The Rewards of Time

The Rewards of Time

The end of a year, or the beginning of another, calls for some reflections on times past and those to look forward to. While ‘new’ means hopes and resolutions, wading through the rest of the worn-out year and the unaccomplished can be taxing, which stands to show why...
The Oak and the Rhododendron

The Oak and the Rhododendron

The Oak and the Rhododendron is a personal reflection of my childhood preference for the vibrant Rhododendron over the seemingly plain Oak tree (Banj or Quercus leucotrichophora) in Pauri Garhwal. As I grew older and studied ecology, I came to appreciate the...
Goa Banyan Project

Goa Banyan Project

Monsoon 2018 marked a significant turning point in my life. Upon returning from my travels to Parra, North Goa, I was confronted with the grave news that a 100-year-old Banyan in my Vaddo had been hacked down without any justified reason. This event awakened a deep...
A Sweet Story

A Sweet Story

On a sunny morning during the lockdown, I was roaming around my home documenting life using the iNaturalist application. Castor plants grow wild and abundant across Bangalore and there was one growing in a small patch of land next to our home. While watching the plant...
My father, the ‘Weed’, and Me

My father, the ‘Weed’, and Me

The Prelude Try to recall something that you know exists in the world around you and assume that it will last forever. A thing which doesn’t necessarily have a physical form; it can be as simple as a feeling and yet resplendent. This story is about such a “thing” in...