In an age, when trees are being cut down for human comfort, sometime in the name of development and at times in the name of firewood, Abdul Ahad Khan, a 36-year-old a resident of north Kashmir, has been planting Chinar trees for the past fifteen years.
He has been given the honorary title of “Chinar Man” of Kashmir for his dedicated work.
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Khan, a labourer, is from a remote village in Jammu Kashmir’s frontier district of Kupwara. Up till now, he has planted a huge number of Chinar trees.
Plantation of the Chinar tree was a natural idea that came to Khan’s mind.
Chinar has been an important part of Kashmiri tradition. The Chinar, the Oriental (Eastern) Plane tree, (Platanus orientalis), or Buen and Booyn in Kashmiri language, is a living heritage of Kashmir. Chinar trees characteristically grow in Eastern Himalayas. Chinar being a long-living tree has survived for ages. It is renowned for having broad, bright green leaves and gorgeous autumnal foliage, with the leaves changing to various colours of orange, yellow, and red.
According to Khan, the Chinar trees maintain a clean atmosphere and offers fresh air. Speaking to The Kashmiriyat, he said, “I think that living in its shadow raises the blood of people who have low blood. In the scorching summer months people can also enjoy its shadow.”
“I plant Chinar trees in the month of March each year and plant them at different places when they grow four to five feet after two years,” he said.
Khan planted these plants on forest land. He claimed that the Forest Department officials never barred him from doing anything; rather, they encouraged him.
Khan claimed he planted 12 trees in the first year, but just four of them had grown. He said, “Then I learned that even Chinar tree need water at the beginning, which I am providing now.”
This year, Khan has provided over 700 chinar trees to the Forest department for plantation as Khan hopes that the department can plant them at various places across Kashmir valley. He claimed to have himself planted fifty to sixty chinar trees this year.
“I do this work for Allah’s sake, not for my own benefit,” Khan affirmed while expressing sadness as people don’t plant Chinar trees in the present times. He hopes that his mission will prove beneficial for the future generations.
The officials of the Forest department gave Khan the title of “Chinar Man.” He encouraged people to maintain a clean environment and grow trees in open spaces.
“I’ll keep going as long as I’m alive,” Khan declared, adding that he would reply ‘No’ to those who would advise him not to carry out this work.