Saalumarada Thimmakka: 114-Year-Old Padma Shri Awardee In Bengaluru

Renowned environmentalist and Padma Shri awardee Saalumarada Thimmakka passed away at the age of 114 on Friday at a private hospital in Bengaluru. She had been unwell for some time and was undergoing treatment, according to family sources.

Born on June 30, 1911, in Karnataka, Thimmakka became an icon of grassroots environmental activism despite having no formal education. She gained national and international recognition for planting 385 banyan trees along a 4.5-km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur in the Ramanagara district. Her deep bond with nature stemmed from personal grief-being childless, she began nurturing trees as her own children.

Affectionately called Saalumarada, meaning “row of trees” in Kannada, Thimmakka’s life work inspired generations and contributed significantly to India’s environmental movement. 

Over her lifetime, she received numerous honours, including the Padma Shri in 2019, the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award (1997), the National Citizen Award (1995), and the Nadoja Award by Hampi University in 2010.