Mr. S. Theodore Baskaran, a well-known writer in India, is celebrating six decades of writing and continues to produce work in two languages, Tamil and English. At 85, his contributions in various fields including nature, wildlife, archaeology and cinema, have undoubtedly garnered worldwide attention among readers. I had the opportunity to interact closely with him last year, at the 2024 Singapore Writers Festival.
Mr. Baskaran retired as the Postmaster General of Tamil Nadu and currently lives with his wife, Mrs. Thilaka, on the outskirts of Bangalore. Theodore Baskaran was born in Dharapuram. He read history at the Madras Christian College and has been recognized by various forums for his work. I would like to highlight only a few of them here. Mr. Baskaran was awarded the Swarna Kamal Award for his book, The Eye of the Serpent, in 1997. In 2014, he received the Iyal Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tamil Literary Garden for his contributions to Tamil literature. In 2020, he received Sanctuary’s Lifetime Service Award for his conservation work. The Film Heritage Foundation awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award (2024) in Thiruvananthapuram.
One of his notable works in recent years is “A Day with the Shama – Essays on Nature”. As a civil servant, he got the opportunity to travel around India and his interest in nature materialized through his writings. This is a remarkable book which helps understand different habitats and the environmental issues. His experiences in the field help him enjoy the moments he has lived through and teach us ways to understand the problems more clearly.
I recalled his observation from one of his interviews while reading this book. He remarked that a writer lives twice: once when he actually experiences life and again when he recollects his memories and converts them into writing. This book has many interesting stories about wildlife in India. While describing his experiences in search of birds and mammals Mr. Baskaran introduces many personalities and recognizes their contributions to nature. Articles about the naturalists and conservationists in this book of nature are an incredible idea! He writes about personalities such as Gerald Durrell, Romulus Whitaker, Divya Muddappa, Shankararaman, Ian Lockwood, Melvin E.Sunquist, Ullas Karanth, Heber Drury, Salim Ali, O.T. Ravindran, E.R.C. Davidar, and Sivaprasad through articles and interviews.
An article about searching for an orchid flower in the southwestern Ghats is remarkable. The takeaway from the article is not only about the information on the endemic flower but also the habitat loss for this unique species. A piece about the Dipper bird is a notable example, where the author describes the beauty and behaviour of the bird as a birdwatcher living in Shillong, and explains its evolved skills using scientific information. After reading about the Orchid and the Dipper, a question arose in my mind. Why is there no relict species of the Dipper in the Western Ghats, or have we never found any?
While writing about the Olive Ridley turtle Mr. Baskaran not only describes their behaviour and breeding but also the threats they face since British times and the conservation measures taken in the last few decades. It is shocking to read such stories as the author takes us through the list of issues the turtles have faced in recent years. Additionally, the author offers hope through the list of people and organisations that work tirelessly to protect the species in all possible ways. The challenges that conservationists face are well-documented.
Like the reptile on the East Coast, the author introduces a mammal in the Western Ghats. The Liontailed macaque, which is endemic to the Western Ghats, also draws attention with a wonderful description of its unique behaviours and habitat. As a historian, Mr. Baskaran presents interesting information about their existence in places like Courtallam, where they have now been eradicated. It is disheartening to know that their habitat is fragmented, and the population has declined significantly. However, the author has also mentioned the Nature Conservation Society and its dedication to saving this species from roadkill.
Anyone who reads this book will not only understand the species that are under threat, but also the reasons why they have been declining, and the conservation measures taken to protect them from extinction. Definitely, such balanced information would help anyone step in to help such endangered species and protect their habitats. As the author describes his experiences in the wild in a very detailed way the reader can really get the feel of being there at the spot. Mr. Baskaran’s writing is not only about what he sees, but also what he hears, the weather at the moment, the lighting at the time, and so on. The piece about the Kanha Tiger Reserve is one such example.This book is a treat for nature lovers and wildlife conservationists, whether they are beginners or veterans in this field. It is a must-read book published by Zero Degree Publishing and available on Amazon.
*published in Leaf litter, Autumn Equinox issue
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