| Walk For Trees Rally | Tree Huggers | Tying Rakhi | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
Buoyed by the official resolution passed late last night by the General Body of the Indian Medical Association Dehradun Branch, lending their full support to the drive to save trees, students of the Sports Association gathered in full strength at Gandhi Park Sunday morning. The Friends of Doon Society, Citizen’s Action Group and Citizens for Green Doon, also lent their full support to the agitation and dozens of members from these associations participated in the “Walk For Trees” rally. Also participating were school and college students, housewives, doctors, businessmen and people from other walks of life. Said Mrs. Swaraj Mehta, a 70yr old entrepreneur “My mother participated in rallies in those days to free India from foreign rulers, today I am out in this rally to save the trees from exploiters, both rallies are equally pious”
The enthusiasm among the participants was palpable as was the anger against the State and City Governments for cutting down trees indiscriminately. Slogans against both rented the air. Carrying a big save the trees poster in her hands, Renu Jalota, a teacher, said “Until now we have been passive onlookers as the government cut down trees after trees. Now we have decided that enough is enough” Added Mrs Sonia Pandey “It is time the people of Dehradun to stop letting Doon being treated like an orphan city where whoever does whatever he pleases without caring for its welfare. We must come out and take guardianship of our town ’.
As the rally wound its way along Rajpur Road, bystanders and passer-by’s upon noticing the cause of the rally, joined in. Twenty three yr old Sandhya, one such passer-by who was shopping at Astley Hall with her three friends, said “I am happy to see the people of Doon now waking up and refusing to take s*** from this government. From hara pradesh (green state) they will turn Uttarakhand into a ‘haara hua pradesh’ "(a state in shambles)
| Tree Huggers | Posters at Rally | |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
At St. Joseph’s Academy the participants hugged the trees and tied rakhis to them and vowed for their protection. 16yr old Jyoti Dhalla, a resident of Shakti Colony, after hugging a tree said “This is the first time in my life I have hugged a tree and I can tell you nothing can be more divine”. Said an emotional 85yr old Mr. M. Massey “Please let me know when anyone tries to cut down these beautiful trees. I will put myself between the axe man and the trees and try and stop them”. His sentiment stuck an instant rappot with most other protesters. Dr Bhim Pandhi, an eminent Doonite and Patron of India Medical Association, also wanted to be informed of any attempt by the authorities to cut down the trees so that he too could put himself first. Posters and protection Rakhis adorned the beautiful lush green trees of St. Joseph’s Academy as the protesters slowly dispersed. “Only the blind will miss the sentiments and resolve behind this spontaneous show of peoples power” said Akhil Maikuri, a Class 12 student of St. Thomas College, wiping the sweat off his brow, as he sat under the shade of the very trees, the City Authorities are bent upon chopping.
