Who is Swami Prem Parivartan, aka ‘Peepal Baba’ and why he is grabbing attention for Delhi-Dehradun expressway
Swami Prem Parivartan, popularly known as Peepal Baba, claims to have planted 40,000 sheesham trees along the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. The environmentalist, who has spent decades planting trees, plans to add another four lakh to the stretch.
Swami Prem Parivartan, commonly known as Peepal Baba, is an environmentalist who has been quietly working to plant trees along the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. The expressway, expected to speed up travel between the two cities, has drawn attention for its scale but Peepal Baba is focusing on a different aspect - reforestation.
What sets Peepal Baba's initiative apart is his method of planting. He and his team work at night, digging and planting saplings before the sun rises. He revealed at the 11th edition of the Himalayan Echoes festival that by 4 o'clock in the morning, they complete the work. Next February 2027, another four lakh trees will be planted.
Born as Swami Prem Parivartan, he started planting trees at the age of 10. His first recorded tree planting was in 1977 at Pune Military Station. He later founded Give Me Trees Trust, an organization that works with volunteers to plant and protect trees across India. Peepal Baba plants not just one, but several native species including banyan, neem, jamun and sheesham trees.
Despite the environmental impact of the expressway, including the removal and transplantation of 17,913 trees, Peepal Baba's work is relevant. He advocates for tree plantation as part of the approach to large infrastructure projects, emphasizing the importance of protecting older trees that can provide shade and ecological benefits for years.
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