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West Australian
20-07-2025
- West Australian
Kolkata banyan tree is the world's biggest
There is just one moment of weakness when I wonder if it's worth the heat. We have climbed down from our air-conditioned bus, with its endless water bottles and sanitiser, and melted into Kolkata's summer, pre-monsoon heat. I haven't even bothered to look at the official temperature, as I just have to tell you that it is very hot and humid. I just have to tell you that I have chosen a shirt that doesn't look much different when wet (unlike those light blue shirts that quickly look like you've just fallen into a swimming pool). I just have to tell you that I did my old trick (taught to me by Aboriginal bushmen) of loading up on tea at breakfast, and will now only sip on room temperature water. And so, our little group walks with local guide Vikal to the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden's big attraction, a Ficus benghalensis tree. This banyan tree is a living heritage site. It is huge. In fact, it is so big that there is no longer a central trunk — this living tree is a conglomerate of more than 1000 aerial roots. And, according to its 1989 entry in the Guinness Book Of World Records, it is the biggest tree specimen in the world, as judged by canopy coverage. The tree, which is more than 250 years old, is a forest in itself. The paved path around it, outside the wall and metal fence protecting it, is a 330m circle. Inside this, a man is working on supporting thin, new aerial roots, with bamboo props tied with jute string. It strikes me it is like a giant bonsai. In 1925, the main trunk was removed to keep the remainder of the tree healthy. It had become infected with a nasty and potentially fatal fungi, after being damaged by two cyclones. In October 2024, the high winds and torrential rain of cyclonic storm Dana hit the botanical garden, in Shibpur, which is one of the biggest and oldest in South Asia, uprooting more than 2000 trees. It left two empty patches in the giant banyan — but nature, of course, abhors a void, and aerial roots will continue to fill these. The banyan continues to draw visitors — perhaps more than the rest of the collection of exotic plants from five continents. There are more than 14,000 plants representing 1300 species. It is no secret that it suffers from a lack of money — it is reported that there is no specific funding for the garden; it is in a pool with many others. But the 110ha gardens also give insight into a different, less manicured, more natural way of presenting a botanical garden. The botanical garden isn't actually in Kolkata — it is in its twin city, Howrah, the other side of the River Ganges. It was originally called The Royal Botanic Garden, and founded in 1786 by the East India Company, on the advice of Colonel Kyd, who became its first superintendent. It was renamed the Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose Indian Botanic Garden in 2009. Bose was a son of Kolkata, and one of whom Bengalis are very proud. Sir Jagadish Chandra Bose, who died in 1937, was a polymath scientist who was a pioneer in the investigation of microwave optics and, more relevantly, made significant contributions to botany. He is also considered to be the father of Bengali science fiction. The banyan tree in Kolkata's botanical gardens is an old friend. I have visited it before and watched the protective wall and fence around it grow into a bigger and bigger circle. I hope I will visit it again one day. It is always worth any amount of heat. Of course.
IOL News
02-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Councillor resigns over 'lack of transparency' on George building collapse
The scene of the five-storey building that claimed 34 lives when it collapsed in George. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers GEORGE councillor, Chantelle Kyd has resigned from Planning and Development Mayoral Committee over what she says is the DA-led municipality's lack of transparency over the confidential tabling of reports on the George building collapse. More than a year since the May 6 tragedy, several investigations and numerous promises of accountability have yet to result in any justice for the families of the victims of the George building collapse, which claimed the lives of 34 workers and left dozens injured. The GOOD councillor on Friday tendered her resignation, saying it was not an easy decision but that she could not stay in an executive role where 'truth is suppressed, accountability is avoided, and coalition partners are treated with contempt rather than respect'. Kyd said: 'The DA-led coalition in George has increasingly demonstrated a deep disregard for the principles of co-governance. There has been a consistent and deliberate pattern of sidelining, marginalising, and censoring coalition partners. This pattern extends to matters of national importance, such as the investigation into the building collapse, an issue I have been centrally involved in. Despite being the MMC responsible for Planning, I was effectively gagged (in council) from speaking on the very matter I was mandated to lead on. 'It is unacceptable that the DA would choose to table critical reports behind closed doors, bar the media, and deny coalition partners the opportunity to address the public truthfully. This behaviour is authoritarian, and it erodes the foundation of partnership and accountability upon which coalitions should be built.' Kyd accused the DA of expecting coalition partners to 'simply fall in line, regardless of principle, process, or public interest'. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ DA Western Cape leader Tertuis Simmers said the position to table the item as confidential was a 'collective decision'. 'Contrary to their statement, the position on the specific item in question was adopted by the Joint Coalition Caucus as all parties agreed to its recommendations - which included GOOD's participation - not solely by the DA caucus. This was a collective decision that all coalition partners were thus expected to uphold. "Furthermore, as GOOD communicated in recent weeks on the matter publicly, GOOD was informed that it could issue a party-political statement on the matter following the council meeting. So in no way were GOOD George sidelined, marginalised or censored while a member of the coalition government. The DA remains firmly committed to stable, principled, and effective coalition governance we form part off and wherever we serve, guided by the spirit and terms of the agreed upon coalition agreement which binds all parties that are part of the coalition government,' said Simmers. The George municipality did not respond to further requests for comment.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mural to mark 80 years since Jersey's Liberation
A mural to mark 80 years since Jersey's Liberation has officially been unveiled in St Helier. The artwork can be seen on the side of a building owned by construction firm Building Renovations Ltd on Great Union Road. The mural, which shows the silhouette of a soldier reaching for the hand of a child, was painted on top of the previous artwork which marked 75 years of liberation. At the unveiling on Friday morning, Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, Jerry Kyd, said it was "such an important milestone for the island". There are also set to be a number of events on 9 May to mark the anniversary. Kyd added: "It's a really momentous year. So many people across the island still remember that day in May in 1945. "Jersey's still very community based, we all have a really sensitive side when we remember our history. "Everyone walking and driving past looking at it is a good reminder of next month." Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to Liberation day to become Jersey's national day Liberation Day could become Jersey's national day No royal visit during Liberation commemorations
