To those who look through the spotted deer
The funny fact about most people visiting wildlife reserves is that they tend to prefer wearing bright coloured caps of all sorts, clothes that would make even the wild hog snigger and keep looking into the screens of their smartphones, saying, ‘There is no network here.’ And every time you meet a canter-full of them...
Each species is a masterpiece
I’ve heard the language of wildlife many times and I have seen so many of these wonderful species converse with nature. I can tell you it is spellbinding. The hours spent at Dudhwa, Ranthambore and Shivpuri are probably the best hours that I have spent anywhere because they have taken me to a position that...
Cricket and all the madness all around
‘When do they begin?’ I asked. ‘What?’ ‘The cricket matches.’ ‘They’re always on,’ Specky said with a smile, and then added, ‘But if you mean the IPL 2015, then KKR won their first match yesterday. Mumbai Indians are obviously inconsolable in their defeat.’ I just stared at her. I mean there was a time when...
The business of wildlife
Wildlife is getting popular. It is everywhere… pretty girls pronounce ‘tiger’ with a pout in a Page 3 party, the hoi polloi wear camouflage bottoms as they stroll near India Gate looking for tiger masks, everyone who buys a DSLR wants to visit a national park and ‘shoot’ a tiger, publications welcome articles that...
Ranthambhore ka T24
What I really love about wildlife parks are the stories and legends that they are saturated with. The simply sensual and lilting names they have for animals. The goose-bumps a visitor experiences when sighting even a mongoose or a peacock. Every moment inside a wildlife park is like a scintilla that is ready to explode...
No dynasty law in the jungle
Ranthambhore/ New Delhi A group of senior politicians have returned from their weekend safari in the jungles of Ranthambhore Wildlife Park. Our senior correspondent talked to them and we bring to you an exclusive insight into the mind of our netas. When asked about tigers, Mr M-fenku simply said, ‘There is no dynasty law in...
Free Facebook is real
Social media is no longer a term that only the privileged boys and girls utter with a lusty smile. It is fast reaching out across all socio-economic barriers to bridge the rural-urban chasms that pretended to be invincible. We are in times when even your friendly auto-driver would have his loyal customers in a special...
PawanKali is in love with Batalik
‘First Aid Box. Check. Knife. Check. Spectacle Case. Check,’ I said aloud. ‘Knife?’ asked Specky, ‘Why are you taking a knife with you?’ I corrected her, ‘It’s that Victorinox Swiss Knife. And I need to have it with me. After all I’m going on a wildlife safari to Dudhwa.’ So this was how I began...
Adventures on a foggy morning
A foggy morning is so full of possibilities… there is intrigue literally hanging from every square inch around you. The entire world seems so far away despite being where it always has been. Even familiar objects loom large suddenly and the suddenness makes your imagination run amuck… and you see witches in trees and dragons...
Saving wild tigers
John Seidensticker, a senior curator and curator of mammals at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park once remarked: ‘There is something special about tigers that touches everyone. Tigers are the symbols of freedom and of nature untouched, but tigers can be lost in a heartbeat.’ Sounds quite alarming… but this is really the truth. If you’re...
We want CSK to be HOT!
Yellow. Golden yellow. Turmeric. The favourite of the Gods! Mangal. Pure talent… What am I talking about? Some mumbo-jumbo about colour therapy? No. I am talking about the colour that is associated with CSK… well, not just CSK, but also with Chennai as a city. Chennai, CSK, and this wonderfully sublime colour connect to give...
Cricket connects!
Can you see a bat in the picture? No. Do you see anyone playing a game? No. And yet, everyone in India would know that these players are cricketers… and that they are the famous CSK team! This is the power of cricket!! Would the same level of recognition be there if someone were to...
