IIMB’s Y2K batch rediscovers love for campus trees | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru: The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), known for its academic excellence, also has a rich natural legacy on its campus. The Y2K batch, who returned for the 25-year reunion last weekend, explored the green wealth of their alma mater. “One of the activities we planned for the celebrations was a tree walk on Dec 20,” said alumna Bekxy Kuriakose. “Even though we all studied there for two years, we realised we didn’t know much about 30,000 trees on the campus. We were too busy studying back then.”
The walk, led by Suchi Govindarajan, a popular nature guide, revealed the campus’ vibrant biodiversity to its alumni. “We were enthralled by the fig fruit and fig wasp stories narrated by our guide,” said Bekxy. “The sky-high bougainvilleas, red-orange African tulip flowers and majestic banyan trees were marvellous. We even learnt something new about sandalwood trees and discovered the octopus trees.” A sighting of the elusive white-cheeked barbet hidden in the foliage added to their excitement. “This was a nature walk that was less textbook and more story — after all, trees are inseparable from human history, mythology, migration and even literature,” Bekxy added. To celebrate the reunion and honour departed batchmates, the Y2K batch dedicated a tree on the campus and felicitated horticulture and gardening staff for maintaining their alma mater’s green identity. Recalling a timeless remark made by the campus’ visionary architect, Bekxy said: “When BV Doshi designed IIMB campus, he said: ‘No building should be taller than a tree.’ And yes, even to this day, no building on the campus is taller than the trees.”
