From boyhood to 70, Sasi keeps climbing coconut trees
V.P. Sasi, a 70-year-old traditional coconut climber from Tirunavaya, continues his lifelong profession despite the modernization of the trade. His story highlights the endurance of traditional labor in a changing agricultural landscape.
Why it matters
This feature piece documents the intersection of traditional livelihoods and modern agricultural practices in rural India.
The coconut trees of Tirunavaya have been part of V.P. Sasi’s life for more than six decades. At an age when most people would think of slowing down, he still looks up at a tall coconut tree, ties his climbing rope, and starts his ascent.
His palms and feet carry the marks of years spent climbing trees. His age may have crossed 70, but the enthusiasm has not left him.
Sasi was felicitated on Wednesday at a World Coconut Day function organised by Re-Echo, a cultural and environmental organisation, at Tirunavaya. The honour recognised not just his years of work, but his lifelong connection with a profession that has changed greatly over the decades.
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