Oleander was the first flower to blossom in Hiroshima after an atomic bomb scorched the earth there in 1945. On Thursday morning, Delhi commemorated “Hiroshima Day” by planting 70 Oleander saplings at the Lodhi Garden here.
The planting at the famous park in Lutyens’ Delhi was organised by the Green Circle of Delhi in co-operation with the Horticulture Department of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
Suhas Borker, founder member of the Green Circle of Delhi said: “The oleander was the first flower to blossom from the atomic bomb-scorched earth of Hiroshima. Despite being a poisonous and toxic plant, the flower gave hope and strength to the people of Hiroshima for rebuilding their lives, and was a source of inspiration to reconstruct their city.”
Mr. Borker added that the programme was organised to express solidarity with the citizens of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and to spread the simple message to the youth of Delhi that “the atomic bombing should never be repeated anywhere in the world”.
The ceremony began at the Lodhi Garden at 9.15 am, an hour after the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima 70 years ago. Three days later, on August 9, 1945, another atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. The bombings killed between 90,000 to 166,000 people in Hiroshima and 39,000 to 80,000 in Nagasaki; with roughly half the deaths in each city occurring on the first day.
In the following months, many more died due to the burns and exposure to radiation.
Participants at the programme included former Indian Ambassador to Japan Arjun Asrani, former Indian Permanent Representative to FAO Ambassador K. P. Fabian, chairman Public Grievances Commission and former Chief Secretary of Delhi P. K. Tripathi, among others.
As many as 33 students from six schools in the neighbourhood schools and 15 students from a project associated school participated. The plant, which is locally called ‘kiner’, were planted by students in 18 clusters of three to four saplings.
The oleander was the first flower to blossom from the atomic bomb-scorched earth of Hiroshima. Despite being a poisonous and toxic plant, the flower gave hope and strength to the people of Hiroshima for rebuilding their lives, and was a source of inspiration to reconstruct their city
