A 20-Year Legacy Lost: The Tale of Chhattisgarh’s Sacred Peepal Tree

In a small village in Chhattisgarh, a 20-year-old peepal tree stood as a living testament to faith, devotion, and community spirit—until greed tried to uproot it.

A Legacy Planted Two Decades Ago

Two decades ago, Devla Bai Patel, an elderly resident of Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandai district, planted a small peepal sapling on government land along a roadside. What began as a simple act of care grew into a sacred landmark for the local community. Over the years, the tree became a symbol of devotion: villagers tied threads for blessings, and a statue of the local deity Ghoda Dev was installed nearby. For generations, the peepal tree served as a sanctuary—a place of worship, peace, and shared heritage.

The Heartbreaking Act

The sanctity of the tree was shattered when Imran Memon, a land dealer who had recently purchased a nearby farmland, along with his associate Prakash Kosre, attempted to remove it to make way for a road. Initially driven away by protesting villagers, the duo returned under the cover of night with a chainsaw. Their act devastated the community.

The next morning, Devla Bai’s anguished cries over the felled tree were captured on video and quickly went viral. The scene touched hearts across India, with Union Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeting:
"This is such a heart-wrenching scene! An elderly woman weeps bitterly after the peepal tree she planted 20 years ago was cut down. Reflect on such losses."

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Bb3A3CuBkIE

Swift Justice and Arrests

Police acted quickly. Memon and Kosre were arrested and charged under BNS Sections 298 (injuring or defiling a place of worship) and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information), along with provisions from the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The duo confessed and were remanded to judicial custody. Reports state that they had attempted to conceal evidence by dumping the chainsaw into a nearby river; divers are now trying to retrieve it.

Communal Resilience and a New Beginning

In a display of solidarity, villagers gathered to perform rituals and plant a new peepal sapling, with Devla Bai leading the ceremonies. Local MLA Yashoda Verma joined shortly after to plant another sapling, symbolizing hope, renewal, and the resilience of the community.

A Reminder of Our Connection to Nature

The story of Devla Bai’s peepal tree is a poignant reminder of the deep bond between humans, nature, and cultural heritage. In India, many communities worship the peepal tree for its spiritual and cultural significance, and this incident underscores the need to protect such sacred and ecological landmarks.

At Farmlandbazaar, we believe that every tree is a legacy, a sanctuary, and a source of life. Nurturing nature is not just a choice—it is a responsibility, ensuring a greener, healthier, and sustainable future for generations to come.