On a quiet Alwarpet lane that is lined with trees is a cubbyhole of a tailor shop. Outside the shop lie several saplings under the shade of a giant tree which the owner of the shop — 65-year-old D. Vijaya Baskaran — planted two decades ago.
“I may plant these two tomorrow or the day after,” he says.
Mr. Baskaran has been planting about 300-350 trees every year, for the last 20 years.
“In 1989, I became sick and was on forced rest for a while. So, I just started planting saplings near my residence-cum-shop. Then, over the years, I increased the number of trees I would plant, from 100 a year to about 350 a year now,” he says.
Variety of trees
He has planted an exhaustive variety of trees including the Portia tree, Bullet Wood, Arjuna, Mahua and the Java Plum.
“Soon after I plant a sapling, I water it every day for six months,” says Mr. Baskaran.
He says he spends about Rs. 40-50 to plant each tree.
He has planted saplings in many parts of south Chennai, including Alwarpet, Eldams Road, Kotturpuram, Boat Club Road and TTK Road.
“I plant them primarily in areas proximate to my shop since I travel through these areas and can see their growth on a daily basis. I have become too old and frail now to travel to the other parts of the city. I just try and do my best here,” he adds.
He juggles tree planting and his tailoring business every day. “I have cut down on several of my assignments as I’m ageing; I only serve old customers these days,” he adds. Mr. Bhaskar couldn’t go beyond class V owing to financial difficulties and took up tailoring very early in life. But he proudly says his two daughters are the first graduates of his family and have begun to work.
