Our Trees

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Nature has been particularly generous in her gift of sylvan treasures to our country. Laxuriant forests abound in all parts of India and the variety of trees growing in our land is truly rich. These trees may be classified broadly into four major types: (1) Timber trees; (2) Ornamental trees; (3) Trees yielding edible fruits; and (4) Trees that blossom forth into colourful and sweet-scented flowers.

My purpose in writing this book is to acquaint the common man and children, generally, with our prominent trees. A few years back, I had written a similar book in Hindi which had a good reception. Encouraged by its success, I decided to write this book in English for non-Hindi-speaking readers. It is not a scientific treatise on the subject; nevertheless, it tells all that the average reader would like to know about our trees, their peculiar characteristics and their usefulness. I hope it would interest the readers to know that almost all our trees have medicinal value and most of them are of commercial importance too. In India, trees have been not only objects of utilitarian attraction, but also of reverence. Since the hoary past, when the Vedas were composed and the Puranas written, many of our trees have been worshiped and destruction of green trees is looked upon with disfavour. On the other hand, planting of trees has always been considered as an act of virtue. These ideas show what great importance we, in this country, attach to trees.

I would feel my labour amply rewarded if this book is able to create interest in our trees among the common readers and the children of our country. We could, indeed, feel proud of our country’s great wealth in terms of trees.

In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to Shri R.R. Lokeshwar who has helped me greatly in the preparation of this book by looking into the text and making useful additions therein, and by helping in the selection of photographs and colour illustrations.