ISLAMABAD, May 14: Old habits die hard - and this is truer when it comes to faith. People are generally ready to compromise on necessities rather than breaking their centuries-old traditions; this is visible in the federal capital too, as the locals despite a dire need for wood have hardly volunteered to cut down the banyan trees.

Among all the species, the banyan trees are the only ones that have survived for centuries at various spots in and around the federal capital, and there are more than 176 centuries-old banyan trees in Islamabad. More can be seen on G.T. Road providing shade to old ponds.

“Barh-Bodr or bargad are the most prominent local names of banyan and one reason that the tree is respected by Muslims is that a large number of the faithful are the converts who planted these trees around the sitting place of Sufi saints,” said a social scientist who did not wish to be named as he considered the issue to be a sensitive one.

“People still have emotional attachments with this tree and one can see Muslims burning oil-lit earthen lamps under the old banyan especially on Thursday evenings.”

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has also decided to preserve these trees - numbering 176 - which are part of the cultural tradition of the area.

The idea has been initiated by Chairman CDA Imtiaz Inayat Elahi, who once also headed the environment wing of the civic body, and has interests in preserving local natural habitat, which is the first victim of urbanisation and commercialisation.

“People are interested to know the historic values of the surrounding,” the CDA chairman said with the launch of the Rs5 million project to develop the site of each banyan tree. The project includes making an enclosure-like surrounding around each tree, creating a sit-out but with a minimum civil works to preserve the natural environment and placing an informative ‘signage plaque,’ about the tree with whatever information is available.

The largest number of banyan trees in Islamabad - 64 and 47 respectively - are in the Saidpur and Golra villages, while there are 29 in Bhara Kahu and 10 around Bari Imam Shrine. Besides, there are also some very old banyan trees around Loya Dandi cave on the hills overlooking the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Abdul Latif Kazmi (Bari Imam).

More trees are surviving in these areas as they still have rural status and the vast majority of residents are local who do not cut the banyan trees.

Holy to the Buddhists and the Hindus, the banyan was planted at the temples of these religions but the tree has also remained respectable to the Muslims of the region and can be seen at almost all the shrines.

The Buddhists believe that Gautam Buddha achieved enlightenment in Bodhgaya, India, while meditating under a banyan tree.

For Hindus too, there is a strong reference to the tree in Bhagawat Gita. “During Mahabharat, the Lord Krishna gave a sermon to Arjun to stand for the right and fight those even if one’s relative are on the wrong side,” said Jagmohan Kumar Arora, leader of the Hindu community in the region.

Most of the ancient saints and hermits used to sit under the banyan trees. This was usually planted at the wells and public ponds.

“But apart from the religious sentiments, the banyan tree has unmatched utilities,” Mr Arora said: “Its shade has a soothing effect, especially considering the times when there was no electricity or even cold water.”

According to available British history, the word ‘banyan’ was given to the bargad tree as the Hindu merchants, mainly the money lenders, used to conduct business under this tree as it provided dense shade and cool breeze.

As these money lenders were among the first group of locals to have business ventures with the British traders, the Englishmen eventually named the tree after these ‘Banyas’.

Besides the religious places, a large number of ponds fed by rainwater were also developed on both sides of the G.T. Road when it was being built by Sher Shah Suri.

As bargad trees remain green all the year round and consume less water for having aerial roots, these were the best choice for plantation around ponds on the highway.

“The indigenous practice was followed along the G.T. Road as trees not only provided dense shade for travellers or local shepherds but their large shadow also reduced evaporation from the ponds,” said Mr Arora.

Better late than never, the civic authorities have realised the fact that imported and alien species like the paper mulberry have more negative impact on human health than the benefits it provide to environment. Therefore, the CDA has in principle decided to plant and promote only the local and native trees like bargad, peepal etc.