Earlier this week, Goa and Divadkars (people of Divar) had to bid farewell to their "celebrity" mango tree with a heavy heart. It was a sombre moment to see the mighty tree fall to the ground after standing tall and strong for over a century, a truly rare feat for its species.
The celebrity status of the tree comes from the fact that people of artistic fame brushed shoulders with it, admired its shade and gave vent to their creative pursuits. Acclaimed American poet Maya Angelou penned some of her most evocative verses while sitting beneath a tree.
The world may not be able to fathom the true significance of the tree's demise, but to Divadkars, who found shelter under its vast, comforting canopy, its absence is the loss of an emotional anchor, a cornerstone that held profound meaning beyond words in their lives.
The tree may be gone, but its departure has left Goa and Goans with invaluable lessons. One might wonder how.
Goa's well-known plant expert Daniel D'Souza concluded that one of the probable reasons the tree came crashing down was due to the additional weight of a strangling tree that was clinging to it for years.
The strangler tree or vine, which grows onto the host tree, weakens the latter over time. As the strangler grows thicker, it digs into the host tree's trunk, damaging the wood and weakening its structural integrity.
The uprooting of the tree has given ominous signs of the "stranglers" that have Goa in their grip.
The same happened with Divar's mango tree. The added weight of the strangler put extra strain on the tree during windy conditions pushing it beyond tipping point and resulting in its final deathly fall.
The strangler that clung to the Divar tree over the years before bringing it down can definitely be seen as a metaphor for the current situation in Goa. The uprooting of the tree has given ominous signs of the "stranglers" that have Goa in their grip.
The strangling vines represent the negative forces that threaten Goa's well-being, possibly uncontrolled development and environmental degradation, which exist mostly due to corruption. Just like how the strangler vines slowly weakened the Divar tree, these negative forces are gradually eroding Goa.
If the strangling vines represent uncontrolled development and environmental degradation, their grip symbolises corruption that enables these destructive forces.
The weakening of the tree represents the gradual loss of Goa's natural resources, cultural heritage, and local charm and the uprooting, the final death knell, will mean the potential collapse of Goa's social and ecological balance if the negative forces aren't addressed.
Just like the strangler vines need to be removed to save the host tree, Goa needs to find ways to combat corruption and protect its soul. It's time for Goemkars (Goans) to become "gardeners" and cut off these "stranglers" before they tighten their stranglehold over Goa.
If we consider Goa as our garden, the first thing we will have to do is recognise the "weeds" among us - the corrupt practices or individuals. Not all weeds in a garden are bad, so it is time to identify the bad ones and uproot them for the good of all plants.
The Divar tree also offers us life's valuable lesson of fragility, which means nothing lasts forever. What looked to us as strong and permanent was vulnerable. The impermanence of all life forms reminds us to appreciate our present and safeguard the things we value or matter to us the most.
The impermanence of all life forms reminds us to appreciate our present and safeguard the things we value or matter to us the most.
The tree, which was a guiding light for Divadkars, who walked the vast expanse of their land to reach their home when there were no roads, is calling upon us to nurture our natural spaces for the good of all.
The Divar tree grew over a century withstanding the strongest of storms, and its story reminds us to think beyond the immediate and consider the long-term consequences of our actions on the environment.