Saalumarada Thimmakka (1911–2025): A green legacy that will live forever
Padma Shri Saalumarada Thimmakka, a legendary environmentalist and revered “Mother of Trees”, passed away on November 14, 2025, yesterday at the age of 114 in Bengaluru after a period of illness due to respiratory complications. Her final rites will be held with full state honours as announced by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The family, alongside state officials, identified several possible locations for the funeral, and a decision is expected soon. Arrangements have been made for public viewing and last respects in her native Hulikal village, Magadi taluk, as well as in Belur, following her wish that a Thimmakka Museum be established there as a tribute to her life and legacy.
Saalumarada Thimmakka’s journey is one of profound inspiration. Born in a poor family in 1911, she faced the pain of childlessness, channeling her love and energy into nurturing saplings as her own children. Alongside her husband Chikkaiah, she embarked on a decades-long mission to plant and care for over 8,000 trees, including the iconic 385 banyan trees along a 4.5 km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur in Karnataka. Her practical, grassroots approach watering saplings daily, protecting them with locally-crafted bunds—transformed barren roadsides into flourishing green corridors, and turned her name into a symbol for conservation nationwide.
Her work impacted generations, inspiring community forest drives, environmental education, and sustainable action that extended across Karnataka and far beyond. Thimmakka’s ability to transform adversity into global ecological stewardship set her apart, earning recognition including the Padma Shri (2019), National Citizen Award, Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award, Nadoja Award from Hampi University, Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, and Godfrey Phillips Bravery Award. Internationally, she was honored by BBC’s 100 Women List and the World Book of Records, and organizations such as Thimmakka’s Resources for Environmental Education in California adopted her philosophy. She was most recently appointed environment ambassador with cabinet rank in Karnataka, testament to her lifelong commitment and impact.
Her passing was met with deep sorrow and tributes from leaders across the country and the world. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah called her love for nature “immortal”, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar and former CM Basavaraj Bommai praised her as a noble soul whose memory would live on through her environmental legacy. Former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, ministers, MPs, and MLAs paid homage, as did AP Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy. Pawan Kalyan recalled her life as a “shining example of compassion and simplicity,” while Revanth Reddy called her a national inspiration whose lessons on ecological responsibility must be continued. Environmentalists, citizens, and international organizations mourned her demise, with news outlets and admirers across the globe recognizing her unique influence and contribution.
Saalumarada Thimmakka’s final journey is a moment of collective reflection for all who seek a better world. Her wish for a museum in her name highlights the enduring importance of education and continued activism. As the nation prepares to bid her farewell with full state honours, her legacy of nurturing trees, inspiring young minds, and championing grassroots environmentalism will live on, a green monument to the capacity of one individual’s love and perseverance. Thimmakka showed that every person, regardless of education or resources, can make a lasting impact; her story, like the trees she planted, will shade and uplift generations to come.