Mon Dec 16 16:11:07 UTC 2024: ## Padma Shri Awardee Tulasi Gowda, ‘Tree Mother,’ Passes Away at 87
**Ankola, Karnataka:** Tulasi Gowda, the renowned environmentalist affectionately known as the “Tree Mother,” passed away on December 16th at the age of 87 due to illness. Gowda, a resident of Honnalli village in Ankola taluk, dedicated her life to planting and nurturing thousands of trees. Her unwavering commitment to environmental conservation earned her the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2020.
For over 14 years, Gowda tirelessly worked to green her surroundings. Despite facing poverty and raising two children, Subraya and Soni, after losing her husband at a young age, she worked as a daily wage laborer in the forest department. Instead of accepting a salary, she dedicated her time to nurturing saplings and trees. She also collected seeds from endangered forest plants, cultivated saplings, and replanted them, silently spearheading a green revolution.
Gowda’s legacy extends beyond her numerous planted trees; it’s a testament to unwavering dedication to environmental protection, achieved despite personal hardship. Her death marks a significant loss for the environmental movement in India.
First Piper 