The Lone Tree

Surely the scribe was unaware of the stories behind the name of the estate, otherwise how could one call the Lone Tree estate  laundry Estate?

Once I happened to  read about slow meter becoming slow in 4M. It turned out to be about delay in getting flow meter for the water supply scheme. The scribe definitely had not heard about flow meters.  But even then flow meter becoming slow is unimaginable.  I really enjoyed it as a joke. But calling  the Lone Tree Estate Laundry Estate.. is cruel. Especially for those who have heard the story behind the name.

Lone Tree estate's story always made me think of the people who emotionaly equate trees to human beings .

The mount and the grass land around had no trees, though the surrounding hills were thickly forested  in those days. The hill tribes who worshipped nature had a small temple made of uncut stones on the mount. There were no regular poojaa or prayers. The deity, a goddess, was said to be the mentor of trees and birds of the forest.

During summer rains the grass land got flooded but remained green rest of the year. The mount usually became dry during winter when nights were cold and days were hot. It led to the wild fires in summer.

The ascetic who planted two trees of a very rare variety, on the mount (said to be male and female) was hopeful of large flocks of birds nesting on them. He cared for them much, watering in summer and clearing the dry grass around to protect the young trees from wild fire. The trees grew fast accompanied with bushes and shrubs. They continued to be the only trees on the Mount. 

The young trees appeared to be in love. Many said they could hear them talking and singing during silent winter nights.

The talking trees flowered. Their first fruits attracted many birds. That year the tribals celebrated fastival of the godess after a long time. They cleared the bushes around and danced around the trees at night.

The lighting was sent by the goddess of the forest. She could not stand the.  ** young trees in love. When she watched the way people celiberated the festival around the trees she couldn't control herself.

The entire loss due to lightening was borne by the taller tree. The tribals waited for the rains to Bring it back to life. But the rains were delayed. The ascetic brought water from a stream way down to the tree for many days but he could not bring it back to life. He died trying to revive the tree.

Lone Tree grew taller, but with lesser branches and leaves and was silent in the winds. May be there was none to hear. The flowers also became scarce as no one was there to offer to. With no shade the bushes withered only grass returned in rains. No birds came  because of no fruits.

Th estates opened. Many joined as labour from the plains. They brought their own gods and goddesses with them. Slowly the tribals too joined them. 

O'Hara was a botanist from England came to study the plants of the western ghats. His friend who planted tea estate  near the mount  invited him to his estate. O'Hara was much impressed by rare tree  on the mount. He noted that there were no other trees of the species around. He liked the place and decided to settle down, planted tea in the hills and valleys  around. But the Mount with the lone tree was left alone. He had his own plans for the Mount.

On completion of the planting he went abroad on  long leave, searched the libraries, located similar trees and collected  seeds. In his last letter to his friend he said he was anxious to get back and plant the seeds. But he never came. An accident took his life.

His friend named the new estate Lone Tree Estate. Though the estate changed hands many times it's name remained the same 

The tribal people believed the lone tree is waiting for O'Hara to return with his mate. They say at night of the festival of the mount, which they stopped celebrating, they could hear the tree whistling the old melody.