A botanical illustration by Nirupa Rao. From ‘Pillars of Life: Magnificent trees of the Western Ghats’ by Divya Mudappa & T. R. Shankar Raman, featuring botanical illustrations by Nirupa Rao and sketches by Sartaj Ghuman, with a foreword by Pradip Krishen (Published July 2018, Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore).
A Naturalist on the Prowl: Or, in the Jungle (1905) by Edward Hamilton Aitken
Set in the mid-British era in India, this classic revolves around observations on simple natural beings that are part of the wild and the urban environs even today. Brought to life by the author in true British humour with an Indian flavour, Aitken keeps the reader captivated all along. Every chapter is unique, every observation is pertinent, bringing the subject alive in a way very few writers of natural history can. A reprint of this seminal book, among other works by Aitken, was brought out by Ruskin Bond a few years ago.
—Nirmal Kulkarni, wildlife photographer & herpetologist
The Invention of Nature: The Adventures of Alexander von Humboldt, the Lost Hero of Science (2015) by Andrea Wulf
Reading this book gave me a conclusive answer to trite (yet irresistible) questions like: Name one person, dead or alive, who you would like to invite to dinner? Never will I waste another moment reconsidering — my answer will always be Alexander von Humboldt. Wulf’s biography swept me along on this 18th-century explorer’s adventures, as he charted the course of the river Orinoco, ascended Andean peaks, and hurtled through the Russian steppes. It has the spirit of a Tintin comic, but it’s the depth of Humboldt’s musings on nature as a singular entity poured over stones, plants, animals and humankind, that really captivated me. It remains thrillingly progressive, even today.
—Nirupa Rao, botanical illustrator
Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human (2009) by Richard Wrangham
I’ve always been intrigued about how the concept of cooking came about. This is a comprehensive read to understand how it was fire that played a pivotal role for the human species to learn how to cook. It also provides a sociocultural perspective, focuses on gender roles, and explains why cooking is a social activity. It is almost like the theory of human evolution, and still so relevant to our current eating patterns.
—Prateek Sadhu, Executive Chef, Masque Restaurant, Mumbai
The Sense of Wonder (1965) by Rachel Carson
I have read and re-read this book often over the years. Carson probably began writing it as an essay, but it turned into one of the finest award-winning books on nature, emerging as a result of walks with her nephew Roger along the wild coast of Maine. These words of hers — dedicated to the protection of both children and nature — changed the course of my life: “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.”
—Bittu Sahgal, Editor, Sanctuary Asia
A botanical illustration by Nirupa Rao. From ‘Pillars of Life: Magnificent trees of the Western Ghats’ by Divya Mudappa & T. R. Shankar Raman, featuring botanical illustrations by Nirupa Rao and sketches by Sartaj Ghuman, with a foreword by Pradip Krishen (Published July 2018, Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore).
A Naturalist on the Prowl: Or, in the Jungle (1905) by Edward Hamilton Aitken
Set in the mid-British era in India, this classic revolves around observations on simple natural beings that are part of the wild and the urban environs even today. Brought to life by the author in true British humour with an Indian flavour, Aitken keeps the reader captivated all along. Every chapter is unique, every observation is pertinent, bringing the subject alive in a way very few writers of natural history can. A reprint of this seminal book, among other works by Aitken, was brought out by Ruskin Bond a few years ago.
—Nirmal Kulkarni, wildlife photographer & herpetologist
The Invention of Nature: The Adventures of Alexander von Humboldt, the Lost Hero of Science (2015) by Andrea Wulf
Reading this book gave me a conclusive answer to trite (yet irresistible) questions like: Name one person, dead or alive, who you would like to invite to dinner? Never will I waste another moment reconsidering — my answer will always be Alexander von Humboldt. Wulf’s biography swept me along on this 18th-century explorer’s adventures, as he charted the course of the river Orinoco, ascended Andean peaks, and hurtled through the Russian steppes. It has the spirit of a Tintin comic, but it’s the depth of Humboldt’s musings on nature as a singular entity poured over stones, plants, animals and humankind, that really captivated me. It remains thrillingly progressive, even today.
—Nirupa Rao, botanical illustrator
Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human (2009) by Richard Wrangham
I’ve always been intrigued about how the concept of cooking came about. This is a comprehensive read to understand how it was fire that played a pivotal role for the human species to learn how to cook. It also provides a sociocultural perspective, focuses on gender roles, and explains why cooking is a social activity. It is almost like the theory of human evolution, and still so relevant to our current eating patterns.
—Prateek Sadhu, Executive Chef, Masque Restaurant, Mumbai
The Sense of Wonder (1965) by Rachel Carson
I have read and re-read this book often over the years. Carson probably began writing it as an essay, but it turned into one of the finest award-winning books on nature, emerging as a result of walks with her nephew Roger along the wild coast of Maine. These words of hers — dedicated to the protection of both children and nature — changed the course of my life: “If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.”
—Bittu Sahgal, Editor, Sanctuary Asia
