‘Oasis of trees’ to nurture Guru’s legacy

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, August 20

“An oasis of trees and plants”, as mentioned in Guru Granth Sahib, is being developed by US-based environment organisation EcoSikh on five acres at Patto Hira Singh village in Nihalsinghwala subdivision of the district.

Named Guru Nanak Bagh (garden), it was inaugurated on Monday to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, which is being celebrated worldwide in 2019.

The village panchayat has donated five acres to the society to develop the nature park and vowed to preserve the local bio-diversity. A local NGO, Patto Eco Tree and Landscape Society (PETALS), has been constituted to look after the park. Various species of trees mentioned in the various Sikh scriptures of Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Granth Sahib have been planted on the plot.

The village was once visited by Guru Nanak and also by the sixth, seventh and the tenth Sikh Gurus as mentioned in the Sikh history, which enriches the historical importance of the eco-park.

Supreet Kaur, president of EcoSikh, India Chapter, after planting the trees and plants said, “We wanted to choose a site which is linked with Guru Nanak and secondly we were excited that the local community was enthusiastic about the unique project. This is perhaps the first time that 13 different tree species mentioned in the hymns of Guru Nanak and Guru Granth Sahib have been planted in one garden at this historic village.”

More than 400 trees of 13 species like- mango, neem, kikkar, simal, bamboo, jujube, henna, date palms, bohar and sandalwood were planted by volunteers.

Jaspreet Singh, secretary of the EcoSikh, said, “This project is dedicated to the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev and has been facilitated under the campaign ‘550 trees in the name of Guru’.”

He said, “Every tree has been identified with a corresponding line from Guru Granth Sahib. The credit for the entire research and the organisation of the project goes to landscape expert Dr Balwinder Singh Lakhewali. We are also grateful to all the EcoSikh volunteers and the residents of Patto Hira Singh village for their sense of dedication and commitment to preserve the nature,” he added.

Dr Rajwant Singh, EcoSikh International president, said, “We want to highlight teachings of Guru Nanak on nature and this is the best way to exhibit the close connection of Sikh spirituality with God’s creation.”

The EcoSikh has announced that it will plant 550 trees at 1,820 locations across the globe with a target of planting one million trees in the coming months to celebrate Guru Nanak Dev’s birth anniversary.