There are very few who go beyond the work they do to answer their call of duty and Hitlar Nadar, a Matunga-based bookseller is one of them because he has not only sold books but also taken care of a tree. “I feel so happy about this tree that I have taken care of and even feel like it is a big achievement in my life,” says Nadar, pointing towards the tree he nurtured, when nobody else was paying attention to it. The 54-year-old has been popular because of name, which is self-explanatory. While being a familiar face at Matunga Circle for close to 30 years, what many may not know is that he has a deeper relationship with the locality and the environment around it.

After working as a bread seller for some time when he initially came to Mumbai from Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu, the Sion Koliwada resident found his calling in selling books. It was after he saw the booksellers in the Matunga going about their daily business, when he was still looking for jobs. Ever since, that place has been like a second home for him and one that he has seen evolve around him.

Hitlar Nadar`s stall (in picture) has been near the area where the tree stands today, for more than 25 years. Photo Courtesy: Manjeet Thakur/Mid-day

In 2013, Nadar says, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) planted a small sapling on the footpath diagonally opposite Anand Bhavan Hotel. At the time, the Tamil bookseller used to set up his book stall every day near there for the last 30 years. So, it was only natural that he instantly felt a connection with the plant. He explains, “My life of selling books started here itself near this tree. I used to put my books where the tree stands today for the last 28 years, long before this tree was even planted. After the BMC planted it, nobody around used to pay attention to it.”