Fujiganga, a Japan-India cultural forum, held a get-together on Tuesday under the shade of two trees on the premises of the Government Higher Secondary School, Thodupuzha, to mark the 10th anniversary of planting one of the saplings.
Two students of the school, among the three who had planted it along with magician Muthukad, joined the celebrations. The saplings were planted in 2007 and 2010 under the auspices of the cultural forum. In 2010, Mr. Muthukad conjured up an elanji sapling from thin air as part of his magic act in connection with the Snehathanal scheme. The sapling was planted there.
P.J. Joseph, MLA, inaugurated the programme ‘Nalekkoru Thanal’, during which Muthukad conjured up a group of flower petals. He interacted with those who had planted the trees then. Municipal vice chairman T.K. Sudhakaran Nair; ward councillor K. Goplakrishnan; school Principal U.N. Prakash; Headmaster Abdul Khader; and Fujiganga president M.D. Dhileep, among others, spoke at the function.
The programme was organised to drive home the message that caring for a sapling was as important as planting it. Despite developmental works, the school authorities took the initiative to protect the two trees. C.K.Sunilraj, secretary, Fujiganga, told The Hindu on Tuesday that the second sapling was planted by students Jijo Mani, Krishnadas and Hasna. Hasna could not join the celebrations. Hasna informed the organisers about her inability to attend the function as she was in Kannur, Mr Sunilraj said.
The first tree was planted by the teachers and students as part of a mass planting drive in connection with World Environmental Day on June 5. The teachers who planted them attended the get-together.
The care taken by the students helped nurture the saplings to full-grown trees. “Caring is important for the survival of saplings to help it to grow and green the public space,” he said.
For over a decade, Fujiganga was instrumental in organising Indo-Japanese annual cultural programmes in Thodupuzha.
