Powerhouse that stands tall

With World Coconut Day falling on September 2, let's take a look the benefits and uses of the coconut tree

- Chinmay Raval

Most of us would have learnt in school about the Kalpavriksha, or the “tree of life” which is so known because every part of it is useful to humans. That’s the familiar palm tree Cocos nucifera, the only living species of the genus Cocos and literally a powerhouse of nutrition and other benefits.

It’s sad that the coconut got such a bad reputation for several years because of negative propaganda spurred by rival oil producers. Fortunately that’s a thing of the past, and even the West is wise to the excellent qualities of this hardy nut. Who knows, soon they might also “discover” the properties of the tree’s other parts!

For people in coconut-producing countries, however, the knowledge has always been there, and treasured as a way of life. In fact, the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC), an intergovernmental organisation of coconut-producing countries, has been celebrating World Coconut Day on September 2 since 2009.

We don’t need to be told that the coconut is regarded as holy, and plays a significant role in most Hindu rituals. The launch of anything from an enterprise to a boat, housewarming, foundation stone laying, buying a new car... It isn’t complete without breaking a coconut!