Blog
Roots of Resilience
There is an emptiness outside my house – not just on the earth where the Arjuna tree once stood but in my life, in my thoughts. I didn’t think I would miss it this much. But I still find myself glancing that way every day, especially in the afternoons, expecting to...
Monsoon Chronicles: One Tree, Two Insects, and a Few Unanswered Questions
Every year, as the first monsoon showers sweep across Mumbai, something quietly stirs in the landscape around me. The streets grow darker, the air gets heavy with petrichor, and familiar trees start to put on their seasonal show. One such tree is Kaim (Mitragyna...
A memory-laden Tree
The tree can very easily be missed. It is common-looking. A tough, rough trunk and leaves shaped very typically, just like leaves from a child’s drawing. But when this tree flowers, the tiny white dainties with an even smaller orange stalk take centre stage,...
Why I Might Have Written ‘The Trees Told Me So’
People often ask me why I wrote The Trees Told Me So (2017). I wish I had a grand, romantic story to tell — something with butterflies in the stomach or a dramatic turning point. But I don't. What I do have are smaller, quieter truths. As a child, I remember...
Nature’s Magic
Banyan tree A magic machine, a friend, hope, and faith As if a green canopy with the sun, moon, and twinkling stars. As if it were a dream where a bird was peeking and pecking on the branches, Sliding and hiding. Leaping and falling from the blue as if stitching...
Dew Drops on the Rain Tree and Powderpuff Tree
If you ever happen to visit Kamla Nehru Park at Malabar Hill in the heart of Mumbai City, then do take in the magic of the scores of lush trees that bade you to marvel at their vibrant splendour. Each is unique in its characteristic personalities. But two trees...
The Elephant Apple Tree in Northeast India
A beautiful tree with a light brown trunk and large oval leaves. Each leaf with prominent veins and dark green colour- just like the artwork by a young child holding the sketch-pen for the first time! The flowers have much sophisticated colour combination- the bowl...
One tree. Many stories!
The African Tulip tree - Spathodea campanulata, in our community garden, is such a lively and happening place throughout the day. The bright reddish orange flowers, contrasting beautifully with the green leaves, make a pretty picture. The tree glistens brightly in...
The Oak and the Jay: A Seasonal Friendship That Keeps Forests Alive
In the peaceful woodlands of Europe, a beautiful story unfolds every year — a seasonal friendship between the sturdy oak tree and a clever, colourful bird known as the Eurasian jay. It’s a natural partnership that has quietly helped forests grow and thrive for...
बहाव्याची पानं आणि सुरवंटाच येणं
पावसाळा आला की सगळ्याच सृष्टीची मरगळ संपते, सर्वत्र हिरवाई आणि झाडांना नवसंजीवनी मिळून ती अधिक जोमाने वाढतात. मग यातच नव्याने सहजीवन सुरू होतं. नव्या नव्या रोपट्यांवर नवे जीव जन्म घेतात, काही पक्षी परतून परत घरटी बांधतात. रान फुले, गवत यावर भिरभिरणारी सुंदर...
Monty and the Holey Leaves
Once upon a time, in a lush rainforest, lived a curious little seedling named Monty. Unlike her siblings, Monty's leaves weren't smooth and round. They were bumpy and strange, with little holes scattered all over them. "Why am I so different?" she wondered, looking...
The Neem Tree – A Quiet Giant in Our Lives
Did you peek out at the greenery outside your window this morning? Or glance at the tree beside your bus stand while waiting for the bus to take you to work? Chances are, your answer might be “maybe… not sure.” But if you did, you may have noticed that in many...