Kolkata

Kolkata. Approximately 4.5 million are crowded into the city centre alone in this huge metropolis. That leaves little room for greenery. But, perhaps that is the reason that trees enjoy such high status.

Perhaps their mutual fancy for trees links Indians and Germans: it is said that trees were sacred to the ancient Germanic tribes. Nonetheless, the respect granted to these plants in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is unimaginable back home.

There, the regulatory authorities or some other public agency would long have given priority to the legal duty to maintain safety, by force if necessary and with hefty penalties. For allowing a massive branch of an ancient tree to simply grow at head height over the pavement – that is simply unconscionable. Something must be done. God only knows what could happen! That is the way most Swabians think, but no one in Kolkata. The people simply adapt to whatever has been growing there for decades and duck. Here, that is the most matter of fact thing in the world; it’s not the trees that need to make way for the people, but the people make way for the trees.

Actually, it is a great attitude, even if it hurts sometimes. I, for example, already ran into a thick branch on the edge of Camac Street in front of our office. I had turned my head to see the wares offered by a fruit merchant while walking by. Wham! It happened. My head buzzed briefly, but that was it. After all, it my own fault, not the tree’s.

Perhaps these trees symbolize India

As filthy as some quarters of this city may be, the reverence for trees is perceptible all over. They are often walled in for protection. Whether this is particularly wise, I cannot say; biology was never my strong suit. I can only see that even when the concrete is cracking, the trees positively claw themselves tight to the bricks underneath. Or are the plants offering the stones protection?

And I notice that the leaves are green; their strength is still there in the midst of the dirt and fumes. Perhaps they are a symbol of all of India. The roots from which this nation draws its strength are hardy. And there are many roots that reach deep. Perhaps this is the reason for this astonishing rise from poorhouse to world power in recent years.