Voices in the Wilderness: Contemporary Wildlife Writings
Edited by Prerna Singh Bindra
Published by Rupa
“A sample of the best and most lucid writings on India’s wildlife, put together by a leading practitioner of ecological journalism….A commendable effort and a book that will reach out to all, wildlife enthusiast and layperson alike.”
Mahesh Rangarajan
Researcher, author and historian
Voices in the Wilderness: Contemporary Wildlife Writings brings together over twenty distinguished figures in the field—naturalists, scientists, authors, whose writings paint a vivid picture of India’s amazing wildlife, from the charismatic tiger to the ‘lowly’ caterpillar. The spectrum of articles and essays are almost as varied as the country’s biodiversity—all reflecting a deep knowledge of and love for the subject. The collection carries an undertone of conservation, but is essentially a celebration of India’s fascinating wildlife that will appeal not just to wildlife enthusiasts but also acquaint the uninitiated to the joys and mysteries of nature.
Authors in this anthology include FW Champion, M Krishnan, Kailash Sankhala, Peter Jackson, Tom Alter, Dhriti Lahiri Choudhary, Ullas Karanth, Valmik Thapar, Ranjit Lal, Janaki Lenin, Bittu Sahgal, Bikram Grewal, Ruskin Bond, Shekar Dattatri, Theodore Bhskaran, Joanna Van Gruisen among others
In Voices in the Wilderness, Prerna Singh Bindra has put together an eclectic mix of essays from some of India’s best known wildlifers/writers. The 22 chapters take the reader through the length and breadth of India from Point Calimere to the icy Himalayan mountain ranges and across a wide variety of habitats—from rain forests and mangroves to marine habitats and mass nesting beaches. The essays of most authors are peppered with some pulsating narratives on wildlife encounters and anecdotes that are rooted in their intense personal experiences of working up close with wildlife in varied habitats. The reader will enjoy the sheer diversity of species that the narrative vividly illustrates, and as Prerna in her introduction puts it, ‘a celebration of our wilds.” The editor has, in this edition, attempted to bring the ‘voice of the voiceless’ which is well worth a read.
Praveen Bhargav, Wildlife First (in http://www.conservationindia.org/)