After reading this article you will learn about:- 1. History of Gardening in India 2. Gardening during Epic Era 3. Gardening during Mogul Era 4. Gardening during British Period 5. Gardening during Post-Independence.
Contents:
- Essay on the History of Gardening in India
- Essay on Gardening during Epic Era
- Essay on Gardening during Mogul Era
- Essay on Gardening during British Period
- Essay on Gardening during Post-Independence
Essay # History of Gardening in India:
The origin of planet earth took place about 500 million years ago. Whether the life firs appeared in the form of blood or chlorophyll is still not known clearly. The simpler forms of flora and fauna passed through evolutionary processes and developed into complex systems.
Dominance of flowering plants started during Cenzoic age (60-70 million years) and at the same time dominance of mammals and insects started. Man appeared on this planet about 1,50,000 years ago. At an early stage, man might have felt the necessity of cool and shady places near water sources for rest after tiring job of hunting and this gave the concept of gardening.
According to Vavilov, Indo-Malaya region is one of the important centers of origin of plants. Many flowering plants are strictly-native of India. Among them important ones are: orchids, rhododendrons, muskrose (Rosa moschata), balsam (Impatiens balsamina), primula (Primula denticulata, P. rosea), blue popply (Maconopsis sp.), gloriosa lily (Gloriosa superba), and tulip (Tulipa stellata and tulipa aitchisonii).
Among trees which are native of India are : Sita Asoka (Saraca asoca), pipal (Ficus religiosa), banyan (Ficus benghalensis), nag kesar (Mesua ferrea), amaltas (Cassia fistula), kadam (Neonauclea purpurea), Swaran champa (Michelia champaka), neem (Azadirchata indica), palas (Butea monosperma), arjun tree (Terminalia arjuna), kachnar (Bauhinia variegata), Karanj (Pongamia glabra), Bhendi (Thespesia populnea), Chalta (Dillenia indica), Barna (Cratauea roxburghii), Sterculia colorata, etc.
Indigenous shrubs are: Bela (Jasminum sambac), Pili chameli (Jasminum humile), Rukmani (Ixora coccinea, I. paruiflora, I. barbata), Har shrinagar (Nyctanthus arbortristis), Holmskioldia sanguinea, Hamiltonia suaueolens, Clerodendron inerme, Chandni (Ervatamia coronaria), Crossandra infundibiliformis, Plumbago rosea, etc. Important native climbers are: Passiflora sp., Clitoria tarneata, Porana paniculata, Clematis montana, Madhvi lata (Hiptage benghalensis), etc.
The history of systematic gardening in India is as old as civilization of Indus of Harappan which existed between 2500 B.C. and 1750 B.C. People were living in well planned dwellings. Roads cut across-one another almost at right angles. The trees were associated with the human life in many ways is quite clear from the seals available of that period.
The picture of God is represented in the middle of branch of pipal. Besides pipal, mango and willow have also been depicted on the seals. Harappan pots were generally decorated with the designs of trees. The cult of tree and animal worship was at its peak. The tree of pipal (Ficus religiosa) and banyan (Ficus benghalensis) served mankind and fauna in many ways.
These trees provided shelter for night stay, their fruits were eaten, and leaves were used to cover the naked bodies. These trees were considered the symbol of fertility. That is why till today the trees are being worshipped.
In every village the trees especially the Ficus religiosa and F. benghalensis are planted for worship as well as for shade. This all confirms that trees, climbers and other ornamental plants were associated with the Harappan civilization.
Aryans came in India about 1600 B.C. They came through Iran, Afghanistan and reached the plains. The country at that time was called as Aryavarta’ which means the country of lotus and sunshine because the lakes were studded with lotus flowers and there were wide open spaces. Land was covered with the trees of palash laden with scarlet flowers.
Lotus being a native of India was found everywhere. These Aryans were literary people and brought with them the four vedas viz. Rig Veda, Artharva Veda, Yuzur Veda and Sam Veda and the Puranas. They were also the ardent lovers of nature and had aesthetic sense. The use of flowers in religious and social ceremonies was started by Aryans.
They appreciated the beauty of flowering plants; lakes, mountains, forests, etc. and named their kids after the flowers like kamal, Champa, Madhvi, Bela, Chameli, Rukmani, etc. The forests of sal (Shorea robusta) and flame of the forest (Butea monosperma) were admired by Aryans. River Ganga and Yamuna were given the status of mother which flow down from Himalaya through plains.
Similarly, cow was given the status of Kamu Dhenu. The Lord Vishnu and Goddess Luxmi were associated with Lotus. According to a legend, during sagar manthan, Goddess Luxmi appeared from the sea in sitting posture on lotus. The different parts of the body of Goddess Luxmi have been compared with the different parts of lotus.
Ficus benghalensis was worshipped as Kalpvriksha which will fulfill all the human desires. Kadamba was associated with Lord Krishna; Semal with Siva; Bauhinia with Saraswati—goddess of wisdom; Amaranthus with Goddess Kali and yellow amaltas with prosperity in trade.
The life of Buddha was associated with a number of trees from birth to death. He was born in 563 B.C. under the tree of Ashoka at Lumbini in the grove of Sal. In this grove, the trees of palash were also there; hence, all the three trees were associated with the birth of Buddha. Birth place of Buddha has been described by Hiuen Tsang who visited the place in 630 A.D.
According to a description, there was a bathing tank of Sakya Muni filled with clear water, lotus and lilies. In the north of this tank, there was a tree of Ashoka and under this tree Lord Buddha was born. He attained enlightenment under the tree of Pipal at Gaya and preached first sermon of his religion under mango and banyan grove at Sarnath (Varanasi).
When Lord Buddha visited Vaishali, Amrapalli— presented a park known as Amravana which was dominated by trees. The death place of Buddha has also been described by Hiuen Tsang. There is a Sal grove on the bank of river Ajitavati in Kusi Nagara. Its bark is greenish blue and its leaves are white shining and very lustrous. There are four trees pairs of equal height. This is the place where Buddha died.
Buddhist monks beautified their monasteries and vihars by planting trees and other flowering plants on a large scale for making surroundings peaceful, a place of solace and ideal for meditation. The planting of trees alongside the roads was intensified by emperor Ashoka after embracing Buddhist religion during 264-227 B.C.
His daughter and son also spread the art of planting trees around vihars and alongside roads along with Buddhist religion in neighbouring countries. The messages of Buddhist religion were written on stupas (long and wide stones) which were placed near Buddha monasteries and alongside roads.
On these stupas along with sermons, pipal tree, wheel and lotus were also carved. Symbolically lotus represented the birth of Buddha; pipal—enlightenment, wheel—sermon and stupa—emancipation. Carving of lotus flowers, buds and leaves was also very common on medallions. The art of gardening developed during this time was introduced in neighbouring east countries like Thailand, Korea, China and Japan along with religion.
Essay # Gardening during Epic Era:
Detailed account of Lord Rama’s life and status of gardening at that time has been mentioned in Ramayana written by Valmiki and Tulsidas. Other books related on this subject also throw light on the status of gardening.
At that time, Ayodhya city was having wide streets, large houses, noble palaces, richly decorated temples and gardens. These gardens were planted with fruit trees, flowers; lakes were full of lotuses and different kinds of birds.
Roads were planted with shady trees. During exile, Lord Rama and Sita observed a number of trees and were fascinated by their beautiful flowers. One of such trees was Ashoka. According to Skanda Purana, Sita was charmed by the beautiful forest of Ashoka and said to Rama that it is the month of Baisakh. Let us stay in this wood and take bath in the river. Such groves are found where Kosi River leaves the mountains.
Another book of Epic era, ‘Mahabharata’ was written by Saint Vyasa. The detailed events of war between Kauravas and Pandavas have been narrated along with the vegetation and various flowering plants. The pleasure gardens were planted with flowering trees, which flowered round the year. The famous tree of this era was Kadamba (Nauclea cadamba) which is associated with Lord Krishna.
Underneath the trees of Kadamba, Lord Krishna played ras lila with milk maids. Other flowering trees which have been described are mango, Ashoka, coral tree, Sal, Nag champa, Champa, Palmyra, screw pine, oleander etc. The climbers like Jasminum grandiflorum and J. muliflorum have also been described. Ponds were used to be filled with lotus and lilies.
Great poet Kalidas has described the numerous flowering plants of that era in number of his books. In Kumar Sambhav, trees like Ashoka, Kalpvriksha, Shirish flower, Devdaru, Butea mono-sperma, Prajapati (Nyctanthes arbortristis), Molsari (Mimuspos elengi), Bhoj patri, lotus and lilies have been mentioned. In Abhigyan Shakuntlum plants like Shirish, Saptparni, Chameli, Juhi, Madhvilata, lotus and lilies have been described.
In another famous book Meghdoot-Cloud Messenger—which is written in the form of poetry in Sanskrit, the route and vegetation from Ujjain to Himalaya (Alkapuri) have been described.
In a description the use of flowers by women folk of Himalaya has been narrated as follows:
Pay lotus adorns the hand
Plaited kund buds in the tresses dark
Sirisha on the delicate ears
and fresh kurubkas on the braids bedeck the women
The countenance is beautiful by
the golden Lodhra pollen
and Kadambas blossomed at the touch
decorates the line on the head
left by parting the hair.
Merriest festival of this period was ‘Basant Panchami’. This festival is celebrated in the memory of Lord Kama deva—God of Love. This is the month of spring season when temperature warms up after cold winter. Life activities are at full swing in this season. Everybody used to be in gay mood.
All around happiness used to dominate. People used to greet each other with exchange of flowers. Young maids used to decorate themselves with the flowers, sing and dance in gardens. Competitions of poetry, songs, drama and sports are organised by state and prizes distributed to the best.
Vatsyayana (A.D. 300-400) described four kinds of gardens which were made for the kings, queens, courtiers and ministers. Pramadodyan used to be private garden of the king and the queen; Udyan—where the kings passed their leisure time in playing chess, enjoying dance, listening songs and jokes by singers and court jesters.
Vrikshavatika was the garden for ministers and courtiers where they made merry with courtesans. There was a special garden dedicated to Lord Indra. These gardens had water pool studded with lotuses and lilies, flowering and fragrant shrubs, trees and climbers. Swinging under the trees of Neem and Pipal during monsoon months used to be a common site.
Famous poet Bana Bhatta described the number of flowering plants in his famous book the Harsh Charita. These flower plants were growing predominantly in the gardens in the vicinity of the palaces. Water pools were studded with red lotus and blue water lilies.
Trees like Arjun, Banyan, Sal, Sapt parna, Champaka, flame of the forest, Vakula (Mimuspos elengi), Karanj, Kadamba, Ashoka, Indian coral tree, siris, shrubs like Malati, Harshringar, Gurhal (China roses), Rukmani (Ixora bandhuca) and climbers like Ketaki, Madhvi lata have been described.
In one beautiful description, association of human feelings with the plants has been described like this:
“Beloved mango, take thought of to yourself, your mother is seeking another home. I am going darling jasmine cluster, bid me farewell-without me, sister pomegranate by the house, you are now to be defence-less— forgive me red Ashoka—my kicks and sins in plucking your sprays for ear ornaments. I see you seraglio vakula—wayward child as you are become through those mouthfuls of wine-clasp me tight dear Priyangu climber; I am passing beyond your reach friend mango at porch—you must render me funeral libation of water…”
Essay # Gardening during Mogul Era:
Babur attacked India five times and in his fifth attempt defeated Ibrahim Lodhi at Panipat and established dynastic rule in Delhi in 1525. He did not intend to return back after conquering Delhi. Therefore, he started shaping his kingdom according to his likings. Babur had high aesthetic sense and was fond of gardens.
Thus he made gardens at Panipat and Agra. Aram bagh at Agra is still being maintained nicely by Archeological Department, along with other gardens built by Mogul descendants. Mogul gardens are synonymous of formal style of gardening which is an extended plan of primitive Persian gardens, i.e., Char Bagh Design.
The style of gardening was preserved by Mogul descendants and many gardens on similar style were made. Several modifications like addition of two or more terraces, with a central canal of running water with flowing fountains, water-fall in the form of Chadar (water sheet) and baradari structure, were made.
The square or rectangular flower beds and trees like chinar and cypress are special features of Mogul gardens. Another important contribution was the introduction of exotic plants like chinar, cypress and flowers like rose, carnation, narcissus, daffodils, lilies, tulip etc.
Broadly, Mogul gardens can be grouped into two categories viz:
(i) Pleasure gardens of king and queen, and
(ii) Tomb gardens.
Former gardens were made with the sole purpose of pleasure of king, queen and family members, whereas latter gardens were attached to tombs of king or queen for giving peace to dead person. For some time Humayun was out of power and Delhi was ruled by Sher Shah Suri. He made grand trunk road from Lahore to Calcutta and planted shady trees along both sides of the roads. After Humayun, Akbar (1556-1605) was a very popular king and ruled very successfully. He made Fatehpur Sikri (Agra) and tomb garden, Sikandra (Agra).
Among Mogul kings, Jahangir (1605-1627) and Shah Jahan (1627-1658) made several gardens at different locations. Famous gardens built by Jahangir are Shalimar, Acbhalbal, Varinag (at Kashmir), Itmad-ud-Daulah (Agra) and Dilkusha garden at Lahore. His wife Noor Jahan discovered ‘Otto’ of rose while taking bath in water tank filled with rose flowers.
The contributions of Shah Jahan in gardening were immense and famous gardens like Shalimar (Lahore), Chashma Shahi (Srinagar) and gardens in Taj Mahal, Red fort (Agra), Red fort (Delhi) were built. Aurangzeb made a garden at Aurangabad.
Fadai Khan, a general of Aurangzeb, made a breathtaking garden at picturesque site of Pinjore. Mogul Emperors also made several sarais (Aram bagh) along with roads for taking rest during transit from one place to the other. Till today, these gardens are example of their style and enjoy high esteem in the hearts of people. Being architecturally superb, aesthetically designed and harmoniously planted, they create breathtaking sight.
Essay # Gardening during British Period:
East India Company came to trade with India but finally paved the way for the establishment of British rule in India. During the British era, there was a lot of activity in gardening by Britishers and Indian kings, King Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan were famous amateur horticulturists of South India. King Hyder Ali established most famous Lai Bagh garden in Bangalore. Plants were imported from Mauritius and other countries and were maintained at Lai Bagh.
With the fall of Tipu Sultan it was managed by Britishers. In North India, Maharaja Ranjit Singh made an impressive garden at Amritsar. King Bhupinder Singh and his son Yadvindra Singh of Patiala, well known amateur horticulturists, contributed a lot for the improvement of horticulture.
Famous Baradari garden at Patiala and fruit orchard at Chail were established. They also introduced latest varieties of fruit plants, strawberries, gladiolus and carnations etc. Britisher’s memorable gift to Indian gardens was making of herbaceous border and lawn.
Concentrated efforts were initiated to improve the gardening in three ways viz:
(i) Introduction of exotic plants from England and other countries,
(ii) Establishment of royal-agri-horticulture societies and botanical gardens, and
(iii) Compilation of local flora of different regions.
India was rich in colourful and fragrant trees, shrubs and climbers but was lacking in colourful annuals like phlox, verbena, larkspur, nusturtium, dahlia, corn flower, pansy, aster, antirrhinum etc. which were introduced; other plants like Bougainvillea, golden shower, gulmohr, nili gulmohr etc. were also introduced.
A number of botanical gardens were established in different parts of the country where exotic plants were introduced, assessed and maintained. Important ones are Royal Agri-horticulture Society Garden, Calcutta; Botanical Garden, Sibpore, Calcutta; Lloyd Botanical Garden, Darjeeling (West Bengal); Botanical Garden, Saharanpur; National Botanic Gardens, Lucknow; Botanical Garden of the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun (Uttarakhand); Lal Bagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore; Government Botanical Garden, Ootacamund (Tamil Nadu); Botanical Garden, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu) Biyand Park at Kodai Kanal (Tamil Nadu).
In these botanical gardens valuable plant material has been planted family wise and labelled. This helped in preservation of plant material. The utilization of Indian flora in European gardens was also done in a big way. The plants like orchids, rhododendron, primula etc. were further used in breeding programme. Several tropical plants decorated European gardens.
Essay # Gardening during Post-Independence:
There have been radical changes in the field of ornamental gardening during post-independence period. Remarkable achievements have been made at all three important fronts viz. conscious planning for improving total environment, commercial floriculture, and teaching and research of ornamental horticulture at graduate and post-graduate levels.
Several gardens in different cities have been laid out to provide active and passive recreational facilities and to improve the environment. Important gardens are; Buddha Jayanti Garden, Delhi; Rose Garden, Chandigarh and Ludhiana. The main feature of these gardens is undulating grassy lawns, serpentine pathways and colourful plant material. These gardens are deviated from traditionally Mogul gardens in their layout.
As a general rule, landscaping of public and private buildings has become an integral part of planning. State Departments like Urban Development, Archeological and Tourism are actively busy improving total environment of buildings by conscious planning and planting. Green belts are being provided in industrial towns to reduce air pollution. It is becoming customary to engage technical trained persons for such purposes.
Keeping the immense scope of commercial floriculture in view, much attention is being given to exploit it fully. The cut-flower trade in big cities like Bombay, Calcutta, Bangalore, Madras, Delhi, Pune, Ludhiana, etc. has developed tremendously during the last two decades. Now farmers earn good income by growing flowers around big cities.
The growing of certain flowers and production of planting material like corms, bulbs and pot plants have been specialized in different agro-climatic zones, as detailed here. Hilly region (Srinagar, Darjeeling, Nainital, Himachal Pradesh)—gladiolus, narcissus and other bulbous plants; North Indian plains—roses, gladiolus, carnation, marigold, other seasonal flowers; Western Ghats (Pune, Nasik)—rose, gladiolus, marigold, aster; South India— tuberose, Jasmine, marigold, crossandra, barleria and foliage plants; Eastern region— chrysanthemum, tuberose, aster and lotus and foliage plants.
In order to make growing of flowers into a successful proposition, it should be based on scientific research. To give boost to floriculture industry in the country, ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi) has upgraded All India Coordinated research Project on Floriculture to Directorate Floricultural Research at IARI (Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi) whose first director is Dr. Ramesh Kumar who is able and dynamic person.
In 11th Five Year Plan, its outlay of Directorate is Rs. 2009.27 lakhs which is likely to be enhanced 2-3 times in next five year plan. There are 23 coordinated centers situated all over India in different agro-climatic zones in which 16 centres are budgetary, 4 are institutional and 3 are voluntary.
The directorate’s vision is to harness the research and development activities if flower crops and landscape gardening for promotion of domestic and export markets whereas mission is to carry out research, impart education, conduct outreach programme in floriculture and landscaping with national and international partners for enhancing production, productivity and profitability besides alleviating the rural poverty.
The main flower crops on which concentrated research work is being done are: Rose, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Gladiolus, Orchids, Gerbera, Lilium, Alstroemeria, Tuberose, Daffodil, Anthurium. The crops have been allotted to different centre according to their climatic conditions.
National Horticulture Board was established by the Government of India in 1984 as an autonomous society to develop high quality horticultural farms in identified belts which in turn will act, as hubs for developing commercial horticulture by adopting high tech horticulture techniques including post-harvest management infrastructure.
It also helps in improving linkages between horticulture producers and marketers to increase producer’s share in consumer price. It has helped in establishment of poly houses for growing flowers in different states of India by providing subsidies and arranging the facilities. This has brought a revolution in production of green-house cut flowers like Rose, Gerbera, Carnation, Orchid, Lilium, Calla Lily, Anthurium, etc.
During Tenth Five Year Plan (2005-06) National Horticulture mission has been established in ministry of Agriculture in which Government of India provides 100% assistance to the states for development in the States. The share of Government of India will be 85% and states will contribute 15%.
It is provide a holistic growth of the horticulture in the country. It also helps in enhancing horticulture productivity, farms and creating employment opportunities for skilled, unskilled persons and specially for unemployed youth. Many floriculture projects have come up in various states with the help of National Horticulture Mission.
Other than this, different institutes like Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi; Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore; National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow; Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Bombay and Agricultural Universities like Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana; University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore; Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan; Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidalaya, Kalyani, are the places where scientific research on floriculture is being conducted.
Availability of technically trained persons is also very important factor for making a programme successful. Till 1971, no university was providing education up to M.Sc. level in floriculture and landscaping. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, was the first Indian University to start imparting education in floriculture and landscaping.
Now the facility is available at other universities like Solan, Kalyani, Coimbatore, Pune, Kanpur, I.A.R.I., etc. The School of Town Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, imparts postgraduate course in landscaping. Strengthening of such facilities is essential to make floriculture industry prosperous.