Governor, Shri P.S. Sreedharan Pillai, said that ancient and traditional India contributed to the vast knowledge humans have regarding trees. The Governor added that the world has come to acknowledge India’s contributions in this field. The Governor was speaking at the inaugural of the symposium on the traditional trees of India ‘Vriksha Vygnanika Sadassu’ held today at Raj Bhavan, Dona Paula.
The Governor said that our forefathers and sages followed sustainable practices which was conducive for the safeguarding of the environment.
He said that the symposium was a good start and it was the fruit of laborious planning inspired by his visits to the interiors of Goa where he came across a wealth of trees which he has written about in his book.
The Governor further said that the symposium is a seminar with a difference which will help in India’s growth as a nation and Goa was playing its part in this journey through such initiatives.
Shri Pillai added that Goa is a tourist hub and many tourists visit only beaches but awareness on aspects such as Goa’s wealth of traditional trees will give people visiting the state a different perspective.
Present at the inaugural were Chairperson of the National Biodiversity Authority, Shri C. Achalender Reddy, Vice-Chancellor of Goa University, Prof. Harilal Menon, ex-Secretary of the Kerala Sahitya Academy, Shri Paipra Radhakrishnan among others.
As part of the symposium – aimed at creating awareness and deeper understanding of the importance of trees in the life and culture of the people of India, experts including those from Goa presented papers on traditional trees of India.
Five books written and compiled by the Governor were also released on the occasion. The books are ‘Cuncolim’ which is a compilation of information on the Cuncolim revolt, ‘Kaavi Art’ which is on the exclusive heritage murals from Goa, ‘Icons of my Literature’, a book on the prominent personalities views on the Governor, ‘Vikshit Bharat’, and ‘Canacona’, which is a book about the Governor’s experience at Canacona taluka during his Goa Sampurna Yatra.
