"Planting century : the first hundred years of the United Planter's Association of Southern India, 1893-1993"

This is the story of an organisation that celebrated its 100th birthday in September 1993. But before the United Planters' Association of Southern India were the associations which united to give birth to what is now the parent body. And, so, this is their story too.

It is also the story of the men who opened up the wilderness, nurtured new crops and occasionally met in each other's isolated thatched shacks, as much to exchange ideas about their work as to seek Somradeship among their own after weeks of paration in far clearings surrounded by dense jungle. was out of these get-togethers that were born the

sociations and social clubs of the planting districts of the southwesternmost part of India, mainly in and around where now the three states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu meet in verdant mountain ranges that seem to touch the skies midst the swirling mists.

This, then, is the story of those pioneers, their exuberant get-togethers and those sobering moments when they planned as much for future prosperity as present comfort by deciding to found associations and establish social clubs, where, later, they and the associations they had founded could meet.

It is a story of adventure and courage, determination and progress, all of which had been shepherded first by some outstanding individuals, few of whom are remembered today, then by the associations they urged be formed and, finally, by the umbrella association the associations and individual planters created to ensure a better future for everyone connected with planting in Southern India, the United Planters' Association of Southern India.