The Guardians Of The Forest
It’s a regular monsoon day on Neelam Mountain, or so it seems for a group of kids enjoying their last days of middle school. But when they step into the woods, everything changes. Driven by a determination to do the right thing, they venture deeper into the forest, only to face disappearing friends and the eerie mystery of prowling shadows.
What follows is a heart-pounding adventure where they uncover a profound truth—the real danger isn’t the creatures or magical beings in the forest; it’s the humans.
Overview
The story begins with a group of friends soaking up their last days of middle school in a beautiful mountain school. With its lush green lawns, stone buildings, and play areas, it feels like an endless summer day in paradise.
But that afternoon, as they gather for lunch, the dreamy warmth shifts. One of them shares a chilling story: her father swears he saw dark shadows prowling in the nearby forest. The tale lingers in their minds, stirring a mix of curiosity and unease.
Not long after, they find themselves stepping into that very forest, drawn by what seems like a simple task—returning a lost cat to its owner. But the forest has other plans as a thick mist rolls in and two of their friends vanish without a trace. Desperate and worried, they seek help from the cat’s owner—a kind and talented young artist living in the forest. With her help and the assistance from Iniyan, a honey collector from a nearby tribe, the kids navigate hidden trails, uncovering the truth behind the shadows as they race to find their missing friends.
What they discover is more magical and profound than they could have imagined. By the time they emerge from the forest, reunited and forever changed, they’ve gained a deeper bond with their mountain home and a fierce determination to protect it.
This is a heartwarming story of adventure, friendship, and discovering one’s purpose in the most unexpected places—a tale that will inspire you to explore the wonders of nature and become its guardian too.
Inspiration
I wrote The Guardians of the Forest because of the changes I saw in Kodaikanal over the years. When I was a child, tourists would come only during specific seasons—summer and school holidays were the busiest. The rest of the year, the hills felt quiet and peaceful. But as time went on, that changed. Tourists started coming all year round, no matter the month or season.
Even in 2024, with the e-pass system in place, Kodaikanal was still flooded with visitors.
What really struck me was how little awareness many of these visitors had about the ecological importance of the place. I’d often see litter piling up in places that used to be pristine, and it broke my heart. Watching this unfold made me want to write a story—not just to highlight the issue, but to show how important it is for people to be aware of these challenges.
I wanted the story to feature children as the lead characters because I truly believe that they have the power to protect their forests, their land, and their communities. Through The Guardians of the Forest, I hoped to inspire young readers to see themselves as caretakers of this beautiful planet. At the same time, I wanted to remind everyone that tourism also comes with a sense of responsibility—it's not just about enjoying the beauty of nature, but about respecting it and preserving it for many generations to come.
Sing Along!
Did you know that The Guardians of the Forest has songs to sing along to? The book includes two rhythmic songs that will have you tapping your feet as you soak in the marvels of the forest!
The song Forgive Us, Forest, has been beautifully sung by Elan Thomas, a renowned Western music singer. You can listen to her soul-stirring performance by following the link below, and as you do, take a moment to browse through the lyrics.
Enjoy the melody and reflect on the forest's call!
Forgive us forest, forgive us,
Give us another chance.
We'll pick up our trash,
And leave you alone.
The trees and the plants,
The flowers and the birds,
Are all part of one,
As we are of them.
Forgive us forest, forgive us,
Help us break ignorance.
Give us strength and give us courage,
So that we can be one with you again.
Visual Journey
It’s truly an honor to have my second book illustrated by my dear friend Ashlin Sara Paul. What makes the illustrations different from my earlier book The Myth of the Wild Gaur is that they are more complex and nuanced, perfectly capturing the depth of the storyline.
One of the challenges Ashlin faced was illustrating a gender-neutral narrator, and she did it beautifully. It’s amazing to see how her creativity and imagination have perfectly complemented my storyline.
Here are a couple of her beautiful illustrations from the book.
A Note for Parents and Schools
As parents and educators, you’ll find that The Guardians of the Forest is the perfect book to show kids that they are capable of being stewards of change, no matter their age. It encourages them to be thoughtful, kind, and brave, while reminding them that even small actions can make a huge difference.
What makes this book truly special and unique, though, is how it weaves important themes into a story filled with mystery, adventure, and the magical spirits of the forest. Whether you’re reading it at home with your child or sharing it in the classroom, The Guardians of the Forest will motivate kids to think about how they can be guardians of their own locality—and take those first steps toward creating positive change.
Meet A Few Characters
Here’s a glimpse of some of the characters from my book. While there are many more, these few have been carefully chosen to offer you a sneak peek into their world.
The Narrator
The narrator is intentionally not named and does not identify with any specific gender. By keeping the narrator open and relatable, the story invites every child to see themselves as part of the adventure and as a guardian of their environment.
Megham
Megham is one of the most important characters in the book. She has a strong sense of justice, and always stands up for what’s right, even in challenging situations. At the same time, she is also warm-hearted and deeply caring.
Arivan
Arivan is a thoughtful artist and a deep thinker who often sees the world differently. Smart and charming, he brings a sense of balance to the group, showing that strength can come from both action and introspection.
The Shadows
The Shadows in The Guardians of the Forest are mysterious figures whose identities remain hidden until the very end of the book. By keeping their true nature a secret, the story builds a sense of mystery that compels readers to keep turning the pages.
Book Reviews
Murali Sivaramakrishnan
Scholar, Artist and Poet
The Guardians of the Forest is a fictional narrative—replete with school-girlish delight and fun. The writer has not written the book merely as propaganda for environmental preservation. Rather, Priyadarshini has deftly made fiction her handmaiden for promoting love for nature.
Rati Girish
Children’s Book Reviewer
This book is a great read for children 7+ who care about the environment and want to know how they can help in their way. A book that will make them feel empowered and needed in the fight to save the planet.
Shripad D. Kulkarni, Student
Rushikul Vidyalaya, Mumbai
I like the way the author has not only outlined the characters of all the six children with great detail but also precisely filled in each outline with the vibrant colours of their virtues. She has brought to life the children and their personalities as well as the importance of letting forests live along with us.
Author's Notes
Writing The Guardians of the Forest was such an enjoyable experience for me because the school and the forest in the story are real places that I know and love. Being able to describe these familiar spots in the book was a lot of fun, and it made the writing process feel personal and special. I wrote it as if I were the child on the adventure—full of excitement and a sense of wonder.
I really hope this book connects with readers and changes the way we look at hill stations. These places are more than just tourist destinations; they’re our home, too.