Pandavas in Chhattisgarh

Jagdalpur (Raipur), Nov.10 : Four Teak trees named Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughana after characters of Hindu scripture Ramayana, have been a major attraction for the people in Machkot jungles of Chhattisgarh's Jagdalpur area.

The naming also shows the love the people have for the trees.

One of these generations' old trees Bharat died. The incident sent a wave of disappointment among all here. The incident drew investigating officials to ascertain the actual cause of death and make a detailed study about the tree.

The officials took some of the samples of Bharat tree's bark and had it tested. It revealed that the tree had a natural death due to being old aged. They stated it was 200 years-old.

Dr. Devender Kumar Mishra, Professor of the Biotechnological Department in Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur said: "As per scientists, the tree had a natural death due to be old aged. Nothing, which might suggest any disease or worm affecting the tree or leading to its death, has been found. It is just that every tree has its age and after that it dies."

Rama, the tree, is the largest among all the four and has a diameter of six. Bharat tree had a diametre of five.

Scientists observed that symptoms that led to the death of Bharat tree, have not been found in the other trees close to it.

Dr.Devender Kumar Mishra, said: "These trees were named after Lord Rama, Lakshmana, Bharat and Shatrughan. These are very old tree and it is very difficult to say which one among the four is the oldest. Still it is belived that they are over 200 years old."

The trees have strengthened the popular belief that trees and plants do have their lives like human beings. They grow like humans do. They age and then die similarly. These teak trees have provided an insight about nature.

Chhattisgarh has a rich natural treasure. The State has 60,000 square kilometer of forestland, of which 43 per cent comes under reserved forests category and 40 per cent under the preserved trees category. By Shiv Shankar Sarthi

ANI