View from the treetops

Have you ever flung your arms around a tree, rested your head on its trunk, and closed your eyes? I recommend this, especially for men who are reluctant to engage in softer recreational activities that seem threatening to their masculinity.

- CHINTAN GIRISH MODI

Before hugging a tree, it is advisable to check if there is a trail of insects that might get into one's hair or ears; otherwise, one might be in for an unforgettable experience of the avoidable kind.

S Natesh, author of the book Iconic Trees of India, writes about the "deep-rooted affinity between human beings and trees" that is backed by research. "People with a view of, or access to, natural environments recover faster from illness, stress and surgery, can better resist mental illness, are more affable, socially better adjusted, can manage their life affairs better and concentrate longer on difficult tasks than those who lack access to nature," he adds.

The author, who taught botany at the University of Delhi, worked at the Government of India's Department of Biotechnology and the National Institute of Immunology, and is now an honorary fellow of the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), has put together a volume that will inform and delight tree lovers, botanists, geographers, environmental activists, historians, and concerned citizens. This marvellously researched book also deserves to be in school libraries and community libraries across India. His initial list of 300 iconic trees was pruned down to a more manageable number of 75. For ease of reference, the book is divided into geographical sections - North, East, South and West. The trees that he has documented in this book are located in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra.