Tulsi Gowda, a famous environmentalist from Karnataka, died at the age of 86 due to health problems related to old age. She was called the "encyclopedia of forests" because of her incredible knowledge of plants and trees. She worked hard to protect nature and plant trees. Her efforts were greatly respected, and in 2021, she was awarded the Padma Shri, which is one of India's highest honours.

Tulsi Gowda was born in 1944 in a village called Honnalli in Karnataka’s Uttara district, to parents Narayana and Neeli. She was part of the Halakki community, which is an Indigenous group. From a young age, she had a strong love for nature. This deep connection with the environment inspired her to spend her life working to protect and save forests.

A life devoted to planting and protecting trees

At the age of 12, Tulsi started showing interest in plants and trees, which became her lifelong passion. Her name, "Tulsi," was inspired by the sacred Tulsi plant, showing her deep respect for nature. Over the years, she planted more than 30,000 saplings and took great care to help them grow. Tulsi's knowledge went beyond just planting trees; she also understood how they grew and how they fit into the natural world around them. Because of her hard work and deep understanding, she became a well-known environmentalist and was called ‘Vriksha Maata’ (Mother of Trees).

Gowda’s work wasn’t just about planting trees. She also worked to teach the community and young people about how important it is to protect the environment. Her knowledge and wisdom inspired everyone around her, and people greatly admired her lifelong efforts to help nature.

Besides the Padma Shri, Tulsi Gowda received many other awards during her career. One of these was the Indira Priyadarshini Vrikshamitra Award. The Karnataka Forest Department also gave her special recognition for her important work, allowing her to continue her contributions even after she retired. In 2023, Dharwad Agricultural University awarded her an honourary doctorate to honour her work.

Her deep respect for nature, dedication to protecting the environment, and the way she shared her knowledge made her loved by everyone in her community. She was not just an environmentalist—she was also a teacher, a guide, and a source of wisdom who worked hard for the environment until the very end.