Hubballi: Bidnal village prepares to fete its freedom tree

On August 15, 1947, Bidnal village, about 4.4 km from Hubballi, bore a festive look. Elders of the village were preparing to plant a banni (Prosopis spicigera) sapling to commemorate the country’s Independence and children were milling around, laughing and speaking with friends, waiting for the moment.
Among them were eight youngsters, all between nine and 11 years old. Now in their eighties, the eight are gearing up to celebrate 75 years of the country’s Independence. Like their elders all those years ago, the eight will lead the rest of the village on Monday in planting 75 saplings – one for each year since 1947 – and will take special measures to conserve the ‘tree of Independence’.
Siddappa Meti, 84, one of the eight, said he was in the fourth standard in Government Kannada School No 10 in Bidnal at that time. His teacher and headmaster, both from Adargunchi, distributed ladoos to students. They were then allowed to go home. Much like the rest of the village, Meti and his friends went to watch Channamallappa Asundi and the other elders of the village plant the sapling to celebrate Independence.
Hussainsab Alisab Nadaf, 85, said: “I still remember that day like it was yesterday, when seniors of the village planted the banni tree. It was a special day.”
Like Meti, Malleshappa Hirur, 87, was also given a ladoo in school after which he and his friends hurried away to watch the tree-planting ceremony. “The tree was planted behind the Hanuman temple and is still worshipped,” Hirur said. “There were around 20 to 25 houses in the village then. I don’t remember the procession on that day, but I still remember having the ladoo and taking part in planting the tree.”
Bidnal has always been known for its communal harmony. When the festivals coincide, inhabitants celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi and Muharram under the same roof. The festivals coincide every 33 years and villagers have celebrated the two festivals together for three years in a row now.