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INTACHThe heriTage Club NewsleTTer

JaNuarY - MarCh 2017 VOl. 14 No. 1

CONTENTS

Fascinating Forests 1india’s Diverse Forests 2Forests in history 3Forest Fables 4 Forests and Faith 5Trees Triumph 6Towering Trees 7Treasured Trees 8-9Faithful Forests 10My Forest Diary 11activity 4 u 12-14heritage News, subscription Form 15Prize winners, what’s Next? 16

I N d I a N N a T I O N a l T r u S T f O r a r T a N d C u l T u r a l H E r I T a g E

Dear Green Friends,Did you know that forests occupy almost one-third of the Earth’s space? Forests are one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and home to many of the world’s unique flora and fauna.

Forests have been a significant part of India’s natural diversity and history since pre-historic times. Most ancient Indian texts mention forests and sacred rituals associated with trees.

Come let us explore the enchanting world of forests !

india is one of the ten most forest-rich countries in the world. Our forests make up about 23 % of india’s land. india has rich and diverse forests ranging from tropical evergreen, dry scrub to temperate forests.

according to the agni Purana, rules were mentioned to protect forests as they are life givers. according to lord buddha, a man must plant tree saplings every five years. During the Mauryan period, there was a separate ministry for forests. it continued during the gupta period. in the Medieval period, during foreign invasions, the rulers took refuge in forests. During the british rule, the forests began to lose their sanctity. with colonisation there was mindless felling of trees and clearing of forests to make roads and railway lines.

Today forests are being cut for expansion of public transport and rapid urbanisation. however, in order

FASCINATING FORESTSto check this reckless felling of trees, movements like Chipko movement have been a success. so let us all pledge to take care of forests today.

Save forests... Save Water... Save Ourselves

Prithika Pradeep, III, Global Indian International School, Pune and Ishita Saraf, VII -F, Delhi Public School, Raipur

HARIT SANKALP!!Forests make India beautiful and help to bring rain, They dissolve our drought, tears and pain.So friends plant and save trees as they remove earth's dirt and grease.Make them happy and the earth will be at peace.

Ritika Chittoria, XI, All Saints Senior Secondary School, Ajmer

ARANYANI - GODDESS OF FORESTS

Aranya in Sanskrit means forest. The Aranyakas are the third part of the Vedas and the sages who wrote the Vedas lived in the forests.

Forests were worshipped as Goddess Aranyani.

TAPOVAN TALE“Not being caged in brick, wood and iron, Indian thinkers were

surrounded and linked to the life of the forest. The living forest was for them their shelter, their source of food. ....The intimate relationship

between human life and living nature became the source of knowledge…”

An extract from Tapovana by Rabindranath Tagore.

Plants, trees, birds, animals and

what not!Come, look at all

the wondrous things the forests

have got!

Illustration by: Devesh Kumar Patel, DPS, Mandla

Road, Jabalpur

Illustration by: Shivani Gautam – Suditi Global Academy , Etawah

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Southern Montane ForestsThese are found in southern india including Nilgiris and western ghats.

There are two types of vegetation: temperate (higher region) and sub-tropical (lower region).

The forests of Nilgiris, annamalai and Palni hills are known as Sholas.

Some trees - Magnolia, laurel, Cinchona, Wattle

Mangrove ForestsThese forests are found in tidal areas with high salinity. They can be found in deltas of the ganga, brahmaputra, Mahanadi, godavari, Krishna and Cauvery. The densest and most continuous mangrove forests are found in the sunderbans of the ganga- brahmaputra delta.

Some trees: Sundari, garan, gewa, Hetal, Keya S. Sivaranjani, VII, Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, Chennai; S. Jasmina Banu, Little Scholars Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Thanjavur

activity: SPEaKiNG tREESwrite a dialogue between the trees of any

two of the above mentioned forests.

I’m a Deciduous

tree. Can you tell why?

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Illustration by: Devanshi Raja, X-D, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad

Background Illustration by: C. Sriram Kalyan, X, BVBP School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad; Swati Yadav, X, Suditi Global Academy, Etawah

INDIA’S DIVERSE FORESTS Forests in India vary with changes in temperature and rainfall. Latitude, altitude and presence of water bodies result in diversity of our forest habitats.

DID YOU KNOW?The state of Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in India

of around 6,90,899 km. Sushmit Deb, VI, Delhi Public School,

Sec 45, Gurgaon

tropical Evergreen Forestsevergreen forests are usually found in areas receiving more than 200 cm rainfall. They are dense forests with tall evergreen trees. in india, evergreen forests are found on the western slopes of the western ghats, North-eastern india and the andaman and Nicobar islands.

Some trees: rosewood, Mahogany, EbonyStuthi K, IX, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad and Ishita Saraf, VII-F, Delhi Public School, Raipur

tropical Moist Deciduous Forests The moist deciduous forests are found in areas receiving rainfall between 100–200 cm and most commonly found on the eastern slopes of the western ghats, Chota Nagpur Plateau and eastern  Madhya Pradesh. as temperature rises in summer, the trees shed their leaves.

Some trees: Teak, Sal, Sheesham, Sandalwood, Mahua, Kusum Gatik Chanana ,V C, Veda Vyasa D.A.V Public School, New Delhi

tropical Dry Deciduous Forests

The dry deciduous are found in areas receiving rainfall between 70-100cm. They are found throughout the gangetic plains, andhra Pradesh, gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The canopy of the trees does not normally exceed 25 metres and in summer they appear as grasslands.

Some trees: Sal, Tendu, Bael, Palash

tropical thorn Forests and Scrubscrub and thorn vegetation are found in areas receiving rainfall below 70 cm. They cover extremely arid regions of western rajasthan, Kutch and Kathiawar areas of gujarat and the rain-shadow areas of the southern plateau. Vegetation is essentially ‘xerophytic’ in nature.

Some trees: date Palm, Cactus, Babul

tropical thorn ScrubThe Deccan thorn scrub forests in india are located in the arid parts of the Deccan Plateau with rainfall below 70 cm. The region is spread across the states of andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Some trees: Varieties of acacia (most dominant)M. Mohamed Arshad, VIII, Vidyaa Vikas Matric Higher Secondary School, Pudukkottai

Northern Montane ForestsThese are found in the himalayan region. here height and change in temperature gradually changes the forest’s character.

• 1000-1500m:OakandChestnut• 1500-2000m:PineandDeodar• 2000-3000m:BluePineandSpruce• 3000-4000m:SilverFirandJuniperSome trees: Spruce, Hemlock, Pine, firS. Pramodhini, VII, Angappa Senior Secondary CBSE School, Coimbatore

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FORESTS IN HISTORYForests have played an important role both in Indian history and mythology. The Epics  Ramayana and Mahabharata  give an attractive description of forests.Ancient Hindu culture is said to have evolved in Aranyas (Forest books).

– Anmol Kilani, X-A, All Saints Senior Secondary School, Ajmer

aNciENt PERiODThe earliest indication of forestry administration in india is found in 300 bC, during the reign of Chandragupta Maurya. he realised the importance of the forests and appointed an officer to look after the forests.

During the reign of ashoka, it was stated that wild animals and forests would be preserved and protected. he launched programmes to plant trees on a large scale. These rules continued during the gupta period.Rishal Naik, X, Delhi Public School, Vishakhapatnam

in the hindu tradition there are three types of forests:

• Tapovanisaforestassociatedwithpenance• Mahavanforestsgivesheltertoallspecies.• Shreevanareforestsofprosperity.Abinand L. ,X, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad; Shivangi Singh, IV A, Global Indian International School, Noida; Shreya Sahal, IX B, Dundlod Vidyapeeth, Jhunjhunu

aFtER iNDEPENDENcE after independence, the task of consolidation of forests, unification of forest laws and extension of scientific management became important. The new Forest Policy of 1952 recognised the protective functions of the forests and aimed at maintaining one-third of india’s land area under forest cover. The government of india also passed an act named “The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional forest rights act” in the Year 2006. This act was critical to the rights of tribals and other forest dwellers and included conservation of forests and bio-diversity. Dhruv Agrawal, IX-E, Gwalior Glory High School, Gwalior

MEDiEvaL PERiODThe medieval invaders were all keen hunters and therefore had to have patches of forests where they could go hunting. This ensured that the trees in these areas were not felled, and the forest ecology was not hampered. The Mughals looked upon the forests as game reserves. They were interested in trees for gardening. They also showed interest in plantations on either side of avenues.

BRitiSH PERiODDuring british period, forests were used for commercial purposes. Certain regulations were put in place for the conservation of forests. in 1855, lord Dalhousie framed regulations for conservation of forests in india and in 1864 the imperial Forest Department was founded.

The Indian forest act of 1927 established by the british brought forests under centralised sovereignty.The act aimed at consolidating and reserving areas with significant forest cover or wildlife. For the first time forests were classified into reserve and Protected forests.K Prerna , IX, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad and Nandita, X, Indian Public Senior Secondary School, Radaur, Yamuna Nagar

activity: FaMOuS FOREStSaccording to the uNesCO, the natural sites of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty in india are given below.

Can you name the kind of forest they belong to ?

1. great himalayan National Park, 2. Kaziranga and Manas National Parks, 3. Keoladeo National Park, 4. Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers, 5. sunderbans National Park, 6. western ghats

DID YOU KNOW?In 1576, after Maharana Pratap

lost the battle with Mughal Emperor Akbar, he hid in the Aravali forests

to save his life. Manvi Vatas, V, Bridgeford School,

Tupudana, Ranchi

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FOREST FABLESThe forest is believed to be a place of magic and danger as seen in folklores and myths. Trees are significant in many of the world’s mythologies and religion and have often been given sacred meanings. Ancient Indian texts like the Vedas and Puranas refer to many mythological trees. Gurmeher Seth, Convent of Jesus and Mary, Ambala Cantt and Anushka Sood, VIID, P.K.R Jain Senior Secondary School, Ambala

PROtEctivE MytHThe nomadic tribes of rajasthan tie the leaves of bilati sij to the neck of small children as an amulet to ward off evil eye.

aBODE OF DEMONS The Dandakaranya forest spread across parts of Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha, play an important role in hindu mythology. The forest is believed to be the abode of the demon Dandak and was an important location in the ancient epic – the ramayana.Naman Jain, III, Global Indian International School, Pune

tEaRS aND tREES Poet Kalidasa makes a reference to vana-devatas or tree

spirits who support Shakuntala through the ups and downs of her life. In the Ramayana it is mentioned that

Sita was consoled in her loneliness by the Asoka tree in Lanka.

DRauPaDi, tHE GODDESS OF FOREStSwe all know of Draupadi as the heroine of the epic

Mahabharata but there is another side to Draupadi, a raging and fierce goddess of the forest, as mentioned in

the myths of south india and rajasthan. Bhani Kaur, IV A, Global Indian International School, Noida

activity: My StORygo to your grandparents or other elderly in your neighbourhood, and ask them about a story connected with a particular tree in your area.

taMaRiND taLE according to a tribal story from bihar, the reason for tamarind leaves to be small is because lord ram, lakshman and sita during their exile came to a forest that had tamarind trees. back then the tamarind had large, well-developed leaves. lord rama said that they were supposed to live an austere life during their exile but this tree was sheltering them from rain and sun and giving them protection from cold and hot winds. he ordered lakshman to shoot at the leaves with his bow and arrow and since then the leaves are finely divided.

HOLy tRiNity To hindus, trees with leaves in three-fold arrangement assume religious significance because of the holy trinity of brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. it includes the trees of Varuna, bilva and Mandara.

DiviNE DEODaRDeodar is considered the abode of gods. This could have been because of the lofty height of the tree. in the Kullu Valley people hold the tree sacred and offer iron pieces to the gods dwelling in the trees. The hadimba Devi temple in Manali is located in a grove of deodar trees.

Illustration by: Gurmehar Seth , XI , Convent of Jesus and Mary, Ambala Cantt., Haryana

Illustration by: Nitya , X , Suditi Global Academy, Etawah

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FORESTS AND FAITHIndia has a long history of nature worship that continues even today. Patches of forests designated as sacred groves are dedicated to deities or ancestral spirits. These sacred groves vary from bamboo groves on the eastern coast to clumps of trees in the north west to jungles in the tropical south to dense Himalayan forests in the north.R. Yogesh Kumar and A. Ajit, Vishaka Valley School, Visakhapatnam; Archit Patel, X, Nachiketa S.S. School, Jabalpur

SiKKiMlocal Name- Pandamall the sacred groves in sikkim are attached to the local monasteries (gumpas), dedicated to the deities and managed by the village community. Kabi is one of the largest groves. This is where the “blood brotherhood treaty” was signed between the lepcha Chief and bhutia King in the 13th century.

RaJaStHaNlocal Name - OranOran is derived from the sanskrit word aranya, meaning forest.  in rajasthan water is scarce; the Oran has both religious and ecological significance. Delineating an Oran is marked by a ceremony whereby ganga water or saffron milk is poured around a specific area within the forest, which is then declared to be an Oran or Dev bani (god’s forest). This ceremony is called Doodh Jal or Kesar Chaanta, and marks the boundaries of the sacred grove.

uttaRaKHaND local Name - deo Bhumi uttarakhand has an age-old tradition of protecting temple forests near villages, where deities are worshipped. The vegetation in these groves is not allowed to be cut. sometimes, sudden dying of trees in these forests are said to be bio-indicator of misfortune for the villagers. The Chandika Devi sacred grove has the temple of Devi at the centre of the grove.

KERaLalocal Name - KavuKavu or sarapkavu (abode of snakes) found in Kerala is dedicated to snake deities – Nagar and Nagayakshi. in most of the sacred groves, the ‘Kaliyattam’ - a performing art is performed every year.Neharika. OT, X, Bharitya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad

GOa local Name – devrai Known as Devrai or Devchirai (the forest of god), sacred groves have been

protected by the local temples across sattari and sanguem taluka located on the foothills of

western ghats. it is believed that betal guards the village from evil spirits.

KaRNataKa local Name – devrakadulocally known as Devrakadu (god’s forest), sacred groves continue to be maintained in their natural state amongst the coffee plantations. each village has at least one devarakadu, with strict laws and taboos against poaching and felling of trees. Jatakappa, bhutappa and Choudamma are some of the deities that are worshipped here. Yana Cariyappa, VII, Presidency School, Bangalore North

SacRED GROvES tODaysacred groves are disappearing due to urbanisation, increasing population and depleting traditions. we can preserve these groves by • Spreadingawarenessaboutsacredgroves.• Encouraginglocalcommunitiestocareforthesetrees.• Documentingthefloraandfaunaofthesegroves.S. Sai Gayatri , IX, Akshara School, Kakinada and Venkat Dheertaj, X, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad

Illustration by: Ritika Chittoria, XI, All Saints Sr. Sec. School, Ajmer

MaGic OF MaWPHLaNGsituated in Meghalaya, this sacred grove is protected by the god of the land- ‘u ba-sa ryngkew’. it is cared for by the lyngdoh clan. it is rich in bio-diversity.

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Saving the forests of Garhwal by hugging trees to fighting a big dam construction by living in submerged waters, these movements have redefined the greening of IndiaSparsh Agarwal, IX, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad

TREES TRIUMPH

SOuND OF NatuRE: Silent valley MovementThe forest valley in the Palghat district of Kerala is known as the ‘silent Valley’. in 1973, save silent Valley movement was started against a hydro-electric project on the Kunthipuzha river. Kerala sasthra sahitya Parishad (KssP) launched a mass signature campaign. in 1980, the Kerala government scrapped the project. in 1986 the silent Valley National Park was assigned as the core area of the Nilgiri biosphere reserve. Nischal Soni, Suditi Global Academy, Etawah and Kiruthika S., X, Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad

SticKiNG tO a cauSE: chipko Movement The Chipko Movement (1970s) started by sunderlal bahuguna, was a non–violent movement aimed at the protection and conservation of trees and forests in the Chamoli district of garhwal. The villagers hugged trees, and prevented the contractors’ from felling them. later it spread across the states of uttar Pradesh. it was a success in 1980 with a 15-year ban on felling of trees.Ziya Singh, VIII-A, Convent of Jesus and Mary, Ambala Cantt and Ankit Bhatia, VIII- D , Bhavan’s S.L. Public Senior Secondary School, Amritsar; Rahul Kumar, X-A, Vishva Bharti Public School, Jaghadri, Haryana

NuRtuRE NatuRE: Bishnoi Movement The bishnois are considered as the first environmenta-lists of india. amrita Devi with her small group laid down her life in an effort to protect the trees from being felled on the orders of the Maharaja of Jodhpur. after this incident, the Maharaja issued a decree preventing the cutting of trees in all bishnoi villages.The bishnois are one of the first organised proponents of eco-conservation, wildlife protection, and green living. Their religion strictly bans the felling of trees. even today, the bishnois continue to protect the trees. K. Sankai, VIII, Sri Sankara Secondary School, Chennai

appiko Movementappiko meaning ‘hugging’ in Kannada was a movement inspired from the Chipko Movement in uttarakhand. in 1983, men, women and children hugged the trees in the Kalase forest, trying to save the western ghats in southwest india.Akanksha Dixit, X-A, Suditi Global Academy, Etawah

REScuE MiSSiON: Jungle Bachao andolanThe Jungle bachao andolan took shape in the 1980s when the government proposed to replace the natural sal forest of singhbhum District in bihar, with high valued commercial teak plantations. having started in bihar, the movement spread to other states like Orissa and Jharkhand too. Saheefa Mustufa, VIII G1, Greenwood Senior Secondary School, Rampur and Prabanja K, VIIIA, Vidya Vikas Matric Higher Secondary School, Pudukkottai

MERi BEti, MERa vRiKSHa Villagers in the Piplantri village in southern rajasthan’s rajsamand district plant 111 trees for every girl child born in the village. Over the last six years they have planted over a quarter million trees on the village’s grazing grounds.

My tREE WaRRiORwrite about a tree warrior in your region and send us

your entry.

FORESt MaN OF iNDiaJadav Payeng has created 1,360 acres of dense forest singlehandedly known as the Molai Forest in assam over a period of 35 years. he started at the age of 16 !Samiya B. VI, Delhi Public School, Sec 45, Gurgaon; Freya, VII, Delhi School of Excellence, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad

Plant and care for trees !

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TOWERING TREESThere are many unique trees in India and each one of them have their stories and legends!

PEEPaLTree: Ficus religiosa (Peepal)family: MoraceaeSanskrit Name: AśvatthahThe Peepal tree is a deciduous tree native to india. it is also known as the bodhi tree. Peepal is very sacred to the buddhists and hindus and is often found near temples and monasteries. gautama buddha attained enlightenment under a Peepal tree at bodh gaya in bihar. The hindus associate Peepal with the three gods brahma, Vishnu and shiva. in Padma Purana, Vishnu took shelter in the Peepal tree.

MaHuaTree: Madhuca longifolia (Butter tree)family: SapotaceaeSanskrit Name: Mohwa

Mahua is a deciduous or semi-evergreen tree in Central india. its delicious and nutritive flowers are a rich source of sugar, protein,vitaminsandminerals.Thefloweractsasan intoxicantwhen consumed. The oil from the seed is used in making soap and the wood is used to make wooden artifacts.

aMaLtaSTree: Cassia fistula (Indian Laburnum)family: FabaceaeSanskrit Name: Aragvadha 

AmaltasisthestateflowerofKerala.Theclusterofbrightyellowflowersadds colour to the hills during the drier and hotter parts of summer hence called the ‘golden shower’. it is deciduous and shed between the months of February and May. The bark cures dysentery andjaundice.Theflowersholdaspecialplaceinrituals.

DID YOU KNOW? We generally don’t see any flowers on the Peepal

tree, right? But ever wondered that they might be carrying flowers which is invisible to the naked eye. The Peepal is generally known as a fig tree as they have containers that are home to tiny little flowers

which later on ripe into fruits. So fig trees have their flowers inside their containers !

AmAzING AmAlTASThe amaltas can only reproduce with the help of

animals like jackals, bears etc. who eat its fruit. robert Troup at Dehra Dun discovered in 1911 that the jackals would feed upon the fruits along with its seeds. Their excreta contains the seeds which then germinate and

grow into saplings.

tEaKTree: Tectona grandis (Teak)family: LamiaceaeSanskrit Name: Saka

The Teak is a large deciduous tree, which darkens in colour as it ages. Teak grows naturally in forests of Central and south india. as Teak wood lasts a long time and is termite proof, commercially it is profitable. its bark is known to cure headaches and stomach problems. Kannimara is the largest living Teak tree located within the Parambikulam wildlife sanctuary  in the  Palghat District of Kerala. it is 47.5 metre tall. The bhil Tribe of Central india worship the teak tree because they believe it protects them from evil spirits.

SaLTree: Shorea robusta (Sal )family: DipterocarpaceaeSanskrit Name: Shala or Ashwakarna

sal is a large deciduous tree native to india. its name comes from sanskrit word shala meaning ‘house’ and is found in Central india and North eastern india. The sal is used for its hard timber. During the sarhul festival of Jharkhand, tribals celebrate the New Year by worshiping sal trees. in buddhist tradition, it is said that gautama buddha was born under the sal tree.

Illustration by: Hriju Kirti Sinshal, IX-C, Bhatnagar Intl School, Delhi

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TREASURED TREEScHiNaRTree: Platanus orientalis (Chinar)family: PlatanaceaeSanskrit Name: Bhavani

Chinar is a deciduous tree found in Jammu and Kashmir. The native range of Chinar includes at least eurasia from the balkans to the himalayas in the east, and has been mentioned in greek historical and literary works. Chinar has been an important tree in Persian style of garden landscape, a style brought to india during the Mughals.

The Chinar, known as boonyi in Kashmir, plays an important role in Kashmir’s literature and religion. it is said that the oldest Chinar tree in Kashmir (around 700 years old), was planted by the sufi saint syed Qasim shah in Chattergam. in hinduism, it is associated with goddess bhavani.

SaNDaLWOODTree: Santalum album (Sandalwood)family: Santalaceae Sanskrit Name: Anindita

The sweet-scented, fine-grained sandalwood is an evergreen tree, cultivated and traded since ancient times. The use of  sandalwood in india is recorded in literature for over 2000 years. it is used for its wood and oil and in the form of sandalwood paste in many religious rituals and ceremonies.

it is also used to mark religious utensils, and to decorate the icons of the deities. in sufi tradition, sandalwood paste is applied on the sufi’s grave by the disciples as a mark of their devotion. according to indian mythology, lord ganesha was created from the sandalwood paste used by goddess Parvati. Do you know that snakes do not climb this tree. Can you find out the reason behind this?

SuNDaRiTree: Heritiera fomes (Sundari )family: SterculiaceaeSanskrit Name: Sundari

sundari is found in the mangrove forests of west bengal and bangladesh. it is found in abundance in the sundarbans. in fact the word sundarbans is a derivation from ‘sundari’. its timber is used for building houses, boats and bridges. The  international union for Conservation of Nature and Natural resources has declared the mangrove “endangered” because of the rapid clearing of mangroves for coastal development.

activity What's in a Name?The Persian name, ‘Chinar’ owes its origin to Mughal emperor Jahangir. story goes that on an autumn day, Jahangir set his foot in Kashmir. From a distance, he saw a grove loaded with crimson leaves. in sheer ecstasy, he shouted, “Chi naar!” (what a blaze!), and his pliant courtiers picked up the expression to rechristen the grove.

how did the banyan get its name? (hint: think of the bania community!)

Background Illustration by: Saloni Verma, VIII-B, Convent of Jesus and Mary, Ambala Cantt.

Illustration by: Mehek Goyal, VII-E, DAV Public School, Sec 14, Faridabad

Royal Public School, Salem

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DID YOU KNOW?According to the Vrukshayurveda, the science of plant life and also a 10th-

century treatise:‘He who plants a couple of banyan trees

would go to the Abode of Siva.’Smrithi Naidu, IX, Epistemo Global Vikas

Leadership School, Telangana

BaNyaNTree: Ficus benghalensis (Banyan) family: MoraceaeSanskrit Name: Nyagrodhapaadapa

The banyan tree is the national tree of india. its huge structure, long and deep roots and branches symbolise india’s unity. it is an evergreen tree with a canopy of dark green leaves. The main trunk of this tree is actually an amalgamation of several aerial roots. in indian folktales, it is considered a generous ruler that nourishes one and all. The banyan is mentioned in many ancient indian texts and scriptures, and is considered as the divine creator symbolising longevity. in hindu mythology, the tree is believed to provide the fulfillment of wishes and provide material gains.

tHE MiGHty BaNyaN...The biggest banyan tree in the world is recorded from a small village of gotte bayalu in anantapur district of andhra Pradesh. it is estimated that it is spread across 2 hectares and at a time 20,000 people can take shelter under the tree. but from the ancient times, a mighty banyan known as Kabirbadh was discovered in the Narmada island. it had 320 huge trunks and had more than 3000 prop-roots.

PaLaSHTree: Butea monosperma (Flame of the Forest)family: FabaceaeSanskrit Name: Kishuk

it is a medium-sized dry season-deciduous tree. its brightvermilion-redflowersbloominthemonthsof March and april every year. The colour extracted fromtheseflowersisusedasadyeandasasourceof colour during holi. The Palash tree is said to be a form of agni, the god of fire. according to hindu mythology, Palash was punished by  goddess Parvati for disturbing her and lord shiva's privacy. InTelanganaregion,theseflowersareusedintheworship of lord shiva during shivratri festival. The brightorangeflowersarepollinatedby squirrels,parrots, bees and other insects.

Illustration by: G.L. Maheshwari IX, Kakinada Public School, Kakinada

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FAITHFUL FORESTSForests are the lungs of the Mother Earth. They inhale carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen to survive. People all over the world from rural communities to the biggest cities are affected by global deforestation. Let’s realise their value and protect them.Tanisha Bansal, VII, P.K.R. Jain Senior Secondary Public School, Ambala

Over the course of history, forests have played many important roles in shaping certain customs, traditions and cultures.

in terms of usefulness forests were abundant in resources such as timber, medicinal herbs, raw materials like honey, resin and wax and most importantly oxygen.

Moreover forests attract rain and prevent soil erosion.so friends we have to promise to save our forests!K Samuel Richards, X, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad; Ansh Agnihotri, VII, Kiran Public School, Farrukhabad; R.Sherin Lincy Mary, IX-B, Chellammal Vidyalaya, Trichy

Ways to Preserve Forests

Teach others about the impor-tance of environment.

restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees.

Encourage people to live in a way that does not hurt the environment.

Establish parks to protect wildlife.

Support companies that operate in ways to minimise damage to the environment.

The Importance of forests They help us breathe. They keep the earth cool. They make it rain. Theyfightflooding. They keep dirt in its place. They give us medicine They clean the dirty air. They help us explore and

relax. They help us make useful

things.

Trannum Khullar, VI, Delhi Public School, Mandla Road, Jabalpur

TREES ThAT hElp WITh pOllUTION

There is a growing concern about the quality of air in our cities. Air pollution is now a major cause of diseases in India and reducing the amount of

pollutants should be our primary focus. As a first step, plant trees that purify the air in and around

your home.• African Tulip Tree; • Poovarasa Maram,

• The Bengal Almond Tree; • Yellow Flame Tree; • Peepal • Neem

We have lost 129 million hectares of forest between 1990 and 2015. When we take away the forest, it is not just the trees but the entire ecosystem that falls apart.

A Ansrui , VII, Sri Divya Merkondaar Matric School, Thanjavur

iMPORtaNcE OF FOREStS

PRESERvE FOREStS activity

When alive When dead (rotting)

When Cut (Sustainably)

as food for man, other plants and

animals

as shelter for insects

For construction

as habitat for plants and

animals

as food for beetles,

termites and decomposers

as fuel

as part of the water cycle

as habitat for various insects

For making various

objects from matchsticks to

ships

Make your own list of things made from trees when alive, when cut and when dead.

Illustration by: Divyakala S., IX, Royal Park School, Salem

Illustration by: Gurmehar Seth, Royal Public School, Salem

Background Illustration by: Anushka Dawale, Delhi Public School, Mandla Road, Jabalpur

VOl. 12 No. 4VOl. 14 No. 1

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MY Forest DIARY

SaRiSKa WiLDLiFE SaNctuaRyThe sariska wildlife sanctuary comprises of different kinds of trees including Tendu, surwal, goria, Khair and ber. The Dhak is one of the most prominent trees in sariska. The reserve also houses the 16th-century Kankwadi Fort, originally built by Jai singh ii. The fort is located near the centre of the park.Gagandeep Kaur, Namisha Chittorya , Megha Verma IX , All Saints Senior Secondary School, Ajmer

NaiMiSHa FOREStThe Naimisha forest is one of the ancient forests of india and is located on the banks of river gomti, in uttar Pradesh. This forest is mentioned in the indian epics like the Mahabharata and the Puranas. The whole narration of the Mahabharata took place at Naimisha Forest. Vijaynath Lakshman, VIII, Kakinada Public School, Kakinada

NiDHivaN (MaDHuvaN) FOREStThe Nidhivan forest is located in Vrindavan, uttar Pradesh. it is believed that a temple in the Nidhivan forest is visited by lord Krishna every night and he comes to the forest at night and performs rasleela. it is believed that the trees turn into Krishna’s gopis. Vanshika Sharma, IX-C, Bhatnagar International School, Delhi; Dia Bansal & Ihina Yadav, V, Global Indian International School, Noida

BHitaRKaNiKa MaNGROvE FOREStThe lush bhitarkanika Mangroves forests are located in Odisha. They were declared a National Park in 1998. This forest is a home to around 55 of india’s mangrove species! in 2006, it was recognised by the guinness book of world records for the world’s largest white crocodile, measuring up to about 23 feet. P. Bhuvaneswari, VIII, Kakinada Public School, Kakinada

SaRaNDa FORESt saranda literally means ‘700 hills’. it is a dense forest in the hilly region of west singhbum district of Jharkhand. This area used to be a private hunting reserve of the singh Deo family. sal is the most important tree in this forest. Anwesha Jha, V, Bridgeford School, Tupudana, Ranchi

My FORESt StORyThere is a hill forest near my village. On the top of the hill there is shimhachalam Devasthanam – a temple of lord sri Narasimha swamy. One day my grandmother shared a story: “Once upon a time a Tribal girl went to collect firewood along with her cattle. Few thieves stole her cattle and threw her from the hill. but miraculously she survived. The grandmother said that it is because of the legendary plant - sanjeevani. P. Madhu Bhaskar, VIII, Sri Prakash Vidyaniketan, Pendurthi, Vishakapatnam

cHitRaKOOt FORESt Chitrakoot located in Madhya Pradesh, is said to have been visited by gods. The holy Trinity- brahma, Vishnu and shiva took their incarnations in this forest. lord rama along with his wife sita and brother laxmana spent their exile in this forest. some of the great sages like Maharishi Markandeya , atri and sarbhanga meditated here. Harshit Bari, VII, Bhavan’s S. L. Public School, Amritsar

aBuJMaRH it is a hilly forest area in Chhattisgarh. it is spread over the districts of Narayanpur, bijapur and Dantewada. it is home to the indigenous tribes of the gond, Muria, abuj Maria and halbaas. it is geographically isolated and accessing into this region continues to be difficult leaving it with no physical presence of civil administration till date. M. Aadhikesavan, Vidyaa Vikas Matric Higher Secondary School, Pudukkottai

Illustration by: Vedanshi Tare, VI-L, Delhi Public School, Sec 45, Gurgaon

Illustration by: Sri Ramaswami Mudaliar Hr. Sec. School

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

ACTIVITY 4 u TOUCH THE TREE

SENSE - a -tiONaL tREESwe experience the world through five different senses – sight, sound, touch, smell and taste.

First pick a tree which you like.

hold one of its leaves upto the light. look at the shape of your leaf and try to draw it. Does it have ridges or is it smooth?

Crush the leaf in your hand and smell it. how would you describe the smell? Now lightly put the tip of your tongue on the edge of the crushed leaf. Does it have a taste (do it only after studying the properties of the leaf, it can be poisonous)?

Close your eyes and touch the bark of the tree. let your fingers sense its texture. is it smooth or rough? Does the bark have a pattern?

stand very still and listen. what sounds come from the tree? are there any birds’ sounds? Do the leaves make a sound?

Make a tree notebook and put down all your sense-a-tional observation of different trees. You will be surprised, how the power of your senses helps you understand trees.

tREE autOGRaPHFrom among the group of trees that you can see around you, find:

1. The tree with the smoothest bark.

2. The tree with the roughest bark.

Can you identify these trees by name? Take impressions of different barks on paper. This is the tree’s autograph.

To take autographs of trees, hold a blank sheet of paper steadily against the bark. rub a crayon over the sheet to get the impression of the bark.

FORESt FictiON

Name the author of these books.

____________

____________

____________

SavE tHE tREElet’s make a poster to protect your favourite tree.

here are some tips for you to make your poster interesting.

start with a good idea.

use colours, shapes to make it attractive.

experiment with typography.

say more in less.

JOiNt FORESt MOvEMENt

In India the JFM is a good example of involving the local communities in the process of management and the

restoration of the degraded forests. M. Gayathri, X, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Public School, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad

Illustration by: Venya, VIII-G, Delhi Public School, Sec. 45, Gurgaon

VOl. 14 No. 1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

tREE tEStgiven below are the scientific names of trees. Find out the common names and its name in your native language.

Scientific Name Common Name Native Name1 shorea robusta2 Cocos nucifera3 Ficus benghalensis4 Tectona grandis5 santalum album

BraVE TIMMaKKa aNd HEr BaNYaNS!

eighty-year-old saalumarada Timmakka has planted and nurtures 284 banyan

trees along the 4 km road between Kudur and hulikal villages in Karnataka’s

ramanagara district. Can you name another green Braveheart?

FOREST MAZE

Deciduous trees shed

leaves .

Banyan tree is the national tree of India.

Neem tree purifies the

air.

Chitrakoot forest is in

Assam.

Peepal trees are flowering

trees.

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

NO

NO

NO

YES

NO

NO

NO

Britishers’ implemented the

Indian Forest Act of 1927.

Trees change their colour with seasons

inspiring nature lovers and poets like Tagore.

Which is your favourite nature poem and poet?

Help me find my way

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

MY EXPERIMENTS WITH TREESMy tERRaRiuMImagine how much fun it would be to imitate the life and conditions of the temperate deciduous forest in a forest or woodland terrarium.

Let’screateyourveryownforestfloorterrariuminjust5steps.

MEaSuRE tHE tREE

Materials required:

• glass• gravel• sand• soil• various plants or seeds• moss/ferns• pebbles/stones• water

1. Take a glass container; layer it with gravel and sand to create a floor. Scatter bits of charcoal over that to create a porous material that absorbs some gas.

2. Create a layer of 4 inches of soil to create enough support for the rooted plans.

3. Choose any seed or plant which you would like to place in your own terrarium.

4. Add mosses, ferns, lichens and fungi to create a lower plant life in the aquarium.

5. Keep the soil of your terrarium damp by watering it at regular intervals.

20 21

dimensionstree

TIPS TO MEASURE THE WIDTH OF A TREE:

1. The diameter of the tree is generally measured at breast height. This is at a height of 4½ feet. The diameter is then referred to as diameter at breast Height (dbH).

2. Take a tape at the breast height and wrap the tape around the tree. See that the tape does not sag. This measurement is the circumference.

3. Divide the circumference by 3.14. For example if the circumference is 41” dividing by 3.14 will give diameter of 13”. Therefore, the diameter at breast height or dbH is 13”.

22 23

diagram on how To measure a Tree’s heighT

PREciOuS PiNEOne of the reasons your lungs feel refreshed when walking through a Pine Forest is because of the presence of an anti–inflammablecompound called Pinene which is found in conifers.Diya, Delhi School of Excellence, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad

Pine trees are beautiful and unique. in the mountains they are in plenty. Collect some pine cones. You could make beautiful decorative pieces out of them. go explore…

Tips to measure the width of a tree 1. The diameter of the tree is generally

measured at breast height. This is at a height of 4 feet. The diameter is then referred to as diameter at breast height (dbh).

2. Take a tape at the breast height and wrap the tape around the tree. see that the tape does not sag. This measurement is the circumference.

3. Divide the circumference by 3.14. For example if the circumference is 41” dividing by 3.14 will give diameter of 13”. Therefore, the diameter at breast height or dbh is 13”.

Tips to measure the height of a tree 1. Find a stick that is equal in length to

the distance from your eye to your fingers when your arm is stretched.

2. Take the stick by the tips of your thumb and your index finger and hold it out in front of you.

3. walk towards or away from the tree until the tip and bottom of the stick is in line with the top and bottom of the tree.

4. stop at this point and measure the distance from here to the base of the tree.

5. This distance is equal to the height of the tree!

VOl. 14 No. 1

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HERITAGE NEWSVOl. 12 No. 3

viSit tO BiO-DivERSity PaRKdelhi Public School, Sector-45, gurgaon

Delhi Public school, sector-45, gurgaon organized a visit to Tau Devi lal bio-Diversity Park for the junior school students. This visit enriched their knowledge of naturally growing plants. The students appreciated the beauty of the plants and trees and also understood the importance of conservation and preservation of trees.

cONSERvatiON OF FORESt global Indian International School, Chinchwad

The students of global indian international school, Chinchwad got involved in an activity where they expressed their thoughts on ‘conservation of forest’. This was a literary activity accompanied with their drawing skills. The children put on their thinking caps and wrote their expressions with great excitement.

BESt HERitaGE cLuB 2016dear Heritage Club Members and Teachers, send us a detailed report with photographs of the activities you have organised in your heritage Club during the year 2016 and what you have learnt from them. send us the report by 15th March 2017. Cash Prize:• 1st prize: rs. 5000• 2nd prize: rs. 3000• 3rd prize: rs. 2000

and more special prizes to be won! You can also send us your inputs on why you like the Young iNTaCh newsletter and give us suggestions and ideas for our forthcoming issues.BEST HErITagE CluB STudENT 2016select the best student from your school heritage club. The student must fill the heritage club passport. interesting and well filled passports will win a prize. send us the passport with your heritage club report by 15th March 2017.

My city My HeritageDo not forget to send in your entries for My City My heritage, a pan-india essay and painting competition, by 15th March 2017. For details, log on to: www.young intach.org

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referencesTrees of Delhi: Field guide, Pradip Krishen, 2006 adopt a Tree, iNTaCh heritage education, iNTaCh, 2013 Flowering Trees: shrubs & Climbers of india, Pakistan, Nepal, srilanka and bhutan, rupinder Khullar, 2006 Trees in indian art, Mythology & Folklore, bansi lal Malla, 2000wonders of india: Trees, The energy and resources institute, 2011 exploring a Tree: a Teacher’s Manual, Ceesrinagar: an architectural legacy, Feisal alkazi, 2014http://www.libertyindia. org/policy_reports/forest_ conflict_2002.pd

WHat'S NExt?PRizE WiNNERS

Do you have any ideas, comments or suggestions to make Young iNTaCh more interesting? we welcome any thoughts on what themes you would like us to select for the upcoming issues of Young iNTaCh.

Please write to:

Purnima dattheritage education and Communication service (heCs)indian National Trust for art and Cultural heritage (iNTaCh)71, lodi estate, New Delhi 110003Tel: (011) 24641304, 24645482, Fax: (011) 24611290email: hecsintach@gmail.com, website: www.youngintach.org

FEEDBacK

april-June 2017 Stories in Stone

stone is one of the oldest building materials gifted to human beings by Mother Nature. each stone has a unique story to tell. in about 100 words you could write on any one of the following:• Kind of stones or rocks unique to your place

or region• stone architecture or sculpture of your city or

region• stone craft of your state or a well-known sculptor• Mythology or legend described in any one interesting stone sculpture • interview with a stone craftsperson and the challenges faced today.

You may accompany your write-up with a sketch, painting or personally clicked photographs.

last date for entries: February 15, 2017

July-September 2017 amazing archaeologyarchaeology as a subject gives us an insight into human civilization. india is a rich repository of some of the most fascinating, pottery, sculptures and artefacts. in about 100 words you could write on any one of the following:• HistoryofarchaeologyinIndiaand

well-known archaeologists.• FamousarchaeologicalsitesinIndia• Interestingarchaeologicalartefactsfoundinyourregion.• Intervieworatalkwithalocalarchaeologistfromyourstate.

You may accompany your write-up with a sketch, painting or personally clicked photographs.

last date for entries: May 15, 2017

To know more about iNTaCh, visit: www.intach.orgTo know more about heCs projects and publications, visit: www.youngintach.org

We are grateful to the Ministry of Culture for supporting Young INTaCH, a quarterly heritage newsletter for and by children that has about 2 lakh readers and the number keeps on going higher with each issue.

CreditsPurnima Datt

research & Content development sanjana anand rhea John

Illustrations Yatindra KumarKirti Kanojia

Editing bashobi banerjee

design and Printing Colorcom advertising

Circulation and Subscription smriti rajvanshi

Supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India

Answers for ActivitiesPg. 12: Forest Fiction Answers1. Jungle Picture- Norah Burke; 2. Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra- Ruskin Bond; 3. Man- Eaters of Kumaon-Jim CorbettPg. 13: 1. Shorea robusta- common name (Sal)- Native name (Shala)2. Cocos nucifera- common name (Coconut)- Native name (Nariyal, S hreephal)3. Ficus benghalensis- common name- (Banyan)- Native name (Bargad)4. Tectona grandis- common name- (Teak)- Native name- (Sagon)5. Santalum album- common name (Sandalwood)- Native name ( Chandan)

Prithika Pradeep, iii, Naman Jain, iii, global indian school, Pune Ishita Saraf, Vii -F, Delhi Public school, raipurdevesh Kumar Patel, Delhi Public school, Mandla road, Jabalpurarchit Patel, X, Nachiketa s.s. school, JabalpurShivangi Singh, iV a, Bhani Kaur, iV a, Ihina Yadav, V, dia Bansal, global indian international school, Noida Nitya , X, Swati Yadav, X, akanksha dixit, X-a, Shivani goutam, Nischal Soni, suditi global academy, etawah Sushmit deb, Vi, Delhi Public school, sec 45 gurgaon S. Sivaranjani, Vii, K. Sankai, Viii, sri sankara senior secondary school, Chennai; S. Jasmina Banu, little scholars Matriculation higher secondary school, ThanjavurStuthi K, iX, devanshi raja, X-D, C. sriram Kalyan, X, abinand l. ,X, K Prerna, iX, Venkat dheertaj, X, Sparsh agarwal, iX, M. gayathri, X, Neharika. OT, X, Kiruthika S., X, bharatiya Vidya bhavan’s Public school, Jubilee hills, hyderabad M. Mohamed arshad, Viii, Prabanja K, Viiia, M. aadhikesavan, Vidyaa Vikas Matric higher secondary school, Pudukkottaigatik Chanana ,V C, Veda

Vyasa D.a.V Public school, New Delhianmol Kilani, X-a, ritika Chittoria, Xi, gagandeep Kaur, Namisha Chittorya, Megha Verma, iX , all saints senior secondary school, ajmerManvi Vatas, V, anwesha Jha, V, bridgeford school, Tupudana, ranchirishal Naik, X, Delhi Public school, VishakhapatnamShreya Sahal, iX b- Dundlod Vidyapeeth, JhunjhunuNandita, X, indian Public senior secondary school, radaur, Yamuna Nagardhruv agrawal, iX-e, gwalior glory high school, gwalior gurmeher Seth, Xi, Ziya Singh, Viii-a, Saloni Verma, Viii-b, Convent of Jesus and Mary, ambala Cantt anushka Sood, ViiD, Tanisha Bansal, Vii, P.K.r Jain senior secondary school, ambalar. Yogesh Kumar , a. ajit, Vishaka Valley school, VisakhapatnamYana Cariyappa, Vii, Presidency school, bangalore NorthS. Sai gayatri, iX, akshara school, Kakinada ankit Bhatia, Viii- D, Harshit Bari, Vii, bhavan’s s.l. Public senior secondary school, amritsar;rahul Kumar, X-a, Vishva bharti Public school, Jaghadri, haryana Saheefa Mustufa, Viii g1, greenwood senior

secondary school, rampur Samiya B., Vi, Vedanshi Tare, Vi-l, Venya, Viii-g, Delhi Public school, sec 45, gurgaon freya, Vii, Diya, Delhi school of excellence, banjara hills, hyderabadHriju Kirti Sinshal, iX-C, Vanshika Sharma, iX-C, bhatnagar intl school, DelhiSmrithi Naidu, iX, epistemo global Vikas leadership school, TelanganaK Samuel richards, X, bharatiya Vidya bhavan’s Public school, Jubilee hills, hyderabad; ansh agnihotri, Vii, Kiran Public school, Farrukhabadr.Sherin lincy Mary, iX-b, ChellammalVidyalaya, TrichyTrannum Khullar, Vi, anushka dawale, Delhi Public school, Mandla road, Jabalpur divyakala S., iX, gurmehar seth, royal Public school, salem a ansrui, Vii, sri Divya Merkondaar Matric school, Thanjavur P. Bhuvaneswari, Viii, g.l. Maheshwari IX, Vijaynath lakshman, Viii, Kakinada Public school, KakinadaP. Madhu Bhaskar, Viii, sri Prakash Vidyaniketan, Pendurthi, VishakapatnamS. Pramodhini, Vii, angappa senior secondary Cbse school, CoimbatoreMehek goyal, Vii-e, DaV Public school, sec 14, Faridabad