Dear Radhakrishnan It is sad to see the status of the burial ground. I wonder how people in India are so insensitive that they abuse the place where they leave their dear ones for the final journey.
I congratulate your organisation 'Save Earth from Anthropogenic Movement' for thinking of considering this site for plantation activitiy. First of all the entire space must be kept clean and it must be ensured by the management that all the users follow certain code of conduct for cleanaliness, peace and environment. I suggest that you should select plant species and their locations sensitively considering social, ecological and aesthetic parameters. Burial ground should be the space where one should be haapy to say final 'good bye' to one's dear ones and also perhaps to come again on anniversaries to keep alive memories by offering flowers / planting saplings etc. Appropriate plantation can create such a serene / sacred / peaceful mood. You also need to level the ground appropriately to drain the storm water out and keep the area dry. Over the years, burial grounds tend to become fertile lands and the vegetation grows profusely and remains healthy. I suggest to select indigenous, hardy plants - trees, shrubs, climbers, herbs & ground covers. It will be ideal if you prepare proper layout for burial spaces, walkways, gathering/praying spaces, green spaces. A part of the land could also be dmeacated as 'Smruti Van' where the users could plant a sapling and look after it over the years in memory of the departed souls. You may use bamboo sp. for peripheral plantation all along the boundary. These are hardy, would grow fast and will create serene, green screen/back drop. Trees, shrubs and climbers with white and blue flowers (the ones that flower throughout the year) may be prefered. Avoid bright colour flowering plants. The plants with fragrant flowers and sacred plants may also be used selectively. A few names that come to my mind presently: Plumeria alba (Devchapha), Tabernaemontana coronaria (Tagar)., Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (Parijatak), Michelia champaka (Sonchapha- white variety), Vinca rosea (Sadaphuli - white variety), Vitex negundo (Nirgudi), Milligtonia hortensis (Akashneem), Azadirachta indica (Neem), Barleria sp. (Korhanti - white variety), Jasminium sp. (Mogara, Jai, Jui etc.), Lilies (white and blue), Lawsonia inermis (Mendhi), Murraya sp. (Kunti), Nerium odorum (Kanher - white variety), Hygrophila sp. (ground cover - blue flowers), Convolvulus / Evolvulus / Commelina sp. (ground cover - blue / white flowers) etc. etc. One can extend the list following the basic concept / philosophy. My very best wishes for your commendable endeavour. I am confident that you will send photographs of the transformed land next year. I suggest that the others on the group may also adopt such spaces and transform them into serene, beautiful, ecological spaces which people would wish to visit again and again. The war cemetaries at Kohima in Nagaland and in Manipur have become tourist spots in addition to being memorial spaces. Ulhas Rane --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
