With improved technology and a much greater appetite among the young for books to remind them of the wonderful biosphere in which they live, it is heartening to see how many new, high-quality publications are emerging from within India. Here are four books that Sanctuary believes should be in every public library and in the homes of all those whose hearts beat to nature’s drum.
Tales From Kanha
By Katie Bagli
Published by The Corbett Foundation
Soft cover, 125 pages
Available to read online for free https://bit.ly/4avwo6p
Kanha is the crown jewel of central India’s vast, ethereal forests, home to an array of endangered flora and fauna. Notably, it has played a pivotal role in bringing the barasingha, the 12-horned swamp deer, back from the brink of extinction, and has been a key stronghold for Project Tiger. For wildlife enthusiasts, it is a dream destination, particularly for those who grew up enchanted by Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 childhood classic The Jungle Book, set against the backdrop of central India’s wilderness.
However, beyond its natural splendour, Kanha is also a landscape where Indigenous tribal communities co-exist with the wild. In Tales from Kanha, a collection of short stories, award-winning children’s author and nature writer Katie Bagli offers a unique window into their culture, traditions, and beliefs, with a conservation twist.
The book portrays the lives of the Baiga, Pardhi, and Gond tribes, weaving them seamlessly into the fabric of Kanha’s wildlife, trees, mahua, tattoos, and all its biodiversity. With her wit and deft storytelling, Katie Bagli uses these short stories not only to celebrate their culture but also to dispel the many superstitions, taboos, and myths that often cloud the lives of people within Kanha and beyond.
While sincerely appreciating the rule of the land and the tribal way of life, with its rich veil of mystery, the book also underscores the importance of facts, rationality, and scientific temper. At the climax of each story, Bagli’s characters reflect on prevailing superstitions, encouraging readers to think critically and motivating them to become stewards and voices of reason for wild India.
A collection of 24 short stories, the book explores a diverse range of wildlife, from tree shrews to leopards to owls. Throughout these tales, you’ll encounter many moments of transformation: a poacher named Gabbarsingh, who abandons hunting to become a forest guide for tourists; a group of owl hunters, who are spared from a tiger’s attack thanks to an owl’s hoots; and a family that repents killing a cobra over a superstitious belief in the stone nagmani. At their core, these stories are all about a change of heart, highlighting the power of redemption and the deep connection between humans and nature.
With illustrations by Sushmita Karmakar and Katie Bagli’s imaginative storytelling, the book captures the wild spirit of Kanha perfectly, making it an ideal read for story nights with little ones. It is a valuable resource for adults who may still unknowingly cling to superstitions surrounding wildlife and forests, offering a chance to unlearn these misconceptions.
Published by The Corbett Foundation, the book aligns with the organisation’s mission to promote a future where humans and wildlife coexist harmoniously in the Kanha landscape.
Reviewed by Rithwik Sundar
