Tulsi Gowda had been unwell for the past eight months after suffering a stroke. Despite consulting doctors, she could not recover from the illness and was bedridden.
Published Dec 16, 2024 | 10:16 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 16, 2024 | 10:16 PM
Padma Shri awardee Tulsi Gowda passed away at her residence in Honnali in Ankola taluka on Monday. (supplied)
Karnataka’s legendary tree planter Tulsi Gowda passed away at her residence in Uttara Kannada’s Honnali village due to age-related illness on Monday, 16 December. A Padma Shri recipient, she was 86.
Her family said Gowda had been unwell for the past eight months after suffering a stroke. Despite consulting doctors, she could not recover from the illness and was bedridden.
Gowda is known for her conservation efforts of forests and biodiversity. It is said that she had planted over one lakh saplings till she fell ill. She was also looking after the nurseries of the forest department for over several decades.
Recognising her conversation efforts, the Union government honoured her with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award, in 2021. She was also the recipient of several national and state awards.
Gowda, Halakki tribeswoman, was born at Honnali. She did not receive any formal education as her father passed away when she was around two years old. She worked alongside her mother at a local nursery.
#Karnataka: Padma Shri recipient & Environmentalist Tulsi Gowda (86) passed away at her residence due to age-related illness at Honnali village in Uttara Kannada district.
She was known for planting around 30,000 saplings a year. She is also called the ‘Encyclopedia of Forest’… pic.twitter.com/tO9SRyMt11
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) December 16, 2024
She had two children, Subrayya and Soni – who pre-deceased her. She was looked after by her four grandchildren at her residence in Honnali.
The final rites of Gowda will be held in Honnali on Tuesday, 17 December.
“She suffered a stroke eight months ago. We admitted her to the Civil Hospital in Ankola before shifting to Manipal Hospital for advanced treatment. We also tried Ayurveda,” Gowda’s Grandson Shankar told South First.
“She showed recovery signs briefly but did not recover completely. She was bedridden for the past seven months. She passed away around 6:15 pm on Monday,” he added.
Shankar said the government has extended financial help for her medical treatment. “When she was admitted to the Manipal Hospital, the government took care of medical bills amounting ₹1 lakh.”
“She was an inspiration to us and the entire country,” the proud grandson said.
Gowda was popularly known as the ‘Encyclopaedia of Forests’ for her extraordinary ability to identify the mother tree of any species and her extensive knowledge of diverse plants and herbs.
For over six decades, she cared for the nurseries of the Forest Department in Uttara Kannada district, specifically at the Mastikatti range in Ankola taluka.
“She started as a daily-wage laborer at the department’s nursery and worked tirelessly for several decades. Recognising her remarkable contribution to environmental conservation, the department offered her a permanent position in 1991. She retired in 2005,” Mastikatti Range Forest Officer Mallikarjun Angadi told South First.
“Tulsi Gowda possessed vast knowledge about a wide variety of plant and herb species. She guided people who came to purchase saplings from the department’s nursery. It is an honour to work in the same range where she lived. Her expertise in identifying species and herbs was unparalleled,” RFO Angadi added, noting that she not only brought recognition to herself but also to the entire forest range and the district.
Gowda was also a recipient of the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award (1986) and the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award (1999).
Her simplicity gained widespread admiration when she walked barefoot to receive the Padma Shri award. Netizens praised her humble demeanor and dedication.
During the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Tulsi Gowda on 3 May in Ankola, and sought her blessings before addressing a political rally.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
