NGO sets up SPB Vanam in Kovai prison
COIMBATORE: In a tribute to late legendary playback singer SP Balasubrahmanyam, as many as 74 saplings were planted at Central Prison campus in Coimbatore on the birth anniversary of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam on Thursday.
To provide a platform to his fans to commemorate and celebrate his life, Siruthuli, an environmental NGO, had planned the urban forest, SPB Vanam, to commemorate the 74 glorious years of the singer.
A unique feature of SPB Vanam is that saplings of trees, whose wood is used for making musical instruments, have been chosen along with Sthala Vrikshams that SPB sang in praise, and ‘champaka’ tree symbolic of his birth star - Ayilyam. Each tree has the name of a popular song sung by SPB.
The project was virtually launched through a video by SPB’s son, SP Charan. His sister SP Shailaja planted jackfruit and mango saplings. The wood of these 2 trees is used extensively to make musical instruments. Also, music director AR Rahman and singer Srinivas paid their tribute through a video clip. Representatives from SPB Fans
Charitable Foundation also participated in the event.
Trees such as red sanders, rosewood, neem, mahogany, silver oak, sandalwood, teak, vengai, punnai, karungali, banrutti pala, mango and bamboo, whose wood can be used in making musical instruments, besides ‘sthala vrikshams’ and fragrant trees were raised.
Indeed, the Vanam initiative was conceptualised by nature lovers in memory of S P Balasubrahmanyam, who in his last virtual musical program urged the people to protect Mother Nature.