Bonsai is an art and science, says bonsai pioneer D Ravindran

A chat with D Ravindran, the man behind South India’s largest bonsai garden

“Bonsai is an art. We work on a living plant, shaping and pruning to give it an aesthetic look. We work like architects. It is also a science, as without horticulture and botanical knowledge, one cannot create a bonsai. And as we are completely immersed in the process, it also becomes a philosophy for life,” says D Ravindran, a bonsai pioneer, who says he created South India’s largest bonsai garden, in Nagercoil.

Training participants at the decennial celebration of Bodhi, The Chennai Bonsai Association, in the city last week, the lawyer-turned-entrepreneur says that tropical trees (banyan and peepal, for example) adapt themselves well to bonsai.

“I have been experimenting extensively with tropical trees; all types of ficus, a special variety of Australian casuarina and tamarind trees, and my collection has crossed 1,500. All of them are exhibited in my garden, which is open to all,” he says.

Bonsai can be created by sowing saplings, seeds or cuttings. In India, ficus, bougainvillea and bodhi are widely used for this art. “Some are of the opinion that we restrict the natural growth of a tree, but the plant has the ability to adapt itself to a pot. So, it is definitely not against Nature, or cruel,” says Ravindran.

Having made his Nikki Bonsai Garden flourish single-handedly, Ravindran says that bonsai today is more or less like a DIY project. One can get started with basic gardening tools and saplings or cuttings, and learn the art all by themselves. “I also conduct classes when a group of people send in a request,” he says. Yet, in his opinion, not everyone takes to it.

“It takes an enormous amount of dedication, perseverance, patience, passion and practice to bring about a beautiful work of art using a plant. For me, it is a spiritual process, like meditation. I stay connected with each of my creations,” he says.

Ravindran points out that Indian scriptures also mention vamana vruksha , and so believes that ancient Indians also knew the art of bonsai.

D Ravindran can be contacted at nikkibonsai@gmail.com.