When we are asked to name heroes from various walks of life, almost all of us may give the same answers because our school textbooks typically depict the same popular examples—whether it’s scientists, freedom fighters or warriors. While it’s important to learn about them, it’s also essential to learn about common people hidden around and amongst us who endeavour to do uncommon things and are our true local heroes.
Those who take small yet ingenious steps to bring about big changes for a better society and world at large are not always a part of the mainstream narrative. These people inspire us to follow suit and in the process, they encourage a movement to solve the environmental crisis our planet is facing. Planet Protectors—Stories of Green Heroes, written by conservation biologist, journalist and author Bahar Dutt, illustrated by Pankaj Saikia, and published by the Terrapin imprint of TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute), is a book that does just that. It introduces us to the lesser-known green heroes who are out to save our planet and are not often spoken about. Since the content is printed on recycled paper, the book itself is a little green hero in its own right.
The book begins with the sister duo, Ananya and Prakriti, out on an adventure on the backs of Sour Lions to the Land of the Talking Trees, where they hope to learn about how they can save the world using practical ideas. It then introduces us to planet protectors and conservationists like Vijay Jardhari, who started the Beej Bachao Andolan to save traditional varieties of seeds, Afroz Shah, who has worked relentlessly to keep beaches clean, Poonam Bir Kasturi, who promotes sustainability through easy composting solutions, Ananda Kumar who is passionate about working with elephants, among many others.
I particularly liked the stories about Purnima Burman, a conservation biologist from Assam who has set up the Hargilla Army, an all-women’s team to save the critically endangered Greater Adjutant Stork, Samarrth Khanna who, as a sixteen-year-old, created a mini forest, and Biju Bhaskar who has revolutionised architecture using sustainable mud and plant-based materials.
The book ends with a short bio on each of the featured planet protectors and a suggestion or ‘Green Action’ for the reader to implement what they have learned from each one of the green heroes. I feel it’s an interesting addition to keep the young reader engaged beyond the realms of the book. For instance, while introducing Padma Shri Tulsi Gowda, Bahar says, and I quote from the book, ‘Keep a nature journal and note down the names of all the trees close to your home. Note when they bloom with flowers and when they shed their leaves. This way, you can create your very own plant encyclopaedia!’
Bahar has kept the chapter size short and crisp for six-year-olds. The double-spread illustrations are trademark Pankaj Saikia: bold, colourful, and expressive.
The book would have certainly benefited from closer editing—the inconsistencies across the stories could have been better addressed. To give an example, while the stories of Afroz Shah and Poonam Bir Kasturi are written in verse, the rest are written in prose. I feel the book would have read a lot better if the stories were either set in verse or prose, thus keeping the voice consistent.
The intent of the book is appreciable—now, more than ever, we need more green heroes to protect our planet. Pick Planet Protectors if you like a big hardbound book with vibrant double-spread illustrations and if you want to be like the hidden green heroes around you who are quietly making this planet a better place while we go about our lives.
Vaishali Shroff is an award-winning children’s author who loves writing about unexplored places, untold histories, unsung people, and unheard nonhumans. 10 Indian Scientists Whose Extraordinary Work You May Not Know, Taatung Tatung, Ganesh Pyne’s Twilight Dreams, and Meera Mukherjee: Breaking Moulds are some of her latest releases.
