An illustrated book offers a closer look at the universe, planet and evolution of life

Imagine a book that helps you take a trip 13.8 billion years ago to know how the Universe was born, life emerged, how humans changed everything, why the planet is hurting and what we can do to bring in small, positive changes.

The book Soul Forest And the Children Who Heard the Earth’s Secrets helps readers explore the planet through playful chapters consisting of 50 short stories and illustrations. Written by Sathya Raghu V Mokkapati and illustrated by Ramesh Manickavel, this Penguin publication was launched recently.

Book for all

While this ‘part story, part science and part manifesto’ narrative in a dialogue format focuses on hilarious conversations between the father Sathya and his two children Virat and Ira, the book is an attempt to make kids and adults see ‘earth not as the background noise but the main character.’ “The book is an inter-generational read for parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren and the child within you,” says Sathya.

Sathya, CEO and co-founder of Soul Forest, an organisation that works towards converting barren lands into thriving eco-systems, is also the co-founder of Hyderabad-based agri start-up Kheyti. The book’s backstory started when Kheyti’s Greenhouse-in-a-box solution won the 2022 Earthshot Prize. This former chartered accountant and TED speaker wondered whether what they know and do was enough. The curiosity got him to read around 50 books and hundreds of articles on climate change and biodiversity crisis and also explore what others are doing in the climate change space. “I went to the start — the Big Bang theory and Supernova to understand origin of the Earth. I also met many people and asked a basic question: “What do you mean when you say climate is changing because climate always changes.”

Stories to spark conversations

While the research took a couple of years, he wove stories from his reflections to answer questions of his inquisitive children. As he wrote his own journal, the subject seemed a lot more interdisciplinary than he had expected and his friends encouraged him to write a book.

Once he decided on framing the book as a conversation with his children, the work became serious. “People enjoy conversations not lectures. Stories build culture, which in turn helps us to build what we value. Once we have a shared recognition of what we value, we will protect it, go all out to fight for it and celebrate it. The book is an attempt to tell the stories, the secrets of Earth in a way that creates the seed for the forest to grow.”

For Sathya, a connect with Nature is a connect with one’s ancestors, which includes not just one’s forefathers but also the Earth, animals, rocks and plants. “We need to recognise that we belong to them and carry a part of them. This recognition has to be cultural involving families where one finds a spark of connection, a sense of belonging with Nature.”

Creative process

From writing 10 hours during weekends to following ‘building a startup’ approach helped him navigate the creative process. The story, however, is incomplete without illustrations by Ramesh Manickavel, a seasoned programme management leader and security champion at Broadcom Inc, Hyderabad. Ramesh supports the education of underprivileged children and creates opportunities for youth development through his foundation — Anand Memorial Trust. Says Sathya, “No instructions or requirements were given to Ramesh. His heartfelt sketches brought so much life to the book.”

From having many questions at the start to having a nuanced perspective at the end, Sathya calls the journey transformative. “Once people recognise their roots as Nature, they will value it.”

Soul Forest And the Children Who Heard the Earth’s Secrets, ₹499, is available online and at bookstores.