10. Felling of the Banyan Tree - Poetry - Class 11 - Woven Words

Jul 1
5 min read

Poet: Dilip Chitre

Textbook: Woven Words

Genre: Poem (Reflective / Autobiographical / Environmental Poetry)

Summary:

Dilip Chitre’s poem Felling of the Banyan Tree is a moving account of the destruction of nature, rooted in personal memory. The poet recalls how his father ordered the removal of tenants and the demolition of the houses surrounding their own. Though many trees were cut down—including the sheoga, oudumber, and neem—the ancient banyan tree stood as a challenge. It was massive, with deep roots, a thick trunk, and hanging aerial roots. Despite its sacredness, especially in the eyes of the poet’s grandmother who believed felling trees was a sin, the banyan tree was eventually chopped down. Fifty men took seven days to cut its branches, and finally, its trunk. The tree, which had stood for over two centuries, was reduced to logs. The poet and others watched in awe, as if witnessing a sacred myth being destroyed. After this, the family moved from Baroda to Bombay, a city where the poet suggests there are no real trees—only memories and dreams of them. The poem highlights the violence of urban development and the loss of spiritual and ecological roots.

Character Sketch

The Father:

Practical and authoritative, the father prioritizes modern development over nature. He orders the clearing of land, including sacred trees, without hesitation. His actions reflect the mindset of progress at the cost of tradition.

The Grandmother:

Symbol of tradition and spiritual belief, she considers trees sacred. Her presence in the poem represents reverence for nature and the emotional value attached to it.

The Poet (Speaker):

Reflective and emotionally affected by the felling of the banyan tree, the speaker stands between two worlds—modern change and ancient respect for nature. His sorrow and admiration for the tree reflect his sensitivity and deeper connection to the environment.

Themes

Theme	Description
Conflict between Nature and Development	The poem contrasts spiritual reverence for trees with the drive to urbanize.
Memory and Displacement	The poet reflects on childhood memories and emotional loss linked to leaving Baroda.
Sacredness of Nature	The grandmother’s belief and the grandeur of the banyan tree emphasize its sacred value.
Environmental Destruction	The poem highlights how development often leads to irreversible damage to nature.

✨ Literary Devices / Poetic Devices

Device	Example / Explanation
Imagery	“Trunk had a circumference of fifty feet” creates a vivid picture of the tree’s size.
Personification	“Tree stood like a problem” attributes human qualities to the tree.
Symbolism	The banyan tree symbolizes deep-rooted culture, nature, and resistance to change.
Metaphor	“Raw mythology” refers to the tree’s sacredness and history being exposed.
Alliteration	“Felling them is a crime but he massacred them all” uses repetition of consonants.
Contrast	The old natural setting is contrasted with the concrete world of Bombay.

Title Justification

The title Felling of the Banyan Tree directly refers to the central event of the poem—the cutting down of a massive, sacred tree. This act is not just physical destruction but symbolic of a deeper loss: of history, tradition, and connection to nature. The word “felling” suggests violence and force, while “banyan tree” evokes age, strength, and rootedness. Through this simple yet powerful title, the poet captures the emotional and environmental impact of human development.

One-Mark Questions

What trees were cut down before the banyan tree?
The sheoga, oudumber, and neem trees were cut first. However, the banyan tree remained, seen as a “problem” because of its deep roots.
Why was the banyan tree difficult to remove?
Its roots were deeper than the lives of the people, and its trunk was massive—fifty feet in circumference. It took fifty men to bring it down.
How did the grandmother view the trees?
She believed that trees were sacred and that cutting them was a crime. Her view represents traditional respect for nature.
What does the poet compare the cutting of the tree to?
He compares it to a “massacre” and “slaughter,” showing his emotional and moral disturbance at the event.
What tree does the poet refer to in Bombay?
He says there are no real trees in Bombay, only one that “grows and seethes in one’s dreams”—a memory of the banyan tree.

Three-Mark Questions

How does the poet describe the grandeur of the banyan tree?
The tree was three times taller than the poet’s house. It had a thick trunk with a circumference of fifty feet and aerial roots falling from thirty feet. It stood like a problem, symbolizing strength and rootedness. Cutting it down took fifty men and seven days. The poet’s use of numbers and vivid images emphasizes its majestic presence.
What emotions does the poet experience during the felling of the tree?
The poet feels terror, fascination, and sorrow. He describes the event as a “slaughter” and a “raw mythology” being revealed. The destruction felt sacred and tragic, not just practical. He mourns not just the tree, but the loss of tradition and natural beauty. The emotion continues as the family moves to Bombay, where such trees exist only in dreams.
What deeper meaning does the line “Whose roots lay deeper than all our lives” convey?
This line symbolizes the deep cultural, emotional, and spiritual connection humans have with nature. The banyan tree had lived longer than generations, standing as a witness to time. Its roots represent tradition and continuity. Cutting it shows how modernity often destroys what is deeply meaningful. The line reflects human disregard for long-standing natural and cultural heritage.

Value-Based Question

What lesson can we learn from the poem about our relationship with nature?

The poem teaches us that nature is not just a resource but a sacred part of our identity and history. In the rush for development, we often destroy things that hold emotional, spiritual, and ecological value. Respecting nature means valuing its age, beauty, and role in our lives. The poem urges us to think before we act and to preserve our natural heritage. It reminds us that once destroyed, such treasures may live only in memory and dreams.

End

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