They Cut My Memorial Tree, I Fought Back

They cut down my mother’s memorial tree—so I shut down their entire luxury housing project.

When I left for four months to work near the Arctic Circle, the one thing I

trusted would still be standing was the neem tree on my land, planted in my mother’s

name more than sixty-five years ago. After she passed, that tree became my anchor,

the only place where grief felt manageable. While I was gone, a real-estate developer began building glass-front

villas next door, loudly advertising “eco-living” and sustainability. When I returned

in October, the tree was gone—no warning, no consent, just bulldozer tracks

and fresh soil. The site manager claimed they had permits, but the paperwork