THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The grand old Neem tree in front of the Secretariat that has been providing shade to pedestrians for over six decades finally called it a day when it came crashing down in the rain on Friday.For many people, the Neem was not just a tree. It was a meeting place where friends gathered to while away their time; where professionals caught up together and discussed their work; where people deprived of justice assembled and fought for their rights and fatigued pedestrians stopped to escape from the scorching sun during the day. And, hence, it turned out to be a dark Friday for many. According to sources, the tree was aged between 60 and 100. The Neem, which provided shade to generations, had waited for the summer to end before it came down, so that it could depart with the satisfaction of having been duty-bound till the end. "It was not just a tree, but a witness to several landmark moments in the history of our State, being situated in front of the administrative headquarters,’’ said Rahim, an environmentalist and writer who also heads the Gramasree Nature Club. Located beside the busiest road in the city, the tree played a major role in providing comfort to pedestrians in the heat as Neem trees always keep the temperature in their shade five degrees lower than the surroundings. It is a quality that not many other trees possess. Hence, the loss really matters a lot, Rahim said. "Luckily, the tree caused no harm when it fell,’’ said Jagadappan, an employee at the Ayurvedic medicine store across the road. True, as if it did not want to tarnish its reputation of being a solace to the people, the tree hung on to the electric lines that ran along the area so that a handful of people involved in various agitations were left unharmed. The Fire and Rescue Service personnel who rushed to the spot cut down its trunk and brought down the tree in time, averting danger.
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