From Soup to superstar (2015) is a narrative history of sea turtle conservation in India, and was supported by a New India Foundation fellowship. Lori's Magical Mystery, a novel for children was published in 2017 with artwork by Prabha Mallya. Two illustrated children's stories, featuring Maya Ramaswamy's marvellous artwork, have been published by Pratham Books, both translated into multiple Indian languages. A third book, Moonlight in the sea, with spectacular illustrations by Prabha Mallya, was published in 2018.
From soup to superstar: the story of sea turtle conservation along the Indian coast. HarperCollins, 2015.
Sea turtles have been part of trade, folklore and mythology for over 2,000 years. In India, there were large- and small-scale turtle fisheries in Odisha and the Gulf of Mannar, while eggs and meat were consumed along the rest of the coast. Since the 1970s, several conservation programmes have been led in these regions by naturalists, scientists, activists and concerned citizens with diverse, often conflicting, approaches.
From Soup to Superstar provides the first comprehensive account of marine conservation in India, focusing on sea turtles. Bringing together a range of issues and actors that have affected the world of sea turtles, filled with fascinating insights into scientific research and human-animal ecologies, this is a chronicle of the efforts that have been made to protect these mysterious creatures in the last fifty years. See reviews.
Sea turtles have been part of trade, folklore and mythology for over 2,000 years. In India, there were large- and small-scale turtle fisheries in Odisha and the Gulf of Mannar, while eggs and meat were consumed along the rest of the coast. Since the 1970s, several conservation programmes have been led in these regions by naturalists, scientists, activists and concerned citizens with diverse, often conflicting, approaches.
From Soup to Superstar provides the first comprehensive account of marine conservation in India, focusing on sea turtles. Bringing together a range of issues and actors that have affected the world of sea turtles, filled with fascinating insights into scientific research and human-animal ecologies, this is a chronicle of the efforts that have been made to protect these mysterious creatures in the last fifty years. See reviews.
Marine turtles of the Indian subcontinent (Edited by Kartik Shanker and BC Choudhury). Universities Press, 2006.
This book documents the results of surveys carried out under a national sea turtle project support by the Government of India and UNDP. It includes status surveys along the east and west coasts of the Indian mainland, the Lakshadweep archipelago and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It also provides overviews of the status of marine turtles in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. There is a review of fishery-related issues, including causes and effects of incidental mortality and potential solutions like turtle excluder devices as well as reviews of conservation efforts and legislation and international instruments pertaining to marine turtles. There are also accounts of research on the biology of marine turtles and efforts to conserve their habitats. It includes contributions from leading experts in the ecology and conservation of marine turtles from India and abroad: contributors include Bivash Pandav, Biswajit Mohanty, Jack Frazier, Belinda Wright, Rom Whitaker, among others.
This book documents the results of surveys carried out under a national sea turtle project support by the Government of India and UNDP. It includes status surveys along the east and west coasts of the Indian mainland, the Lakshadweep archipelago and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It also provides overviews of the status of marine turtles in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh. There is a review of fishery-related issues, including causes and effects of incidental mortality and potential solutions like turtle excluder devices as well as reviews of conservation efforts and legislation and international instruments pertaining to marine turtles. There are also accounts of research on the biology of marine turtles and efforts to conserve their habitats. It includes contributions from leading experts in the ecology and conservation of marine turtles from India and abroad: contributors include Bivash Pandav, Biswajit Mohanty, Jack Frazier, Belinda Wright, Rom Whitaker, among others.
Children's fiction
Lori's Magical Mystery (illustrations by Prabha Mallya). Penguin, 2017.
When Lori, a curious and wide-eyed slender loris, spies a bewildering cat-like figure in the fading light of the evening, she instantly becomes obsessed with finding out what it is. So she teams up with her friend Don Wrongo, the crafty racket-tailed drongo, to look for the elusive animal.
Along the way, they recruit the wiles of M. Owli, the non-musical delights of a mob of mynahs, the gossipy banter of Mina Mouse, the faithful love of Kau’a, the wisdom of Vij the all-knowing turtle, the fury of Baba Brown, the—the—Oh, for the love of gordonflies! Who’s not in this book?
Packed with eccentric creatures and heart-stopping turns, Lori’s great big romp is a little look at friendship and self-discovery—and the power of adventure.
When Lori, a curious and wide-eyed slender loris, spies a bewildering cat-like figure in the fading light of the evening, she instantly becomes obsessed with finding out what it is. So she teams up with her friend Don Wrongo, the crafty racket-tailed drongo, to look for the elusive animal.
Along the way, they recruit the wiles of M. Owli, the non-musical delights of a mob of mynahs, the gossipy banter of Mina Mouse, the faithful love of Kau’a, the wisdom of Vij the all-knowing turtle, the fury of Baba Brown, the—the—Oh, for the love of gordonflies! Who’s not in this book?
Packed with eccentric creatures and heart-stopping turns, Lori’s great big romp is a little look at friendship and self-discovery—and the power of adventure.
Moonlight in the sea (illustrations by Prabha Mallya). Dakshin Foundation, 2018.
Fatima grows up on an idyllic island in the Lakshadweep, watched over by Nihla, the moon. She falls in love with the underwater world of colourful corals, fascinating fish, mysterious manta rays, grizzled old turtles and dancing dolphins. One day, in a terrible storm, she gets lost at sea.
Join Fatima on her incredible adventure on remote islands with wonderful marine creatures.
Fatima grows up on an idyllic island in the Lakshadweep, watched over by Nihla, the moon. She falls in love with the underwater world of colourful corals, fascinating fish, mysterious manta rays, grizzled old turtles and dancing dolphins. One day, in a terrible storm, she gets lost at sea.
Join Fatima on her incredible adventure on remote islands with wonderful marine creatures.
The Adventures of Philautus Frog (illustrations by Maya Ramaswamy). Pratham Books, 2015.
Philautus, the little tree frog wants to see the wide blue sea, so far away from his home on Big Tree, in the middle of forest. Take a magnificent trek with Philautus across the Western Ghats teeming with creatures that are funny, fat and fascinating. Seasoned with humour, this lush book reveals the splendours of the wild through a compelling tale.
See reviews
Philautus, the little tree frog wants to see the wide blue sea, so far away from his home on Big Tree, in the middle of forest. Take a magnificent trek with Philautus across the Western Ghats teeming with creatures that are funny, fat and fascinating. Seasoned with humour, this lush book reveals the splendours of the wild through a compelling tale.
See reviews
Turtle Story (illustrations by Maya Ramaswamy). Pratham Books, 2005.
The first of the Nature Series , the book is a first person narrative by a young hatchling turtle is as charming as it is illuminating. The narrative takes the reader through the entire life cycle of an Olive Ridley, and also introduces him to several other species of turtle in the sea. The beautiful illustrations transport the reader into an underwater world of coral reefs and jellyfish, red crabs and predatory sharks.
The first of the Nature Series , the book is a first person narrative by a young hatchling turtle is as charming as it is illuminating. The narrative takes the reader through the entire life cycle of an Olive Ridley, and also introduces him to several other species of turtle in the sea. The beautiful illustrations transport the reader into an underwater world of coral reefs and jellyfish, red crabs and predatory sharks.
Other fiction
Terra Nova was initiated as a magazine on Nature and Culture, published by MIT Press. The magazine became a book series, the first of which was a collection called 'The New Earth Reader: the best of Terra Nova', and the second was 'Writing on Water'. Both featured essays, interviews, short stories and poems on a
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range of topics. The New Earth Reader contains many fascinating stories, including that of DB Cooper, who carried out the only unsolved plane hijack ever. Also, the real story of what we know today as the Chief Seattle speech. My short stories 'The Scenic Route' and 'Blue Moon Tide' appear in the two collections.
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