Toda tribes in the Nilgiris district planted saplings to pay homage to actor Vivek.
Vivek, an actor and social activist popularly known as Chinna Kalaivanar, died of a heart attack on April 17th. Not only the Tamil Nadu film industry but also the general public, are grieving his death. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah tweeted their condolences message for his untimely demise.
His links to the Nilgiri District go back a long way. Aware of the role of the Nilgiris district in environmental conservation, actor Vivek insisted that the Nilgiris should be protected. He told the students of Udhagai that if he sees a vacant lot, he would grow a tree, and he encouraged them to do the same. He also emphasized the importance of helmets for two-wheelers. Then, in 2019, he took cleaning work in the Ellahalli area of Udhagai.
Then he said, “Udhagai is a major tourist destination in the world. There is no rain in Udhagai, despite the presence of trees. The climate of the Nilgiris district has increased by 1.6 degrees. We should plant more native trees and avoid trees that are alien to this region. Rainwater can be collected and used sparingly.”
But his untimely demise has left the people of Tamil Nadu in shock. In remembrance of the late actor Vivek, the Todar tribe of Bagalkodu herd near Udagai in the Nilgiris district paid homage by planting a tree.
“We will unite the people in the Nilgiris district to plant 10 lakh saplings to conserve nature and fulfill Vivek’s ambition,” the Toda tribes said.
(with inputs from Hindu Tamil)
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