BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Aug 20: Labu Sepati's tryst with the Japanese art form - Bonsai- is an offshoot of his love for ture and environment.
Sepati is now established as a Bonsai artist in the entire Northeast. He was associated with planting since his childhood. He spent his half of life in Shillong working for All India Radio. He first tried bonsai at the age of 15 and since then he has been in this art.
Speaking to The Sentinel, Labu Sepati said: "I love ture. I love to stay in open space redolent of the bounty of environment. Since childhood I started planting trees in my garden. Besides that my grandfather was also a ture lover. I learnt many times from him."
Sepati has over 800 bonsais in his garden, and the oldest one is aged 52. However, floods dealt a blow to his mission damaging a number of bonsais. He, however, started afresh working hard to save such dwarf trees.
Sepati is also well known for his woodwork. He crafted a number of woodwork including wall décor, hanging light, desigble furniture etc. His entire house is decorated in a unique style with all his own woodwork.
In 1974, Labu Sepati organized the first beauty contest of Femi Miss India regiol in Guwahati.
Sepati has some unique trees in his garden – Karja tenga, Poraamlokhi and Mad Tree brought from Kolkata. The specialty of this tree is that its leaves are different from each other. The Red temple tree is also seen in his garden, besides many others.
Sepati said, "I spend more times with my plants. I keep space in my garden so that I can grow more bonsai. I have to work hard to care of my plants. I believe people should plant more trees to save the environment."