Hundreds of mangoes loom overhead, dangling from a canopy of trees like misshapen, glowing orbs. What’s special is that over 300 distinct breeds of mangoes are present in this one tree. Some may find this tree moderately interesting, while others might consider it the source of a delicious snack—but one person will consider it the basis and foundation of life itself. His name is Kaleem Ullah Khan.
Khan, a poet, philosopher, and scientist, was dubbed the “Mango Man” and has grown a sincere fondness for the fruit. Some of his work includes crossbreeding types of mangoes by tying together pieces of separate mango trees for new tissue to grow.
In 2008, Khan was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors, for his work with mangoes. Although Khan received little education throughout his life, scientists are impressed by his ability to breed entirely unique species of mangoes. Even the presidential palace in New Delhi desired his trees. Khan said he was shocked “that a tree from a small man, the soil from this small place, Malihabad” would reach the President.
Khan’s experiments with mangoes started with his father, who worked at a tree nursery. As a teenager, he momentarily stayed in his grandmother’s village, growing mango saplings and grafting branches. After reaching his 40s, he started taking the work more seriously. Eventually, he bred more than 300 variants on a single mango tree that was over 120 years old.
In addition to grafting mangoes, Khan studies their healing properties. He believes that the fruit’s juice, flesh, and flower can aid those with fatigue, erectile dysfunction, or even heart disease. After spending so much time with the mango tree, Khan’s affection and obsession show. “We come, we eat mangoes, and we leave the world, but as long as the world is there, this fruit will be there,” Khan said.
Khan’s appreciation for his tree is one of the factors that makes him so remarkable and successful. Even after he leaves the world, the tree will continue to thrive because of his care. “Sometimes, the tree asks me questions — and I sit up and think about them,” Khan said. “It leaves me restless — what does it want? I think about the questions for hours.”
To Khan, he is simply an old man with his old tree, but to the rest of the world, he is much more.
Khan, a poet, philosopher, and scientist, was dubbed the “Mango Man” and has grown a sincere fondness for the fruit. Some of his work includes crossbreeding types of mangoes by tying together pieces of separate mango trees for new tissue to grow.
In 2008, Khan was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors, for his work with mangoes. Although Khan received little education throughout his life, scientists are impressed by his ability to breed entirely unique species of mangoes. Even the presidential palace in New Delhi desired his trees. Khan said he was shocked “that a tree from a small man, the soil from this small place, Malihabad” would reach the President.
Khan’s experiments with mangoes started with his father, who worked at a tree nursery. As a teenager, he momentarily stayed in his grandmother’s village, growing mango saplings and grafting branches. After reaching his 40s, he started taking the work more seriously. Eventually, he bred more than 300 variants on a single mango tree that was over 120 years old.
In addition to grafting mangoes, Khan studies their healing properties. He believes that the fruit’s juice, flesh, and flower can aid those with fatigue, erectile dysfunction, or even heart disease. After spending so much time with the mango tree, Khan’s affection and obsession show. “We come, we eat mangoes, and we leave the world, but as long as the world is there, this fruit will be there,” Khan said.
Khan’s appreciation for his tree is one of the factors that makes him so remarkable and successful. Even after he leaves the world, the tree will continue to thrive because of his care. “Sometimes, the tree asks me questions — and I sit up and think about them,” Khan said. “It leaves me restless — what does it want? I think about the questions for hours.”
To Khan, he is simply an old man with his old tree, but to the rest of the world, he is much more.
