Dr RS Nanda a man in love with his green friends

LUDHIANA: In an attempt to keep even the dead trees alive this skin specialist from Model Town Extension gives various shapes to trees in a public park. Dr RS Nanda has been handling maintenance of this public park (which is famous among residents as Nanda Park) from over 30 years and he has sown every single plant in the park with his own hands. It is because of his efforts that the park spread in almost 1 km stretch gives serene feeling to the visitors. There are birds, medicinal plants and above all a cactus garden. Dr Nanda claimed that it is only cactus garden in Punjab because not many people are fond of cactus.
Barren place turned into lush green garden.
Around 30 years back, this land was a barren place with a few trees. Dr Nanda started beautifying the land with the partial help of MC and a few residents. His heartiest desire was to beautify the park in an artistic way, which should look different from other parks and was successful in some extent.
Sculptures from dead trees
Dr Nanda said, "My heart aches to see a broken, dead dried tree, and makes me think the tree has given us oxygen, air to breathe, shade, freedom from pollution, and now when it is dying we should also do something. With this thought I started giving trees a new life." He continued, "I started giving shapes rip the dead tree by carving it and within a few months, a few trees were alive again, but in a new shape. This was my homage to dead trees, which had given life for us."
Menaka is ready while Vishwamitra is in offing
Dr Nanda said, "A tree was about to die and when I noticed I first of all constructed a base at its roots and also put bars around the tree. Then I used two branches to trees as Menaka (mythological character) dancing in full joy." One more tree located near Menaka tree is also dying and now he will develop it as Vishwamitra (for whom Menaka is dancing), he said while adding from dead trees he has developed dinner table for birds as on one side he keeps water and other side food for the birds. He shared one tree has been given the shape of lizard.
Herbal garden
He further shared that he had desired to develop an herbal garden in the park. He shared a few plants were locally available and many plants he brought from different parts of India like Goa, Kerala, Mohali, Dehradun and Kashmir. He said these medicinal plants need more care and this is done because he wants to educate small children about these medicinal plants. He said plants like Clove, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Betel Nut, Indian Gooseberry, Curry leaves, Harar, Bahera, Turmeric, Niaz Bose, Gurmar, Insulin, Brahmi, Rudraksh, Asafoetida, Lemon grass, Drumsticks, Walnut, Vermillion, etc are grown in the herbal garden.
Cactus and succulent garden
Dr Nanda said, "Every human being wants roses in his or her life but nobody keeps cactus because it is full of thorns. But people forget that even rose has thorns along." He said in this public park he has developed around 200 varieties of cacti and succulents. He shared, "My main objective behind developing the cactus garden was to conserve and preserve the endangered species of cacti and succulents, and to create attraction for the visitors." He said after seeing a flower on the cactus plant heart is filled with immense pleasure.
Food and water for birds
In this park where there are around 2500 trees and plants Dr Nanda makes sure birds should get food and water. He has kept bird houses on the trees and at regular intervals food and water is kept in the bowls. A family if owls is residing in the bird house permanently.
Regular visitors
About 200-250 people come in the park for walk, yoga, meditation and exercise in gym. A hut shaped relaxing place has been built to give shelter to the guests in summer and rainy season.
Dr Nanda said the young generations should grow at least 5 trees in their life span and nurture those trees as a family member, by watering it and keeping it alive unless trees get young.