Moment of the day! Enchanting everyone with her blissful gesture, the sweet ‘mother of trees’ blesses President Kovind.. !

New Delhi, March 16: The stunning lady, dressed in light green sari with 'tripundra' on her forehead and the most gorgeous smile on her face, made everybody’s day with her innocent motherly instincts today at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

107 years old Saalumarada Thimmakka, stole everyone’s hearts when she sweetly gave blessings to the first citizen, honourable President of India Ramnath Kovind at the dias while accepting her 'Padma Shri' award.

Thimmakka, who has earned the sobriquet of 'Vriksha Mathe’ or ‘mother of trees’ for planting 8,000 trees including over 400 banyan trees in Karnataka, was honoured with 'Padma Shri' today.

 

Even the strict protocol of Rashtrapati Bhavan could not curb the motherly instincts of Thimmakka, as she touched the President (33 years younger to her) on his forehead to bless him, while he was asking her to face the camera.

Her innocuous move made all guests warmly smile, especially the President and the Prime Minister, with everyone bursting into an ecstatic applause for her.

 

Born in Hulikal village in Karnataka, Thimmakka has not received any formal education, but has leaded a truly commendable life.

Along with her husband, she used to work as a casual laborer in a neay quarry. Unfortunately, they could not have any children of their own. It is said that Thimmakka started to plant banyan trees in lieu of children. The couple arduously worked in the fields during the day, planted trees and cared for them. From 10 plants in the first year, they kept planting more saplings in the later years, sometimes even bringing water from over 4 kilometers for their plants.

After her husband Chikkaiah passed away in 1991, she found her solace in planting trees and dedicated herself as an environmentalist.

 

Her work has been honoured with the National Citizen's Award of India in 1995. A USA based environmental organisation in Los Angeles and Oakland, California called ‘Thimmakka’s Resources for Environmental Education’ is named after her.

The name she was referred to because of her work, word Saalumarada, means ‘row of trees’ in the Kannada language.

Let’s all hope that God blesses this ‘mother of trees’ just the way she blessed our President..!