Two gardeners have gone out of their way to landscape a BMC garden near Haji Ali
With the depleting green cover in the city, coming across a well-maintained garden is a surprise, especially if the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is taking care of it. However, two innovative gardeners have gone beyond the call of duty to ensure that their municipal garden near Haji Ali stands out from the rest.
Shivram Gunaji Name, 57, and Tukaram Badu Yadav, 52, have carefully landscaped a small patch of green on a footpath at Kahdye Marg.
The duo has made eye-catching garden sculptures of a myriad of designs, including the swastika as well as a torch, a tower, a pillar, a bridge, etc, using nothing but the raw materials at their disposal- the leaves and trees. Many of the sculptures are interspersed with leaves of various colours and hues.
“In the 1980’s, there was just a patch of land here with a few plants. We got bored of the same look and decided to do something different. Also we thought that people standing at the bus stop would enjoy a better view,” said Name who has few months left before his retirement.
His colleague Yadav, who has been working in D-ward for 25 years, said that though they weren’t required to go beyond the call of duty, they wanted to do something different. “The idea was ours and it was appreciated by our seniors.”
Talking about their designs, Yadav said that it took a minimum of three months to finish one sculpture. “Ever week we check how the leaves have grown and how big they are. Depending on the design we bend their growth in the right direction,” he added.
Name also said that their work didn’t require any extra monetary support. “However, it does need a lot of time and effort. We have to first plant the saplings and then water them every morning.”
As for their favourite piece, the duo unanimously agreed on the pillar and the bridge. “Both took a lot of time and care. We had to be very careful to clip every extra leaf that jutted-out of the design,” said Tukaram.
Understandably, the civic authorities are pleased with the work put in by the duo. Amol Vasaikar, junior tree officer, BMC, said, “They have done a great job and all they require is encouragement. We ensure that we provide them with whatever they need to avoid fungal attack.”
However, the two gardeners are worried about a few children spoiling the sculptures. “We are concerned since they have done it in the past. However, even if they get destroyed, we will think of newer and better designs” said Tukaram.
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