Padma Shri awardee and environmentalist '<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/live-blog/mumbai-news-live-updates-india-national-news-2025-november-14-news-updates-live-updates-weather-update-18331487" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Saalumarada</a>' Thimmakka passed away at a private hospital here on Friday.
The 114-year-old was ailing for quite some time and was hospitalised for treatment where she breathed her last, her family sources said.
Born on June 30, 1911, Thimmakka earned the fame 'Saalumarada' after she planted 385 banyan trees all along the 4.5 km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur in Ramanagara headquartered Bengaluru South district.
With no formal education, Thimmakka started the plantation campaign as she treated them as her <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai-guide/things-to-do/article/world-environment-day-2025-mumbai-naturalists-renee-vyas-ishaan-prabhudesai-share-their-dreams-for-the-future-of-the-city-23559656" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">children </a>to fill the void in life for being childless.
For her work, she received 12 awards, including Padma Shri in 2019, Nadoja award by the Hampi University (2010), National Citizen Award (1995) and Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra award (1997).
In his condolence message, Chief Minister <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/world-environment-day-2025-pankaja-munde-leads-plastic-eradication-drive-at-mumbai-s-chowpatty-23560437" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Siddaramaiah </a>said, "I am deeply saddened to hear the news of the demise of Salumarada Thimmakka. Thimmakka, who planted thousands of trees and nurtured them like her own children, dedicated most of her life to environmental conservation."
He said even though Thimmakka had left for the heavenly abode, her love for the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai-guide/things-to-do/article/for-a-greener-mumbai-23352727" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">environment </a>has made her immortal. The region has become poorer with the demise of Thimmakka, the CM added.
Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, his son and <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/maharashtra-pollution-control-board-launches-greenmind-ai-for-environment-information-check-details-here-23602712" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Union Minister</a> H D Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, Karnataka ministers, MPs and MLAs and several political leaders have mourned the demise of Thimmakka.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.

Born on June 30, 1911, Thimmakka earned the fame `Saalumarada` after she planted 385 banyan trees all along the 4.5 km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur

Padma Shri awardee and environmentalist 'Saalumarada' Thimmakka passes away at a hospital in Bengaluru

Bihar elections 2025: PM Modi thanks Nitish Kumar, NDA 'family members' for victory

Padma Shri awardee ‘Saalumarada’ Thimmakka, famed for planting hundreds of banyan trees in Karnataka, passed away at 114 in Bengaluru after prolonged illness

114-year-old Padma Shri environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka dies

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