‘Plant Trees to Cherish My Memories’: Minister Dave in His Will

In his will, Anil Dave also wished that he be cremated on the banks of Narmada, a river close to his heart.

Late Environment and Forest Minister Anil Dave wished that he be cremated on the banks of Narmada, a river close to his heart. (Photo: Facebook/@AnilMDave)

Plant trees if you want to cherish my memories, late Union Minister Anil Madhav Dave said in his will, while emphasising that he did not want any statue, memorial or award instituted in his name.

In his will, Dave also wished that he be cremated on the banks of Narmada, a river close to his heart.

Sixty-year-old Dave, who held the Environment and Forests portfolio, was so passionate about nature and water bodies that he named his Bhopal residence - 'Nadi ka ghar,’ meaning - the house of the river.

Dave's love for environment and water bodies reflected in his will, BJP spokesman Rajnish Agrawal said.

If you want to cherish my memories, plant trees and save them. This would give me pleasure.

Late Anil Dave stated in the will

He wished that maximum efforts should be made for the conservation of water bodies but said that his name should not be projected or used during these endeavours.

Dave's aversion to individual glorification also reflected in his wish that there should be no statue or memorial erected in his name.

“If possible, my cremation should be performed on the banks of river Narmada at Bandrabhan where Nadi Mahotsav was organised,” he said in the will.

Dave, a bachelor, used to organise the international river festival at Bandrabhan to create awareness among people about conserving rivers.

He also expressed a wish that his last rites should be performed only through 'vaidik' rituals without any pomp.

State BJP's media in-charge Lokendra Parashar said that as per Dave's wish, his last rites will be performed at Bandrabhan on the banks of Narmada river in Hoshangabad district at 10 am on Friday.

A two-time Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh, Dave had complained of uneasiness at his home in New Delhi on Thursday morning and was rushed to AIIMS where he breathed his last.