Gippy Grewal and Gurpreet Ghuggi Back Regreening Punjab: Trees Are Our Ancestors
They were joined by their ‘Ardaas…’ co-stars Jasmin Bhasin and Kanwaljeet Singhin planting trees during a drive organized by Roundglass Foundation in Patiala
In a remarkable show of support for the environment, renowned Punjabi actor and singer Gippy Grewal, along with the cast of his upcoming film ArdaasSarbat De Bhale Di, joined Roundglass Foundation in a plantation drive today at Kalyan village in Patiala to create a mini forest with 10,000 trees on a barren patch of land. The event was a part of Roundglass Foundation’s ongoing commitment to regreening Punjab through The Billion Tree Project, which aims to plant 1 billion trees in the state by 2035 and has planted 2.5 million so far.
The initiative, filled with purpose and hope, saw Ardaas… stars Jasmin Bhasin, Gurpreet Ghuggi, and Kanwaljeet Singh plant trees alongside Gippy Grewal, in support of the Foundation’s efforts to create a sustainable future for Punjab.
Gippy Grewal, deeply connected to Punjab’s rural culture and environment, expressed his admiration for the Roundglass Foundation’s work: "The kind of native trees we are planting here today are hard to find anywhere else because they have vanished from Punjab. I want to congratulate Roundglass Foundation for the amazing work they are doing, and this is for all of us, we all will benefit from these trees. I mean just look around, there are hardly any trees left, it’s getting so difficult to breathe! We are really glad that we came here today and could support this work. As artists, we are always ready to associate with causes that have a deep resonance with the community and our wellbeing.” Grewal added that his next film is on a related subject and that he got to know about the Roundglass Foundation’s work while doing research for his film.
GurpreetGhuggi, a renowned actor and producer, who supports various social and environmental causes came out strongly in support of The Billion Tree Project under which 2.5 million native trees have been planted in Punjab. “Your organization is doing this work brilliantly,” said Ghuggi and drew the audience’s attention to the fact that “how trees are always there for us, they are our ancestors, but we don’t bat an eyelid before chopping down a 150-year-old tree to create parking for our car”. “The younger generation would not have heard the names of the trees that are being planted here, likegular, pilkhan, pilu, van, and kareer. These native trees have disappeared from Punjab and the Roundglass Foundation had to source their seeds from Rajasthan. It is our collective responsibility to save the environment, and I urge everyone to plant trees to mark different occasions in life…the birth of a child or when a loved one passes away.”
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JasminBhasin said that she actively followed Round Glass Foundation’s work on social media and is happy to extend her time and support for any future collaborations.
Interestingly, the film Ardaas… shares a unique connection with Round Glass Foundation’s work. The film explores themes of rural life, challenges, and resilience in Punjab’s villages. Just as the characters in the movie find solutions for the betterment of their communities, Roundglass Foundation is working on the ground to improve the well-being of people and communities in 2,100+ villages in Punjab through its on-the-ground programmes.
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Vishal Chowla, Leader of Roundglass Foundation, thanked the Ardaas… team and expressed his gratitude for their support."Their presence here is a recognition of the positive impact we’re making through The Billion Tree Project, and we’re incredibly grateful for their support. Together, we are creating global models for social change that will champion the cause of environment and sustainability, along with youth development and women empowerment.Every tree planted is a step towards a healthier, more sustainable Punjab, and I request everyone to join us on this journey."
The Roundglass Foundation’s Billion Tree Project is more than just planting trees. It is a comprehensive science-backed programme focused on restoring ecosystems, improving groundwater levels, and enhancing biodiversity by focusing on planting native species. So far, the Mohali-based NGO has planted over 2.5 million trees in more than 1,400 villages across Punjab while creating over 12,000 jobs under the government’s MGNREGA scheme.
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The work being done by Roundglass Foundation is getting noticed worldwide and is garnering attention and support from some of the top celebrities. Global sensation DiljitDosanjh visited one of our plantation sites and showered support for The Billion Tree Project. His co-star and Punjabi superstar NeeruBajwa and former VJ and singer Raageshwari also visited us and lent support to our plantation work. Additionally, almost 100 Punjabi celebrities such as Ammy Virk, Sargun Mehta, NimratKhaira, SimmiChahal and GurnazarChatth joined our social media campaign to associate with The Billion Tree Project and, in turn, we planted 500 trees under each celebrity’s name.