Article by Syed Saad Ahmed published in Hindustan Times
An identification guide that lists many trees that flourish across the Indian subcontinent, Trees of South India highlights the country’s awe-inspiring and fast depleting biodiversity.
Published in 2006, Kishen’s profusely illustrated book was revolutionary in many ways. It helped move trees out of the confines of botany and build their reputation as marvellous creatures that amateurs could appreciate. While flowers have largely gotten their due, the book went beyond them to discuss the leaves, branches, and other parts that make a tree distinctive and can aid in identification. Krishen shared anecdotes and wove narratives around Delhi’s flora, with an arch-villain to boot — invasive species, which have replaced much of the city’s native species. He also worked on projects to restore native vegetation on degraded lands in Jodhpur, Gurgaon, and Jaipur, all of which have become major attractions.
Many books and websites have followed in Krishen’s footsteps, with the latest being Trees of South India: Native Trees and Shrubs of the South Indian Plains and Hillocks. Auroville Botanical Gardens has published the tree-identification guide and Krishen has written its foreword.
Auroville is an “ideal township devoted to an experiment in human unity” near Pondicherry in south India. Its early settlers planted trees to restore the eroded soil, eventually succeeding in foresting the barren land. The botanical gardens there, established in 2000, sought to conserve tropical dry evergreen forests. This type of forest, found in patches along the Coromandel coast, is now endangered.
Trees of South India focuses on native plants from the Coromandel coast to the foothills of the Western Ghats. So, while it might not be representative of the entire region, it covers large swathes, including metropolises such as Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Amid this territorial expanse, there are significant variations in terrain, rainfall, and soil type.
The book’s photos, some taken over 25 years ago, are stunning. Its neat layout, with brief descriptions and handy symbols for leaf type, flower colour, etc., make for a visually appealing and handy guide. The introduction has information on forest types in the region, sacred groves, the legends associated with them, and the rewilding initiatives in Auroville.
Befittingly for a collective, the author credit on the book’s cover goes to Auroville Botanical Gardens. However, the author’s note is by Paul Blanchflower and the “About the Authors” section also mentions Marie Demont, both long-time residents of the township. Blanchflower emphasises the collaborative nature of the book, including their debt to Father Mathew (1930–2004), one of the many Jesuits who contributed to botanical research, taxonomy, and conservation in India.
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