Noel Manuel
The number of rings that appear inside the trunk of a tree ascertain the number of years that a tree has lived. Each ring stands for a single year and as the years progress the rings get bigger in order to accommodate more such rings.
A man’s life is very similar to that of the rings of a tree. The rings of experience within him ascertain the life of man. As a tree braves the forces of nature to ensure that each ring is formed, man has to constantly brave the challenges of hard work to form the rings of experience within him.
Hard work helps a man to develop more experience over the years and the rings of experience turn apparent when a man opens himself up with actions, ideas and views that speak of the seniority of the person.
For every tree that takes shape into an enormous and gigantic figure, there is a humble seed from where it all began. Similarly for every man that develops into a rare and extraordinary personality there is a child and youth that speaks of a path once traversed.
What is in the seed must be in the fruit. If a seed is nourished and healthy, there is no doubt that the fruit would also be nourished and healthy. If a seed isn’t, then there is no way by which a fruit could become healthy.
Most of our time is taken up in educating our kids and by doing this, we keep adding the rings of experience to their life. When our children cease to pursue their academic career, the rings of experience also disappear and eventually they begin to grow in a haphazard manner and many more die down.
Every plant needs that extra special care for a few years till it can finally stand on its own. Teak trees for example, have always fascinated me. They say that if the braches of the tree are cut at regular intervals, the tree would grow straight and the wood for furniture and building purposes would be good.
Every child needs that extra special care for a few years till he can finally stand his own. We need to cut and trim them from time to time with good values, morals, actions and experiences in order to mould them into purposeful and meaningful individuals of society.
When a man grows to be upright in his principles there will be many who would benefit from the comforts and shade that he brings to them. He is more of a help to society and mankind than a burden and a nuisance.
Trees that grow haphazardly don’t provide much shade nor do they offer much help by their beauty. Their appearance in itself is so scary that the choice of chopping it down is inevitable. On the other hand trees that grow erect with plenty of branches are always admirable. They are beautiful to look at and they help in more ways than one.
The Botanical gardens in Kolkata was among the most beautiful spots for some extraordinary trees, until recently. Poor maintenance and little care has turned this paradise into an isolated spot. During the eighties, hundreds and thousands of visitors would flock these gardens to catch a glimpse of these magnificent trees, some of which were the largest in the world. During the summers, the garden used to be packed to capacity and the trees could actually be heard whispering in the cool breeze that offered so much relaxation.
We are living in the midst of human trees and every tree is different in size, uniqueness, age and quality. The trees that have actually been brought up well are not so many these days and this, if I may say so, is on account of us not actually spending time to trim them to be useful to the environment rather them being a burden.
The botanical gardens in Kolkata used to be a tourist paradise in the days gone by. But why do people not flock this tourist spot any longer? Why has it lost its charm? Neglect is the answer. If we neglect our children and youth, they will be more of a nuisance than assistance.
The Japanese art of growing bonsai has also been another interesting way by which we have come to learn the beauty of trees. It is therefore no mean task for everyone to master this artistic endeavour.
Time and patience are the key necessities to bring out that special look and appearance in the bonsai plants. And mind you, the better and older the appearance, the costlier the plant.
Our children and youth are the same. We need to have plenty of time and patience in order to make them ordinary people with extraordinary talents, capabilities and efficiencies.
Let us begin trimming our trees, not at the backyard, but the ones that are growing in our presence, so that one day these trees could be of hope and help to society and as beautiful and precious as the bonsai.
noelmanuel@rediffmail.com
The writer is the Bureau Chief (Nagaland) of Eastern Panorama (News Magazine of the Northeast), Coordinator of the Northeast Region (Poetry Society of India) and Life Member of the Poetry Society of India, Phonetics Trainer.
