Nepal: Mountains, People, Biodiversity

(click on the image for a larger view)

Every mountaineer dreams of summiting the Himalayas where they are at their mightiest- Nepal. As an illustrator and an orophile, my dream of summiting Nepal's mountains was through drawing them, and this map of our beautiful neighbour's biodiversity, mountains and people, created for the International Mountain Museum at Pokhara, was the perfect opportunity! From the tallest peaks in the world to the most pristine grasslands, from creatures as large as the Wild Yak and the bone-cracking Lammergeiers, to the diminutive Hispid Hare and the Himalayan Newt, from intricate architectural marvels like the Darbar Square monuments to the rustic Mustang Caves, here is Nepal in all its glory.

Nepal's majesty, mystique and aura can never be justly captured in illustration, and certainly not contemporary illustration. So when this challenge was thrown at me, I was convinced that incorporating stylistic elements from its indigenous art form Paubha (the precursor to Himalayan Thangka) would be the only way of doing justice to a project of this nature. I must convey a huge thanks to Samuel Thomas for facilitating a visit to the veteran Nepalese Paubha artist Lok Chitrakar's art studio, where I received some very important quick tips and insights into not just the art form but also the mind of the Paubha artists who he trains. 

The map will soon be on display at the International Mountain Museum. If you happen to visit Pokhara, do pay the museum a visit!

Snow Leopards in Bhutan

With a 40% rise in Snow Leopard numbers in Bhutan, both the country and the cat have cause for celebration! Comic from my column with Roundglass Sustain. 

Happy World Snow Leopard Day!

Himalayan Bears and Climate Change

The disruptions in the hibernation cycles of the Himalayan Black and Brown Bears from climate change, are now beginning to disrupt human lives as well. Comic from my column with The Hindu Sunday Magazine.

Biodiversity Map of Srinagar

(Click on the image for a larger view)

Being in perpetual political crossfire, it isn't unnatural that the word 'biodiversity' rarely factors when speaking of Srinagar. This map, the biodiversity map of Srinagar, seeks to undo the ignorance of the rich biodiversity of Kashmir's capital, and represent its natural history as a component of the city's vibrant and unmatched culture and heritage.

 Despite being ravaged by eutrophication, Dal Lake, placed right in the heart of the city, hosts a massive population of aquatic avifauna, from resident moorhens and kingfishers to its best kept secret known only by dedicated birdwatchers: the rare Little Bittern, a summer-breeding migratory visitor to the lake! Srinagar's intricate Mughal gardens offer refuge to a variety of Himalayan birds, and the hills of Shankaracharya and Zabarwan on its east are even home to megafauna like leopards, black bears and serows. Kashmir's pride, the Hangul, resides just a stone's throw from the city in Dachigam National Park, and Hokersar wetland in the west receives thousands of migratory waterfowl every winter on their way south. The fields around this bird sanctuary also abound in birdlife, with rare migratory passerines like Pine Buntings and Yellowhammers, and raptors like the Hen Harrier frequenting them. The map pays tribute to Kashmiri weaving and woodwork, two artforms from the region that themselves draw inspiration from biodiversity.

Commissioned by ICLEI and hosted by the Kashmir Forest Department, I had the chance to explore the biodiversity of Srinagar last December, resulting in one of my most memorable field visits. A big thanks to Mr. Latif Khan, Mr. Pervez Shagoo and Mr. Imtiyaz Ahmed from the forest department for their guidance through the project, and to Ms. Monalisa Sen of ICLEI for the opportunity. A high resolution of the map can be viewed and downloaded on ICLEI's Interact Bio website.

The Snow Leopard does its own stunts

Snow Leopards live life on the edge- literally! Cartoon from my column with Roundglass Sustain.

Threats to the Aravalli Range

As the plunder of the Aravallis continues unabated, particularly in Haryana and Delhi, here's a reminder that it is the world's oldest fold mountain range, and a treasure trove of biodiversity. Cartoon from my column with Sunday Mid-Day. Recommended reading: Newslaundry's thoroughly investigated series on encroachment in the Aravallis.

Wildlife of Ladakh

(Click on the image for a larger view)

An interactive illustration on the wildlife of Ladakh done for WWF India's Ek Prithvi environment education programme last year.

Char Dham Road and the Himalayas

The Char Dham Pariyojana has been dedicated by our Prime Minister to the Uttarakhand flood victims of 2013. Ironically, its construction has been exacerbating the same destruction of the Himalayas that caused the 2013 mishap. Uttarakhand's State Animal, the Musk Deer shares some concerns from my column with The Hindu.

Anti-National Hangul

Jammu and Kashmir's state animal, the Hangul asks some 'anti-national' questions in my column with The Hindu. 

Pallas' Cat Problems

Pallas' Cat problems. Comic from my column with Sunday Mid-Day.

Chir Pine and Forest Fires of Uttarakhand

The Cheer Pheasant, a resident of Uttarakhand's Chir Pine forests tells the complicated story about the state's annual forest fires, in my column with RoundGlass Sustain.

The Winter Visitor from the Caucasus

A 7 gram bird connecting two distant worlds. Isn't migration a truly wonderful phenomenon?

Do look out for that tiny green speck flitting about in your backyard tree this winter! A comic on migratory warblers from my column with Pune Mirror.

Recent Sightings from the Everest

Litter and pollution from mountaineering expeditions are an emerging threat to Mount Everest. Comic from my column with The Hindu's Sunday magazine.

The White bellied Heron

Could a bird that you never even knew existed, be an indicator of the relationship between two neighbouring countries? The bird itself tells you how.

The comic appears in my column with The Hindu.

Barn Swallows in the Himalayas

A comic on Barn Swallows nesting in the Himalayas from my column with Saevus magazine. With this comic, I complete six years of my association with Saevus, which also reaches its six year milestone with its March 2018 issue! Congrats to Saevus, and a big thanks for their continued association with Green Humour.

The comic takes inspiration from Ms. Janaki Lenin's beautiful article on Barn Swallows, published in The Hindu.

The Himalayan Jumping Spider

Meet the world's highest resident, the Himalayan Jumping Spider! Comic from my column with Sunday Mid-Day.