High Above the Ground: The 70-Year-Old Coconut Climber of India
In Palelom in South Goa, while most people his age are enjoying retirement, a sprightly 70-year-old, starts his mornings climbing towering coconut trees with the agility of someone half his age.
Barefoot and carrying nothing but a coiled rope and a curved sickle, he scales the swaying palms like it’s second nature—because for him, it is. He’s been harvesting coconuts since he was a boy, learning the craft from his father, who learned it from his own.
With each graceful climb, he brings down clusters of green coconuts, their dull thud on the earth below a reminder of a tradition that endures in rhythm with the land. Villagers stop to watch, still in awe, even after all these years. He grins and shrugs it off: “The trees are my friends. They keep me young.”
His story is a powerful reminder of resilience, tradition, and the beauty of living a life in sync with nature. In his quiet, daily climbs, he carries not just coconuts—but decades of strength, wisdom, and unwavering spirit.