Certain trees have stood well beyond their botanical existence as emblems of profound human experience and milestones. Amongst them, an apple tree inspired Isaac Newton to formulate his theory of gravity and a peepal tree under which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment. These iconic trees continue to stand as a living testimony to pivotal moments in history. Come to think of any tree, it stands as a living testimony at the juncture of both science and spirituality, and ecology and eternity. Who else would have known it better than Peepal Baba, who got a popular identity for his relentless campaign in planting and nurturing millions of trees over past five decades. Ghosts on Peepal Trees is the memoir of Swami Prem Parivartan, alias Peepal Baba, which offers an absorbing tutorial on every aspect of tree, from seed to shade.
Drawn from handwritten notes and scattered observations written over years , the author pools together the stories of his intense engagement with a wide diversity of trees in his journey across country’s 21 states and 226 districts. Under the aegis of Give Me Trees, a movement has been generated as an act of eco-philosophy – ‘we inhale what the trees exhale, and humans live because trees exist’. Not without reason the trees exist long before humans and may do so till all lifeform persists. With a background in literature, the author’s curiosity of living things got rhythmic observation.
At such times when development juggernaut accounts for chopping trees to erect concrete jungles, planting and nurturing trees can be a humble vocation that can be rightfully pursued by able-bodied individuals. But it is not a simple timepass but a vocation that connects science with spirituality. Ghosts on Peepal Tree is more than a memoir; it is a transformative narrative that connects and inspires. It educates the reader that a tree is a living piece of ecological infrastructure, that offers free climate regulation and biodiverse services.
While the peepal as a tree is revered all across, the awe for the species is based on scientific facts. It is perhaps the only tree species that emits oxygen during night. Unlike other trees, the peepal doesn’t rest. A special adaptation measure called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism helps absorb carbon dioxide during night. As the sun rises the next day, this stored carbon dioxide is used for photosynthesis. This makes peepal scientifically extraordinary, a keystone species in tropical ecosystem. In addition, it absorbs as much as 20 kilograms of carbon dioxide during the year and releases no less than 300 liters of oxygen daily. Not only that, but this tree is also distinct for its ability that combines three types of rooting systems that makes it a living cathedral of wood and wisdom, sustaining under diverse situations.
Influenced by the teachings of Osho, the author dismantles many myths around trees with logically argued facts. It celebrates trees as natural creativity. The myth about ghosts on peepal were actually lessons in how faith protects forests. It further proves how simple acts of care protects trees, even when there no formal mechanism or structure to do so. These messages reach out to millions through the author’s social media platforms.
Ghosts on Peepal Trees is a veritable treatise on trees, that cultivates empathy and sensitivity towards trees. Walking under the canopy of trees, little gets realized that one is walking under a cathedral of oxygen. Each story in the book reads like a research paper. It connects with the virtues of trees and inspires reader into the act of raising trees. It is an experiential writing at its best which educates and inspires. It is more than a book of stories.
The stories in the book are symbols of our existence, woven through our culture, scriptures, myths and memories. At this time when greens are restricted on our computer screens, reading stories in Ghosts on Peepal Trees helps us fall in love with greens and biodiversity, to take small steps that generate greenery. In authors own words: ‘It is a memoir of exploration, of ghosts and angels, of trees and teachers, and of the quiet miracle of existence’.
by Peepal Baba
Ebury/Penguin RandomHouse, New Delhi.
Extent: 296, Price: Rs.399.
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