Neem Baba
Let us do these activities before we read.
I A tree is useful to us in many ways. Mention some of these uses. Write
them in the picture given below.
II Neem is a common tree in our country. Discuss in groups of four and fill
Columns 1 and 2 with what you know about the neem tree and what you
want to know.
Let us read
Amber returned from
school and sat down in
the shade of the neem
tree in her courtyard.
She felt that the tree
was whispering to her.
She looked at the tree
and spoke to the tree.
I
Amber : Namaste! I am Amber. I would like to talk to you.
May I?
Neem Baba : Sure, dear Amber. I know you. You played in my
shade in your childhood. You may call me ‘Neem
Baba’.
Amber : I have seen you almost everywhere. Please tell me
something more about yourself.
Neem Baba : I am very old. I was born millions of years ago
somewhere in North India or Myanmar. Soon, my
family spread outside India.
Amber : Outside India? Where else can neem be found?
Neem Baba : My family can be found in many Asian and African
countries and even in some parts of America.
Amber : That’s wonderful! Who gave you your name?
Neem Baba : The story of my name is very
thought-provoking. I was born
in India and given Sanskrit
names such as Arishta (the one
who cures diseases), Nimba and
Nimbaca. The name ‘Neem’ is
given by the Iranians.
Amber : Really?
Neem Baba : Yes, in Hindi, my name is Nimb. In
India, I have other names—Nim,
Leemba, Nimori, Nimbamond,
Nimbe and Nimo.
Amber : You are so well known! That is
wonderful.
Neem Baba : Dear Amber, we become well
known for what we do. People
find us useful and that is why
they know us. Scientists call us
‘bitter grace of God’, ‘nature’s gift
to man’, and ‘cleanliness-parting
tree’. Some even call us ‘magic
tree’ and ‘the tree of the twentieth
century’.
Let us discuss
Amber found many facts about the neem tree from Neem Baba. Fill up
the fact sheet based on what Neem Baba told her.
II
Amber : I know that people clean their
teeth with your twigs and
protect clothes with your leaves.
Sometime back, when my brother
had measles, the doctor told us to
put neem leaves on his bed and
make him lie down on them. Can
you explain why?
Neem Baba : The doctors know that neem
leaves have chemical properties
that destroy germs. Measles
causes itching all over the body.
Neem leaves give comfort and do
not allow germs to breed. Neem
leaves, bark, flowers, fruits and
even roots can be used to make
medicines to cure many diseases.
Amber : Yes, I once had a cough and I
could not breathe properly. My
grandmother cured me with a
medicine made from neem bark.
And when my father had itching
in the eyes, she prepared a kajal
from neem flowers, which cured
him.
Neem Baba : Oh, little Amber, you know so
much. Remember, these remedies
are to be used only by people who
are well trained and have a lot of
experience.
Amber : Yes, I will. Tell me Neem Baba,
is there any use of neem for the
farmers?
Neem Baba : Yes. If the powder of neem seeds
is mixed in water and sprayed
on plants and trees, then locusts
don’t eat them. If it is used in
rice fields, where water remains
standing, it stops mosquito
breeding and helps to increase
crop yield. It also saves the crop
from termites, which eat roots
of the crop, and it also stops
breeding of other insects that eat
crops.
Amber : That means, if we put the powder
of neem seeds in stagnant water
around our homes, mosquitoes
won’t breed in them! This must
be a cost-effective method to stop
mosquitoes from breeding. Please
tell me other uses of neem in our
daily life.
Neem Baba : Of course. People save their stored
grains from insects by adding
neem seed powder to them. Neem
oil is also used to make soaps
and toothpaste. Furniture made
from neem wood is not eaten
by termites. Neem also purifies
the air. There are many qualities
yet to be discovered. Will you
discover them when you grow
up?
Amber : Yes, Neem Baba. I will. Thank you
for your time today!
Neem Baba : Bless you, my child!
Adapted from Neem Baba
by S. I. Farooqi
Team Skill India Students Classes.
