'encyclopedia of forest'- the enchanting life of tulsi gowda

She has planted more than 100000 saplings and innumerous medicinal plants throughout her life. She might not remember her age correctly but the origin of every tree in the Forests of Karnataka is stitched in her memory. When young Tulsi turned towards nature to earn a livelihood, nature embraced her and blessed her with a true calling. Now Tulsi is in her eighties and holds many awards for her work as an Environmentalist, but she is more like Snow White, brilliant and enchanting at the same time.

Tulsi Gowda in her prime, Source: Google Images

We have heard many fairytales and Disney princess stories but most of them exist in their fictional isotopes unless a real-life resemblance could be recognized in contemporary times. Only then the world of magic realism is identified in real life and it’s a most enchanting experience.

The story of Snowhite and her seven dwarfs is popular not only for its enchanting love story and the peculiar chemistry of the beautiful princess with the dwarfs but also for the alluring association the princess had with nature. If one follows the storyline then remember that Snowhite was sheltered and even rescued by nature and animals when she was running away from a cruel, fatal faith. As nature became her rescuer she became a nurturer, always spending time taking care of the animals and natural resources as she lived with the dwarfs.

In this sense, anyone can be Snowhite if she holds a close relationship of kindness and giving with nature. With this context, behold the Indian Snowhite of the Karnataka Forest Department, Tulsi Gowda, a respected retired Forest Department worker, an Environmentalist, and a woman who finds solace and scope of new beginnings on the lap of Mother Nature.

The flora and fauna of our country are immense, but to maintain its vastness and existence, humans need to partake in their daily care to preserve the dwindling beats of nature due to man-made evils like pollution and deforestation. The forest departments of various regions play a vital role to serve and protect nature by ensuring its healthy existence. In this sense, the forest department workers are true heroes, and in this story, Tulsi Gowda is our Snowhite. But Tulsi’s story and her special relationship with nature are more compensatory, after knowing Tulsi’s story one can vouch that they saved it each other, loyally, and wholly.

Tulsi was born in the tribal community of Halakki, residing in Honnalli village of Uttara Kannada, a village that falls in the middle of the urban and rural landscape. Tulsi was just 2 years of age when her father passed away, she and her mother were forced to seek work in the nurseries of the Forest Department of Karnataka to earn their livelihood. Like any other typical tribal girl of her time, Tulsi was married off at the tender age of 10-12 years, her husband, Govind Gowda was her senior by many years.

As young Tulsi battled with her young married life for which she was never prepared, she found comfort and passion while working in the forest nursery alongside her mother. Their work was mainly centered on harvesting seeds from mother trees in the forest at the precise point when seeds were ready to germinate. It was a task that required expert knowledge and huge dedication, and soon Tulsi acquired both. Tulsi used to wander around the forest, looking for the mother trees to find suitable nodes, accumulating knowledge that would last a lifetime and earn her the title of ‘Encyclopedia of Forest’.

Just like Snowhite wandering in the woods, conversing with animals, and collecting flowers, Tulsi Gowda collected knowledge by mystically wandering in the forest, fulfilling her life’s purpose. Without knowing she had found her true calling, her bad luck turned into faith, she found happiness in greenery, a tribal woman becoming graduating in nature.

Gowda being awarded with Padma Shri, Source: Google Images

For 35 years, Tulsi worked alongside her mother in the nursery as a mere tribal worker, until she was offered a permanent position in the department, as a mark of acknowledgment of her immense and valuable knowledge about the forest. She served as an official employee of the department for another 15 years, before her retirement at the age of 70. She has been honored with Padma Shri in 2021 at the hands of President Ramnath Kovind.

When one looks at her picture one just sees an ordinary woman in traditional tribal attire, smiling humbly at the camera, the happiness of her passionate work etched in the fine wrinkles which decorate her forehead and chin. Tulsi is 83 now but she never learned to rest, all she learned was the mysteries of nature, which she kindly shares with the children of her village by giving them lessons.

Tulsi loves and respects Fauna and Flora of every kind, and has also worked to prevent hunting and poachers to roam about the forests. When her name creeps up, she is known to conduct massive afforestation drives by planting more than 1,00,000 saplings, and 300 medicinal plants and working around more than 5 wildlife conservation parks.

Despite her overbearing age, Tulsi continues to work, serving mother nature in any way possible, she values nature and trees more than anything on this planet, because nature once saved her from the sheer ordeal of a fruitless existence by infusing meaning in her life, this Snowhite of India pays her gratitude in various ways, all surreally nature-centric.