Penguin Random House India marked World Environment Day on June 5 with the publication of a special book and a related environmental initiative. Ebury Press, an imprint of PRH India, published “Ghosts on Peepal Trees: My Journey from Folktales to Forests” by Swami Prem Parivartan, widely known as Peepal Baba. At the same time, the company organized a tree-planting drive in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR). According to the company, the initiative was carried out in partnership with Give Me Trees, the organization founded by Parivartan that has grown into one of India’s largest community-based tree-planting and conservation movements.
One hundred trees planted in Delhi NCR
“Ghosts on Peepal Trees” is the memoir of Peepal Baba, one of India’s most respected environmentalists, whose work with his team has led to the planting and preservation of more than 26 million trees across the country. The book traces his journey from childhood memories and his first tree-planting efforts at age eleven to a lifelong commitment to forests, faith, ecology, and community-led conservation. It is a reflective and deeply personal account of how stories, memories, and simple acts of care can inspire long-term environmental stewardship.
“We have overdrawn our ecological bank account for decades,” said Peepal Baba, who reaches millions through his social media platforms and talks on conservation. “Rising seas, burning forests, and disappearing birds are the reminders. Planting trees is not charity to nature – it is repayment of a debt we owe.”
To coincide with the book’s release, PRH India, together with Peepal Baba and Give Me Trees, planted 100 trees in a forest area in Delhi NCR. According to the company, the initiative is part of its ongoing corporate responsibility and sustainability efforts and reflects its broader commitment to promoting environmental awareness through both publishing and direct action.
‘Environmental change is built through sustained, collective action’
Manoj Satti, Senior Vice President Sales, Product and Marketing at Penguin Random House India, said: “We are proud to publish ‘Ghosts on Peepal Trees’ and to partner with Peepal Baba and Give Me Trees on an initiative that reflects the spirit of this important book. Peepal Baba’s life and work remind us that environmental change is built through sustained, collective action, often beginning with something as simple and powerful as planting a tree. It is meaningful for us to help bring his message to readers across the country while also supporting his work on the ground through this tree-planting initiative.”
‘Giving back to the environment in practical, measurable ways’
According to Penguin Random House India, the company has carried out a range of tree-planting and sustainability-focused initiatives over the years and continues to make its publishing operations more environmentally responsible. This includes a commitment to printing books on environmentally friendly paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. More than 90 percent of the paper currently used is sourced from certified mills, and the company is continuing its transition toward using 100 percent recycled paper in book production.
“As a publishing house, we are deeply aware of our relationship with paper and the responsibility that comes with it,” said Aditi Kumar, Executive Vice President People, Diversity and Corporate Responsibility at Penguin Random House India. “Our corporate responsibility initiatives are guided by the belief that sustainability must be reflected not only in the books we publish, but also in the choices we make as a business. This tree-planting initiative is part of our ongoing effort to give back to the environment in practical, measurable ways, while strengthening our long-term commitment to more responsible publishing.”
