Green Shoots

The growing uncertainties around us have led us to reconsider what really matters in life. We have begun to seek happiness in small things and to aim at always being hopeful. Watching a flower bloom or a new leaf unfurl are some of the simplest ways to find hope for the future and to dwell on the true meaning in life.

Poster designed by Nishtha Chhabra, MSc Mathematics (2020-22)

An increasing number of people across the globe have actively taken up gardening as a hobby in the past year and find it enriching. So we asked some of our students to share something about their source of hope and happiness in their garden? Here are some of the snapshots, doodles and stories shared by them for the August Theme “Green Shoots”.

B P Sridevi, BSc PME

“It was during lockdown that I got into gardening. After online classes, to relax myself I used to go to our garden everyday. One day I saw something different in my garden. When I asked my parents, they told me that it was gladiolus and I was surprised at how it appeared from nowhere because we had not planted it recently. But due to continuous rain, the corms of the once upon a time planted gladiolus had germinated. I was so excited that I took a look at it everyday to see if it had blossomed. And this was the picture I took when it blossomed :)”

Terrance A, MSc Mathematics

“I captured this image in Kerala when I visited one of my friend’s homes. This plant is a type of climber. The picture focuses on the raindrop in which everything is upside down. Even though our life is filled with ups and downs, we always focus on the sad part of our life. No matter how wearisome the world might appear, the tiny child in you clinging to all the scant madness makes you see and feel all the exuberance in it despite all the monotony around! Sorrows and despair might always adhere to life as an upended part, yet isn’t the gist of life in the mixture of all these emotions along with wide happiness? Nevertheless, the best comes when you try seeing the magnificent wider ranges rather than the smaller pities!”

Sakshi Sagar Shah, BSc EMS

“When I saw the sapling grow in my garden, I felt the importance of the sampling being the tangent to the greenery of the world, providing all the benefits of a plant. Then I realized that even I can be a tangent in someone’s life by small gestures which can make a positive impact on their lives.”

Phebe Sarah George, MSc Mathematics

“I came and settled in Mumbai for my UG. This whole place was very new to me. So during the next 3 years my home was my hostel, Marine Drive and my college. This tree was right outside the canteen in our college. We spent countless memories sitting under this tree singing songs, playing guitar, discussing about lectures and life, while sipping our chai. It was our small spot of happiness. This photo was taken on my last day of college when I collected my degree certificate and bid goodbye. It definitely filled tears in my eyes to see it deserted with no one around it and no one around me. I was all alone, just gazing at it.”

Shefali Singh, MSc Mathematics

“It’s a very simple and ordinary plant which I water daily. It reminds me that it’s these simple things in life, these little things which are actually big.”

Somya Chibhrani, BSc CME

“This periwinkle plant, as we see, is not in a garden. Neither did I plant it myself. It grew on its own, next to my house, fighting the scorching summer heat, the devastating weather conditions and bears around 10 beautiful big flowers today. I feel proud of the way the plant survived on its own. Being a person who feels at peace near flowers, I find myself talking to them at times. I would sit down next to the plant, share my thoughts with it and adore its virtuous charm, serenity and strength. I would look at the insects buzzing around it, ants measuring their way back home, tiny drops of water on its green precious leaves, all calm and peaceful. I experience a sense of belonging. I feel like that plant motivates me to be strong, to survive, to work hard and get me through my life’s chaos on my own. It paved the trail for my struggle to be independent and successful so that one day I could be proud of myself and bear the flowers of my endeavors.”

Suthandhira Devi J U, BSc CME

“It’s a glorious tale of a little girl charmed by her companion throughout her childhood. She planted 🍃 this sapling at the age of 5. She played with it, talked with it and loved it. There were tough times as people decided to shatter its existence but somehow they managed to make it up to this level. It’s a bond of 13 years and counting… And I’m so happy to be that little girl.❤”

S. Madhumitha, MSc Mathematics

“Banana trees have caught my attention since I first learnt about it in school and I always wanted to have them in our garden. But due to lack of space, fear of insects and several other reasons, we couldn’t afford to have them. A couple of months ago, we noticed a small sapling with few big leaves. We thought it could be a turmeric plant (which looks similar to banana in early stages) but after a week or so when another sapling started to grow, we realized that it was banana and I was so amazed to see it because without any anthropogenic efforts, the tree that I always loved to have, had sprouted in our garden. This made me realize that if not immediately, some day our life will definitely give us what we want and that time will perhaps be the right time too, rather than the time we wished for!”

Ramya R, BSc CME

“Plants don’t just look good, they can make us feel good too. Thy reduce stress and make our atmosphere fresh around our home. When I look my plants around me I feel happy. It’s true when we say plants make people happy. My guests at home always feel fresh by looking the plant at the entrance of my home. My day starts with the plants which I grow in my backyard. Scientifically plants around us help to clean air by absorbing toxins, increasing humidity and producing oxygen and working with the plants can be a therapy. I would say my day is incomplete without having a look at my plants.”

Ganesh Raj B R, MSc Mathematics

“These Money Plants (Devil’s ivy/Epipremnum aureum) are very special to me. These plants are called money plants because their leaves (round, flat, heart-shaped, dark green, and plump) resemble coins. Every single branch of the money plant has five leaves that signify the five basic elements (Pancha Tattva) – Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Space. All of these elements are believed to bring prosperity and positivity to the owners’ lives. I like this plant as it can thrive in any season. It can grow both in soil and in water and is a low-maintenance plant. Money plants also have a distinctive ability to purify and filter polluted air by eliminating all toxins, thereby giving us fresh air to breathe. These plants are a constant reminder to stay positive and optimistic. It encourages me to get rid of the doom and gloom, to stay confident and to do something productive :)”

Nishtha Chhabra, MSc Mathematics

“This is a picture of the Bleeding Heart vine. Its delicate attributes and vivid contrasts caught my eye like love at first sight. When I found out about its unique name, I realized how the vine bares its ‘bleeding heart’ for the world to witness. Human hearts, in contrast, feel vulnerable and prefer to remain shielded in a cocoon. What if our hearts were strong enough and could bare it all? Perhaps then we’d be kinder. Perhaps then we’d love fiercely.”

Dr. Tabitha R, Faculty Member

“I bought this sapling from a herb garden as its leaves looked lustrous green. As it grew in my pot, it became increasingly beautiful and takes my attention every single day. I did a little research and got to know it is called the ‘Paradise tree’ and is used for chemotherapy. I wish my mum was still around for she would have loved it. I praise the creator God who marvels us with His creation!”