jagriti in Bangalore, venues where Primlani was performing her shows, to take her into custody. Ms Primlani claimed that she was taken into custody by a male policeman, after dark, which is against the law. She said that a dozen policemen had arrived at the venue though they did not disrupt her show. She claimed to be harassed by Thimmakka's lawyers with written threats, which is an indication of extortion.[23]

In 2014, the High Court of Karnataka adjudicated in Primlani's favour.[24][25]

Illness and death

Thimmakka was suffering from breathing problems and other age related issues lately, for which she was hospitalised multiple times.[26] She died on 14 November 2025, at the claimed age of 114.[27]

Awards

For her achievement, Thimmakka was conferred with the following awards and citations: Padma Shri Saalumarada Thimmakka. The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind presenting the Padma Shri Award to Saalumarada Thimmakka, at an Investiture Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on 16 March 2019

References

  1. ^ "Watch: When The "Mother Of Trees" Blessed President Ram Nath Kovind". NDTV.com. PTI. 16 March 2019. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "The 300 trees of Thimmakka and Chikkanna". Good News India. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d A biography of Thimmakka is provided by B. R. Srikanth. "Thimmakka's Green Crusade Transforms Heat-And-Dust Hulikal". Online Edition of The Outlook, dated 1999-05-03. © Outlook Publishing (India) Private Limited. Archived from the original on 18 February 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2007.
  4. ^ "About Thimmakka". Online Webpage of Thimmakka.org. Thimmakka's Resources for Environmental Education. Archived from the original on 31 December 2006. Retrieved 23 May 2007.
  5. ^ "ಕೇಂದ್ರೀಯ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದಿಂದ ಸಾಲುಮರದ ತಿಮ್ಮಕ್ಕ ಸೇರಿ ಐವರಿಗೆ ಗೌರವ ಡಾಕ್ಟರೇಟ್" [Central University announces Honorary Doctorate for Thimmakka and others]. Suvarna news (in Kannada). 21 September 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Veteran environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka passes away at 114". The Financial Express. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  7. ^ C S, Yamini; Dhar, Aniruddha (11 July 2022). "Meet Saalumarada Thimmakka, 111-year-old environmentalist given a cabinet rank". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 13 November 2022. Retrieved 2 December 2023. Thimmakka, who celebrated her 111th birthday on June 30 at Dr BR Ambedkar Bhavan in Bengaluru
  8. ^ "105-year-old Karnataka environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka on BBC's list of top 100 women". The News Minute. 23 November 2016. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  9. ^ Sharma, Maya (2 July 2019). "107-Year-Old "Mother Of Trees" Spreads The Message Of Conservation". NDTV.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  10. ^ Sudevan, Praveen (28 March 2019). "Meet Thimmakka, the 107-year-old Padma Shri awardee known for her environmental work". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  11. ^ "The Hindu : Mother of 400". The Hindu. 1 December 2003. Archived from the original on 5 December 2003. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  12. ^ "About Thimmakka". thimmakkafoundation.org. Thimmakka Foundation. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  13. ^ a b c Thimmakka started to plant banyan trees to overcome the grief of being childless: Priyanjana Dutta. "Woman plants trees, village thrives". Online webpage of Ibnlive.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2007.
  14. ^ Sudevan, Praveen (28 March 2019). "Each tree is like a child to me: Thimmakka". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d Planting of tree by Thimmakka and the Chikkaiah is mentioned by Malini Shankat. "A mother's love". Online webpage of DownToEarth.org. ©2004 Society for Environmental Communications. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2007.
  16. ^ Das, Ria (4 June 2019). "How 107-Year-Old Thimakka Convinced Karnataka CM To Not Axe Trees". SheThePeople TV. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  17. ^ Deepa Ganesh. "Mother of 400". Online webpage of The Hindu, dated 2003-12-01. 2003, The Hindu. Archived from the original on 21 April 2005. Retrieved 23 May 2007.
  18. ^ Srinivasa, Srikanth (16 January 2000). "Thimmakka... goes to IFFI". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 8 June 2000. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  19. ^ "109-year-old activist Saalumarada Thimmaka undergoes hip surgery". Deccan Herald. 10 December 2020. Archived from the original on 10 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  20. ^ "105-Year-Old Woman From Karnataka Who Planted More Than 8000 Trees Is In BBC's Most Influential Women List". thelogicalindian.com. 24 November 2016. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  21. ^ "NRI accused of misusing Thimmakka's name". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  22. ^ "Ashoka Innovators For The Public: Ritu Primlani". ASHOKA INNOVATORS FOR THE PUBLIC. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  23. ^ a b "Police in mufti at show scares comedian". Bangalore Mirror. 8 July 2014. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Ritu Primlani Alias Vasu Primlani vs The State Of Karnataka on 16 October, 2015". indiankanoon.org. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  25. ^ Krishnaprasad (17 October 2015). "HC quashes Thimmakka's plaint". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  26. ^ "Environment News Tribute: Thimmakka Passes Away at 114". Deccan Herald. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  27. ^ Raj, Sagay (14 November 2025). "Padma Shri environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka dies at 114 in Bengaluru". India Today. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  28. ^ "Unsung heroes' hour of glory". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 26 March 2006. Archived from the original on 9 August 2007. Retrieved 23 May 2007.
  29. ^ 2016 Archived 23 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine, BBC, Retrieved 26 November 2016
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