Padma Shri environmentalist Thimmakka’s last rites to be held with full State honours today

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Nov 15, 2025: Padma Shri awardee and centenarian environmentalist Salumarada Thimmakka passed away on Friday at the age of 114 due to multi-organ failure. She had been undergoing treatment for the past few days at Apollo Hospital in Jayanagar, Bengaluru, and breathed her last on Friday afternoon.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, Forest Minister Eshwar B. Khandre, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan, and several other leaders expressed deep condolences.

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre announced that, as per the Chief Minister’s instructions, Thimmakka’s final rites will be held on Saturday, November 15, at 12 pm at the Kala Grama premises near Jnana Bharathi. Her body will be kept for public viewing at Ravindra Kalakshetra from 7.30 am to 10.30 am, after which the funeral will be conducted with full state honours.

Doctors at Apollo Hospital said that Thimmakka had been admitted on November 2 with a lung infection. Despite intensive efforts, she did not respond to treatment and succumbed to multi-organ failure.

Before her passing, Thimmakka shared a heartfelt message for the people of Karnataka. She urged everyone to live with love and unity, treat both rich and poor with equal respect, feed the hungry, plant saplings, grow trees, build lakes and water structures, provide water to animals, and continue the environmental conservation efforts she had championed. She also conveyed her wishes for the well-being of the nation.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah revealed that Thimmakka had expressed a last wish—to establish a museum in her memory at Belur. The government will examine this request. Leaders including D. K. Shivakumar, Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy, former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda, and BJP state president B. Y. Vijayendra also offered their condolences.

Born on June 30, 1911, in Gubbi taluk of Tumakuru district, Thimmakka later married Chikkayya of Hulikal village in Magadi taluk, Ramanagara district. Unable to conceive, the couple channelled their grief into planting 385 banyan trees along State Highway 94 between Kudur and Hulikal — trees that today shelter hundreds of birds.

Despite severe poverty, Thimmakka walked nearly 4.5 km to fetch water for her saplings, protected them with thorn fences, and nurtured them with unwavering dedication. Over her lifetime, she helped more than 8,000 saplings grow into full-grown trees.

Many leaders mourned her passing. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Basavaraj Bommai, Opposition Leader R. Ashoka, former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa, Dr. Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji of Adichunchanagiri Math, and several ministers expressed their grief.

Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre said Thimmakka was Karnataka’s pride, noting that parks have been named after her and that scholars have earned doctorates studying her life and contribution.

Union Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy said her legacy would continue to inspire generations. Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar remarked that “the very environment seems to be grieving today after losing a mother who raised trees like her own children.”

Former Prime Minister Deve Gowda described her as a guardian of forests whose work remains a model for the world. BJP state president B. Y. Vijayendra said her demise is an irreparable loss to Karnataka, while Minister Shivaraj S. Tangadagi noted that thousands of travellers have found shade under the trees she planted.

RSS regional Sanghchalak Dr. P. Vaman Shenai also offered condolences on behalf of the organisation.