Memories on Trees: Bakul
Mumbai has banished Bakul. No doubt about it. I haven’t seen this tree in Thane. I do not remember seeing it in Mumbai too.
My first meeting with this tree was at ‘Limaye Wada’ in Hanuman Alley at Pen, my hometown. It was a huge tree. You can’t mistake it for any other tree because of its small and fragrant flowers. This is one tree where my eyes scan the ground. You get very fragrant flowers and some fruits on the ground.
I came out of Labour Court in Guwahati and walked down to the main road. As I approached the main street, I spotted Bakul! It wasn’t a big tree there, it had grown to the height of about ten feet. Bakul was planted in front of a shop, so I went to the shop keeper, and asked the name of the tree. ‘Bokol’ the Assamese shop keeper said!
A few years later I visited Kolkata. My hotel was not too far from Victoria Memorial. I went there for my morning walk. That garden has at least ten big Bakul trees. The one close to the gate is a very big tree. There were some fruits lying on the ground, I picked up one or two and quickly put them in my mouth, afraid that people might recognise me.
I realised that I was a stranger in Kolkata, just as Bakul has now become one in Mumbai.
Vivek S Patwardhan
[Pic courtesy internet]
Very well said.
Perhaps now is the turn of Prajakta
I don't know think I have seen this one…or maybe I I have but not known the name. Few years later there might just be a museum for trees.
Trees have been an integral part of our growing up, with memories attached to some of them. Playing with some, picking fruits from others. Creating projects with their leaves and small bouquets for mom. Wish the younger generation got to experience them more often.
To be very honest, Vivek, I do not remember ever seeing these flowers. When you mentioned a carpet of flowers, my thoughts went straight to ‘prajaktachi phule’. Either I have not seen them, or I was just plain blind to things around me in my younger days. Would love to see and smell them.