There is an old proverb in Hindi- Dhak ke teen paat… it is mostly used for efforts leading to no results.
Here paat is leaves and Dhak is a kind of tree. So, possibly this proverb is used all because of little worth of the Dhak tree...it grows up slowly and fetches not enough wood for fire. Leaves of these trees are still used to serve street food in many ‘backward’ areas, where plastic bags are not supplied in abundance or where people cannot afford the additional cost of plate with cost of food...but perhaps people expected more from the Dhak..not just paat.
To cut this long story short..it has been real injustice to this variety of tree. It grows even on dead mountains, it braves all attacks and intrusions of humans and stray animals..the drought and the erosions..
And when the spring swings the mood of nature…places like Aravali and other such terrains go crazy with the bloom that paints the entire dead valleys and dusty driveways into valley of flowers and pleasure driveways.
a temple in Aravali Valley surrounded by Dhak trees
the valley of dead rocks turned into valley of flowers
Here paat is leaves and Dhak is a kind of tree. So, possibly this proverb is used all because of little worth of the Dhak tree...it grows up slowly and fetches not enough wood for fire. Leaves of these trees are still used to serve street food in many ‘backward’ areas, where plastic bags are not supplied in abundance or where people cannot afford the additional cost of plate with cost of food...but perhaps people expected more from the Dhak..not just paat.
the magic of spring..all flowers..no leaves..
To cut this long story short..it has been real injustice to this variety of tree. It grows even on dead mountains, it braves all attacks and intrusions of humans and stray animals..the drought and the erosions..
And when the spring swings the mood of nature…places like Aravali and other such terrains go crazy with the bloom that paints the entire dead valleys and dusty driveways into valley of flowers and pleasure driveways.
One can easily find these lovely trees with their wealth for about two weeks in March-April in Faridabad and surrounding areas. The valley of Aravali turns into saffron field and fauna of the terrain have real time of feast during the bloom of Dhak.
the valley of dead rocks turned into valley of flowersI really wonder why people have not given the due credit and affection to these Dhak trees. Haryana may proudly declare it state flower, which adds colour and grace to the land of Hari or Lord Krishna.
Good One..
ReplyDeleteWe never thought that Dhak had flwers...
Rajveer
The injustice language some time does.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of baigan :D
Anyhow, welcome to blogging.
and do something about the profile pic. :)
Manu
i love this tree and have been having a tough time to get it to plant it in my new plot.
ReplyDeletefinally managed to get it from hauz rani city forest here in delhi..
so in case anyone needs !!
i just wish it were little faster growing !!
the proverb says efforts leadin 2 no results.dhak is atree which has few leaves which are used as food for d local tribes but not enough.it bears all d hardships and finally bloom dat points entire valley into pleasure driveway nturns dit intosaffron colour n gracces d land of hari.in short the proverb dhak ke 3 paat defies d proverb mehnat ka fal jaroor milta hai.or try n try u will succeed.
ReplyDeletewot do u call this tree in English ? and where do we find it in usa ?
ReplyDeletecommon name in English is 'Flame of the forest' and botanical name is 'Butea monosperma'...I have very little knowledge of the flora of US...it is normally found in hot and arid places....In India we know this plant as 'Palash', 'Tesu' and also Dhak.
ReplyDeleteIt is very important tree....do u know how!!!!I ll tell u ....The ash of the wood of the dhak tree is permanent hair remover....although it is unbelievable......But it is real and fact....try to do experiment ...Arshad Faizan ...KPK Pakistan
ReplyDelete