Learn about this tree was written on its bark in ancient times.

Bhojpatra Tree

 Bhojpatra is a tree that grows in the Himalayan region and grows to a height of 4,500 m. It is a multi-use tree - its bark is white in color, which was used for the creation of texts since ancient times.

introduction

  As soon as the name of Bhojpatra comes, the idea of ​​those ancient manuscripts, which have been written on Bhojpatra. Before the discovery of paper, writing in our country was done on Bhojpatra. It is preserved for hundreds of years written on the bhojpatra, but at present only the bhojvriksha remains. Many archaeological museums in our country have preserved hundreds of manuscripts written on the banquet. Like the Gurukul Kangri University Museum in Haridwar. Kalidas has also mentioned banquet in several places in his works. His work Kumarasambhavam also mentions the use of Bhojpatra as a garment. The banquet was also used in ancient Russia as the paper currency 'beresta'. It was also used in the manufacture of ornamental objects and Charan Padukas — called 'Lapti'. Sushruta and Varad Mihir have also mentioned Bhojpatra. Banqueting was also used in wrapping parcels in Kashmir and making flexible hooks pipes. Currently many instruments are written on Bhojpatras.

 Actually, Bhojpatra is the name of the bark of a tree named Bhoj, not the leaf. The bark of this tree originates in the form of thin layers in winter, which were mainly used as paper. Bhoj tree is found in the Himalayas at an altitude of up to 4,500 meters. It is a deciduous tree growing in a cold climate, which can grow up to about 20 meters. Bhoja is called Bhurj or Bahuvalkal in Sanskrit. The second name Bahuvalkal is more meaningful. Bahuvalkal means a tree with many clothes / bark. The banquet is called Himalayan Silver Birch in English and Betula Utilis in the language of science. This tree is very useful. Its leaves are small and the edges are jagged. The tree bears male and female creations like mulberry, called manjari. The bark is thin, papery, with a very clear dark color seen on the stem in the form of horizontal stripes. It is almost non-perishable, as it contains resinous oil. The color of the bark itself bears its various names [red, white, silver and yellow].

 The outer bark of the bhoj patra is smooth, while the bark of most of the trees like mango, neem, tamarind, peepal, banyan etc. is black brown, thick, rough and cracked. The bark of eucalyptus and jam originates in irregular shaped pieces in the form of thick layers. The bark of bhojpatra comes out as thin peels like a paper layer.

  Banquet trees thrive well in light, well draining acidic soil. They are considered early in terms of ecology. They spread very fast due to fire or other interference. Apart from paper, the banquet also gives its fine-grained, light-yellow satin luster wood. Veneer and plywood are also made from this.

 Great variety of wood is obtained from Betula verucosa (Mysore birch). Due to the small fibers its pulp also produces durable paper. Birch wood is also used in making drums, sitars, guitars etc. In Belarus, Russia, Finland, Sweden and Denmark, and parts of northern China, birch juice is used as a good beer. It also gives a sweet alcohol called Xyletal which is used for sweetness. Birch pollen is allergic. Some people affected by gall fever have been found to be sensitive to its pollen.

 The mushroom grown on white birch is used in the treatment of cancer. Birch bark contains betulin and betulinic acid and other chemicals, which have been found useful in the pharmaceutical industry. According to the Bhava Prakash Nighantu, composed by Acharya Bhava Mishra [1500–1600], the use of its bark is vatanulomaka and antidote. It is given in Kamala, Pitta fever. It is also used in bleaching of the ear and toxic ulcers. Its leaves are considered stimulant and columnar.

 Scientists at Indian Forest Research Center Dehradun say that Bhojpatra is used in the treatment of diseases like asthma and epilepsy. His bark is considered to be very good astringent. For this reason, it is used to clean the bleeding and wounds.

  Bhojwasa arrives 14 kilometers before en route to Gangotri in Uttarakhand. This place was named Bhojwasa due to the abundance of Bhojpatra trees, but at present the Bhoj tree remains in this place. The same situation is with Gangotri Kednas Pass.

  According to a report published in the Deccan Herald in 2007, the tree is on the verge of extinction. The biggest threat to this is from the Kanwandi and tourists, who come to take the water of Gangotri and damage the Bhoja tree. Actually, travelers and tourists consider taking Bhojpatra with them auspicious and this is also a big reason that Bhoj tree has been reduced. The forest department is constantly trying to re-grow the bhojvriks, but the efforts are not being successful. Environmentalists say that the biggest reason for this is human intervention in the high Himalayan region.

 Travelers and tourists going to Gomukh are constantly harming Bhojpatras. They believe that the bhojpatra and banquet stick from Gomukh is very auspicious. Taking it as auspicious, travelers and tourists continue to damage trees. Presently, 150 passengers and tourists are traveling in this high Himalayan region every day, that is, four thousand five hundred passengers are passing through Bhojwasa in a month. Although the Forest Department is claiming that they have an eye on every traveler and tourist, but this is not possible in this area. 

 Over exploitation of this multi-use tree poses a threat of extinction. Harshwanti Vishta, associated with the preservation of Bhoj tree, says that exploiting them for fuel is increasing this danger. He has launched the 'Save Bhojpatra' movement to save her. Efforts are being made to conserve locally at the Bhojwasa area of ​​Uttarakhand by planting a barbed wire plantation area of ​​5.5 hectares. Banquet is a tree reflecting our ancient culture. It is a representative tree of the Himalayan flora. It is important to save this tree with very important medicinal properties.