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Last
week, arguably India’s most unique botanical experiment turned one. A tiny
oasis of green in a city too parched to support extensive flora, Chennai’s
Touch & Smell Garden is an effort like no other. It is the only evergreen
garden in the country for the visually impaired.
Created
and maintained by the M. S. Swaminathan Research Centre (MSSRF), one of the
country’s premier scientific institutions founded by legendary agro-economist
Professor M. S. Swaminathan, the garden stands testimony to an inclusive
society. It redefines the term ‘barrier free environment’ for the disabled.
With thoughtful landscape designing and a selected range of shrubs and herbs,
the Touch & Smell Garden turns a botanical excursion into an experience in
tactile and sensory perception.
A
Sensual Road Map
Explains
Dr. S. Rajalakshmi, Plant Microbiology Department, MSSRF, who oversees the still
developing endeavor, “The concept is simple and only requires a particular way
of looking at things, as it were. At the Touch & Smell Garden, we have been
constantly innovating to ensure that the visually impaired are not denied the
joys of discovering nature. It is very much possible for them - instead of
emphasis on the ‘visual’ aspects of a typical garden, like flowers and
ferns, we focus on aromatic plants and those that have leaves of varying
texture. That makes the garden more relevant, enjoyable and educative for
our visually impaired visitors.”
The
garden was started under the “Every Child a Scientist (ECS)” programme,
initiated three years back by the Foundation. This programme aims at empowering
children of marginalized groups in both rural and urban areas. Computers are
used as aids to provide knowledge on biodiversity. The ECS project is already
being implemented successfully in the Community Agrobiodiversity Centre of MSSRF
at Kalpetta in the Wayanad District of Kerala. The Touch & Smell
Garden is growing at the headquarters of the Foundation, in Chennai’s Taramani
‘Science City’, a sprawling layout of academic and research facilities in
the city’s southern suburbs.
Four
identical blocks, with arches of jasmine at their entrances, are accessed by
specially ordered tiles. The tiles are of particular importance because
they are patterned with a specific purpose in mind - the chequered tiles are the
principal pathways. At every corner, embedded soft marble pebbles indicate that
it is time to change direction. This way, the layout becomes a tactile route
map. Almost two-thirds of the total cost of Rs.5 lakh has been expended towards
the laying of the tiles. Once the instructions are given at the time of entering
the garden, independent mobility for the visually impaired is ensured, at least
within the garden.
Rainwater
harvesting has been employed, vermicomposting produces the organic manure used
here and littering is strictly discouraged all over the MSSRF premises. At the
Touch & Smell Garden many plants have medicinal value. Strategically placed
Braille boards give additional explanation on how to navigate, plus details on
the plants themselves.
India’s
Sacred Groves Keep Garden Alive Year-Round
Says
Rajalakshmi, “A similar garden such as this one was made in Lucknow (capital
of the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh) first. However, this garden is
different in many ways from the one in Lucknow. The garden in Lucknow is visited
by children on particular days, such as World Environment Day. Here, in
our Foundation, children from different schools visit every week and learn about
the plants and biodiversity. The plant beds are mainly aromatic in our garden as
compared to the one in Lucknow. Also, due to the extreme weather in Lucknow,
they are unable to maintain the garden throughout the year.”
Although
Chennai’s omnipresent heat and scanty rainfall makes it a difficult place to
sustain a garden too, the problem is overcome by choosing species that grow well
here. Fragrant, coarse-leaved, medicinal and thornless plants of economic
importance have been selected and nurtured. Says Rajalakshmi, “Many of the
species have been chosen from the sacred groves or kovilkadugal of Tamil
Nadu. The groves are a unique form of biodiversity conservation, and are real
examples of the Indian tradition of conserving the ecology as a natural
heritage.”
Originally,
every village in Tamil Nadu had a grove, a protected area associated with local
folk deities. Sacred groves were small patches of forest left untouched by
the local inhabitants. Several such groves are reported in many parts of India.
A variety of entrenched rituals and myths prohibit human exploitation of the kovil
(temple) kadugal (forests). They have become the last remnants of the
native vegetation of each particular region. Their rich plant life helps retain
subsoil water and, during the hot summer months, the pond in the grove is often
the only source of drinking water. Without any overt agenda, conservation is
ensured and propagated.
Children
and Students Enthusiastic and Inspired
After
a visit to the Touch & Smell Garden, K. Ramalingam, a visually impaired
postgraduate student of Tamil from Chennai’s Presidency College, who was just
discovering how rosemary was popular as an herbal tea besides finding use in
making arrowroot biscuits and porridge said, “I am familiar with many of these
smells from my village, but rarely are there opportunities to observe greenery
slowly in the city. This is a most pleasant place.”
Wondered
G. Manoharan, a doctoral scholar of literature here on a trip with an NGO that
funds and supports his education, “Did you notice how the geraniums smell just
like Medimix (India’s largest selling Ayurvedic toilet soap)? I feel if
we come here regularly, our eyes will be cooled therapeutically.”
On
what the future holds, Rajalakshmi says, “We plan to have an audio system
besides the Braille boards wherein additional details and information can be
provided. This could be either in the form of audiocassettes or small chips near
the Braille boards. We also plan to have a computer equipped with Braille
software and a printer for children to learn from. We plan to conduct workshops
for teachers and heads of schools and NGOs working for the blind and develop
orientation and training modules for them and help them to develop similar
facilities at their centres.”
The
responses from the children too have been nothing short of ecstatic. Some of
them have suggested that their biology class be held in the garden, some others
want to start a similar garden in their school, and still others wish to become
scientists to serve the visually impaired.
A
new aquatic plants’ section is additional inspiration. Explains
Rajalakshmi, “Water adds an extra dimension to the senses. We have a few
lilies, lotus and Eicchornia species in specially made water tanks built
exclusively for the visually impaired. The children are extremely thrilled with
this addition as they are now able to feel and touch a lotus leaf, which they
would otherwise not have an opportunity to do.”
Quiz
and elocution competitions marked the first anniversary celebrations. The
information provided in the garden formed the themes. It became an opportunity
to assess the success in imparting knowledge on biodiversity and conservation to
the garden’s young visitors. Says a delighted Rajalakshmi, “The
children did exceedingly well.”
The
Touch & Smell Garden can be reached at:
M
S Swaminathan Research Foundation
3rd Cross Street, Taramani Institutional Area
Chennai (Madras) 600 113, INDIA
Tel: (91 44) 2254 2790/1698/ 2698/ 2699/ 1229
Fax: (91 44) 2254 1319
Website: www.mssrf.org
Lalitha
Sridhar is a Chennai-based freelance journalist keenly interested in
development issues. Your emails will be forwarded to her by contacting the
editor at: ScienceTech@islam-online.net
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