Green mission: Cop asks people to plant trees on special occasions
KAPURTHALA: Gurbachan Singh, 51, a Kapurthala-based head constable posted at the police lines, has taken upon himself to make the city greener.
Whenever he sees an advertisement of ‘shok samachar’ (obituary) in newspapers, he writes a letter to the grieving family, requesting them to plant a sapling in memory of the deceased. In the past 11 years, Gurbachan has sent around 23,000 letters to different families across the state, most of which are unknown to him.
Besides, he has himself plants over 150 plants every year in memory of the dead, on behalf of their relatives and family members. “It is my hobby as well as passion. It gives relief to my soul. I send typed letters to people after finding their address from the newspapers and appeal to them to plant a tree in memory of the deceased,” Gurbachan told HT.
In a letter that he wrote to a Ludhiana-based family on Friday, he stated, “Deeply saddened to hear about your loss. But God has his own plans. It is my solemn request to your family to plant at least one sapling in memory of your beloved member. After the sapling grows into a tree, it will provide cool shade that will remind you the memories of your loved one.”
Gurbachan said, “My grandfather had planted a seed in February 1991. Two months later, he died. But when the seed grew into a tree, I felt the presence of my grandfather there. That motivated me to motivate people for tree plantation in memory of their beloved ones.”
Asked about the feedback he receives from people, a beaming Gurbachan said he receives a reply from almost all the families, he writes to.
It is my hobby. I send typed letters to people after finding their address from the newspapers and appeal to them to plant a tree in memory of the deceased
GURBACHAN SINGH, Punjab Police head constable