A number of black cotton farmers had migrated to Coimbatore during the reign of the Vijayanagar Empire. Some among them who had been living near the Sanganoor Pallam of Avarampalayam for about two centuries got threatened by floods about three hundred ago. The farmers decided create safer settlements for themselves and therefore sought the permission to do so from the Maharaja of Mysore who happened to be the suzerain of this region. The ruler gave in after much persuasion and Peelamedu along with Pappanaickenpalayam came into being on 11 - 11 - 1711. The last century witnessed both these villages adding a lot of wealth and wisdom to this region. The pioneering streak of these people continues to enrich us in many ways, however its time that we are aware that some senior citizens of Peelamedu are pioneering in their own way by greening the city over the last couple of years.
Palaniswamy (74 years), Swaminathan (80 years), Gopal of the Peelamedu Consumer Voice (66 years), Ramachandran (72 years), Kittu (75 years), and the younger Ramamurthy, Arunachalam as well as Nataraj have been planting and nurturing about 300 trees in the neighbourhood of the Peelamedu Railway Station for a little over four years. Gopal of the Peelamedu Consumer Voice had taken care of the permissions required from the authorities. "Station Master Chinnaraj had helped us with the permissions and the Commercial Assistant Ramnath helps us to use the water from the borewell. Oli Karpagam and Raac Raveendran helped us get some trees initially. Later on we took trees from Puliyampatti and Siruthuli as well. We planted the trees in the neighbourhood of the Station while ensuring that good natural manure was used along with. A number of steps had to be taken to preserve the trees from goats and other animals until they grew up. The Rail Over Bridge construction people lend us their vehicle for watering the trees and this will take place until the completion of their project," stated Octogenarian Swaminathan.
Palaniswamy had began his career at Radhakrishna Mills as a fifteen year old during the year 1958 and had later on moved over to serve at the bungalow of V.Radhakrishnan who belonged to the family of the mill promoters. He has suffered personal tragedies and has faced several challenges in life but is undeterred. "All of us want to give something to Peelamedu and we decided to plant trees and look after them. The trees give us breeze, shade, rain and also bring birds to our neighbourhood. We are happy to indulge in this activity on an everyday basis," adds Palaniswamy.
The tree lovers of Peelamedu have planted several varieties of native trees and are even nurturing two clumps of bamboo within the premises. Gopal is glad to add in the details, "The trees include Poovarasu, Pungan, Veppam, Puliyamaram, Arasamaram, Sakarai Palam, Malai, Vembu, Alamaram, Badam, Thoongamoonji, Malainelli, Alamaram, Koyya, Mamaram, Mayflower, Athimaram and Vilvam. We have planted a number of flowering plants too and its nice to see school going kids feasting on the Sakarai Palam from the grown up trees. Additionally when we look at the birds we feel glad that our mission has been accomplished. A number of people going out of town on train for work everyday from Peelamedu cherish the trees. Once they grow up fully, this area will resemble paradise".
Swaminathan lends in his hand often by trying to get the place deweeded and cleaned up. " We will not be able to go near the trees with weeds around for there might be snakes. Therefore we clean it up once in a way and luckily a mongoose or two around are helpful. Just in case we find someone whose activities may harm the trees we request the same person to plant a couple of them. This helps in ensuring that even the errant takes care of the trees," smiles Swaminathan. The team walks up and down the premises and they treat the trees as their own kids. They take enormous pleasure is watching the developments keenly.
"We get thrilled when the trees begin to flower or yield fruits and we want this to an enduring contribution from all of us. Fortunately Peelamedu has had many good citizens who have served Coimbatore. Their work is touching our lives even today. Please look at the godowns on the other side of the railway track. They were constructed under the leadership of R.Venkataswamy Naidu of Radhakrishna Mills for a public purpose. The quality of construction speaks for itself, similarly the trees planted by us on this side of the railway track should serve the society for a long time to come," echoed Palaniswamy.
The tree lovers of Peelamedu revere our Past President APJ Abdul Kalam and they celebrate his birthday by planting more and more trees year after year. Visiting and encouraging such lovers of nature can perhaps be the best way to celebrate the World Environment Day.
Palaniswamy (74 years), Swaminathan (80 years), Gopal of the Peelamedu Consumer Voice (66 years), Ramachandran (72 years), Kittu (75 years), and the younger Ramamurthy, Arunachalam as well as Nataraj have been planting and nurturing about 300 trees in the neighbourhood of the Peelamedu Railway Station for a little over four years. Gopal of the Peelamedu Consumer Voice had taken care of the permissions required from the authorities. "Station Master Chinnaraj had helped us with the permissions and the Commercial Assistant Ramnath helps us to use the water from the borewell. Oli Karpagam and Raac Raveendran helped us get some trees initially. Later on we took trees from Puliyampatti and Siruthuli as well. We planted the trees in the neighbourhood of the Station while ensuring that good natural manure was used along with. A number of steps had to be taken to preserve the trees from goats and other animals until they grew up. The Rail Over Bridge construction people lend us their vehicle for watering the trees and this will take place until the completion of their project," stated Octogenarian Swaminathan.
Palaniswamy had began his career at Radhakrishna Mills as a fifteen year old during the year 1958 and had later on moved over to serve at the bungalow of V.Radhakrishnan who belonged to the family of the mill promoters. He has suffered personal tragedies and has faced several challenges in life but is undeterred. "All of us want to give something to Peelamedu and we decided to plant trees and look after them. The trees give us breeze, shade, rain and also bring birds to our neighbourhood. We are happy to indulge in this activity on an everyday basis," adds Palaniswamy.
The tree lovers of Peelamedu have planted several varieties of native trees and are even nurturing two clumps of bamboo within the premises. Gopal is glad to add in the details, "The trees include Poovarasu, Pungan, Veppam, Puliyamaram, Arasamaram, Sakarai Palam, Malai, Vembu, Alamaram, Badam, Thoongamoonji, Malainelli, Alamaram, Koyya, Mamaram, Mayflower, Athimaram and Vilvam. We have planted a number of flowering plants too and its nice to see school going kids feasting on the Sakarai Palam from the grown up trees. Additionally when we look at the birds we feel glad that our mission has been accomplished. A number of people going out of town on train for work everyday from Peelamedu cherish the trees. Once they grow up fully, this area will resemble paradise".
Swaminathan lends in his hand often by trying to get the place deweeded and cleaned up. " We will not be able to go near the trees with weeds around for there might be snakes. Therefore we clean it up once in a way and luckily a mongoose or two around are helpful. Just in case we find someone whose activities may harm the trees we request the same person to plant a couple of them. This helps in ensuring that even the errant takes care of the trees," smiles Swaminathan. The team walks up and down the premises and they treat the trees as their own kids. They take enormous pleasure is watching the developments keenly.
"We get thrilled when the trees begin to flower or yield fruits and we want this to an enduring contribution from all of us. Fortunately Peelamedu has had many good citizens who have served Coimbatore. Their work is touching our lives even today. Please look at the godowns on the other side of the railway track. They were constructed under the leadership of R.Venkataswamy Naidu of Radhakrishna Mills for a public purpose. The quality of construction speaks for itself, similarly the trees planted by us on this side of the railway track should serve the society for a long time to come," echoed Palaniswamy.
The tree lovers of Peelamedu revere our Past President APJ Abdul Kalam and they celebrate his birthday by planting more and more trees year after year. Visiting and encouraging such lovers of nature can perhaps be the best way to celebrate the World Environment Day.