India's palm tree reverend

DW (English)

Tamil Nadu is home to 50% of India’s palm trees. Their cultural and ecological importance is highlighted by their status as the state's official tree. Rev Godson Samuel has made it his mission to create awareness about this invaluable resource.

Transcript

00:00For centuries, people in Tamil Nadu have been climbing up the majestic palmyra trees, towering

00:07up to 30 meters high. While the flower spike sap is harvested for its sugar or jaggery,

00:13the leaves can be turned into bags and hats, like those bought by Godsend Samuel.

00:20But what's often missing is sufficient knowledge about the tree, as the pastor regularly notices

00:25in his talks at schools. He's a long-time campaigner for palm trees.

00:30Have you ever tasted palm fruit? One, two, raise your hands. Let me ask you, how many

00:37of you have not tasted palm fruit, and why not?

00:43Godsend Samuel's passion for palm trees dates back 30 years. He's from the Kanyakumari district

00:49in the extreme south of Tamil Nadu. People here know that palmyras are sturdy enough

00:54to withstand cyclones, and that their roots are deep enough to access water even during

00:59those seemingly unending drought periods. More reasons why Godsend Samuel appreciates

01:05the trees.

01:08In my book, I wrote that the palm trees should not be cut down, and that if you do cut one

01:13down, you need to get special permission. I also mentioned that palm jaggery should

01:17be provided in ration shops. These two things have been officially declared by the government.

01:24But Godsend Samuel wants to see further action, and for people to understand the importance

01:28of preserving the trees as a precious commodity, which is why he invests time in talking to

01:34villagers.

01:36I have conducted a palm leaves portrait exhibition. We make handicrafts and designs made of palm

01:42leaves. This is my own idea.

01:48The travelling exhibition has taken him to the state capital Chennai, but also to Bangalore

01:53and Kolkata, and even abroad to Sri Lanka and Cambodia. And there's a far bigger dimension

01:58to the importance of his efforts.

02:03I have known Father Godsend Samuel for over four years now. We used to discuss how to

02:07replace plastic with palm products in an innovative way that can be easily accepted by people.

02:13And as a result, the table that we use now in our church, together with our money box

02:18and even our donation collecting bowl, are made of palm leaves. And our palm workshop

02:26has helped to create job opportunities and livelihoods for many people.

02:33Among those who've taken that opportunity is Grace Juliet Diana. The toys she sells

02:38are supplied by a wide range of craftspeople, all of them substituting items that would

02:43normally be made in factories and from plastic. But do palm leaves actually have the makings

02:49of replacing plastics? Godsend Samuel takes a realistic approach.

02:59Palm products are of high quality and the durability depends on the manufacturer and

03:04the use. But in the case of plastics, we are all aware of the massive destructive impact

03:11it has. Palm products are not a direct alternative. But if we use more palm products in our daily

03:22life, it would probably reduce demand for plastics.

03:28Godsend Samuel still has a long road ahead of him. He dreams of greater recognition for

03:33the palmyra, also through a college teaching people about the tree. With the palmyra having

03:39benefited the region and its inhabitants for so long, he says it's time to give something

03:44back.

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