The Tree Leaf that Raised a Wasp

How often do we pause to look beneath a leaf? Have you ever felt curious about the secret lives of insects and how they interact with trees or other creatures? Every tree we pass by holds a secret and a new story waiting to unfold. My story is about one such...
Not Alien, Nor Exotic

Not Alien, Nor Exotic

When I started my PhD research field work, I had to change my shoes until I found a pair of thick-soled leather shoes that would survive the thorns of the Prosopis tree. The thorns were unlike anything I had seen, similar to Acacia, but longer, and extremely easy to...
The Whistle Tree

The Whistle Tree

The delicate light green leaves tremble in the heat, providing much-needed respite from the sun. I stand with my family on the side of the road at the start of our village, looking up at the grandeur of this gnarled old tree. We’re waiting for the bus to go back...
मैं पलाश हूं

मैं पलाश हूं

मैं पलाश हूँ , सदियों से परिंदों के सुकून की तलाश हूँ, मौसमों की पहली पुकार हूँ, और अब, शायद… तुम्हारी याद में खोती जा रही एक आवाज़। में हूं एक पुराना, सीधा-सादा पेड़ — ना ज़्यादा ऊँचा, ना बहुत घना ,पर जब वसंत आता है, तो पूरा जंगल मेरी ओर देखने लगता है। मुझसे कोई...
Flame of the Forest: Sparking passions

Flame of the Forest: Sparking passions

The African Tulip Tree (Spathodea campanulata), nicknamed the “Flame of the Forest”, sparked a fire of curiosity in me during the pandemic.  Living in an apartment and being surrounded by concrete on all sides is a hallmark of our big, bustling metropolitan Indian...