Nature-inspired Books and Environmental Advocacy.

Brewing Knowledge Friday

Discussing Priyadarshini’s nature-inspired books and environmental advocacy.

Key Takeaways

• Core Theme: Coexistence is the central message. The books challenge the idea of human-wildlife conflict by showing how balanced ecosystems depend on every creature.

• Root Cause: Unchecked urbanisation and year-round tourism are the primary drivers of environmental degradation in hill stations like Kodaikanal, leading to habitat loss, landslides, and increased human-wildlife encounters.

• Advocacy Strategy: Priyadarshini uses engaging genres (adventure, poetry) to make eco-fiction accessible and avoid being preachy. She empowers young readers by giving child characters agency and focusing on local environmental action.

• Policy Gap: Current conservation policies are insufficient. They categorise endangered species but lack concrete regulations to protect their habitats, such as the Shola grasslands, which are critical to the Nilgiri Tahr.

Topics

The Problem: Unchecked Urbanisation & Tourism

• Rapid urbanisation and tourism are the root causes of environmental issues in Indian hill stations.

• Kodaikanal Case Study:

  • Shift: From seasonal tourism to year-round crowds, fueled by remote work.

  • Impact: Constant noise, traffic, and pollution.

  • Consequence: Increased demand for resorts and homestays leads to habitat destruction in previously quiet areas.

• Interconnected Issues:

  • Urbanisation → Deforestation → Landslides (e.g., Wayanad)

  • Habitat loss → Animals move into towns for food (e.g., Indian Bison)

The Solution: Coexistence & Local Action

• Coexistence: The core message of The Myth of the Wild God.

  • Premise: Humans and wildlife must coexist, as animals are no longer confined to forests.

  • Goal: Shift the narrative from conflict to peaceful coexistence.

• Local Action: The most effective path to change.

  • Focus: Address local issues (e.g., neighbourhood heat waves, disappearing birds) rather than abstract global problems.

  • Rationale: Individuals can make a tangible difference in their own communities.

The Medium: Engaging Storytelling

• Goal: Make eco-fiction interesting to avoid being preachy.

• Methods:

  • Adventure/Mystery: The Myth of the Wild God and The Guardians of the Forest use adventure plots to engage readers.

  • Poetry: Thule’s Stroll offers a joyful, interactive reading experience.

  • Hand-Painted Illustrations: Provide a realistic, tactile feel of nature, contrasting with common digital art.

• Empowering Child Characters:

  • Rationale: Children are more flexible and open to change than adults.

  • Impact: Gives young readers agency and encourages independent thought.

Policy & Community Influence

• Policy Gap: Current conservation policies are inadequate.

  • They categorise species (e.g., endangered) but lack concrete regulations to protect their habitats.

  • Example: The Nilgiri Tahr is endangered because its Shola grassland habitat is being destroyed for construction, as it’s mistakenly considered “wasteland.”

• Community Influence: Local myths can serve a conservation purpose.

  • Example: Scary myths about the Indian Bison in Kodaikanal deter tourists from harassing the animals.

Next Steps

• Priyadarshini: Continue writing engaging eco-fiction to promote coexistence and local environmental awareness.

• Participants: Apply the principle of local action to address environmental issues in their own communities.

• Advocates: Push for stronger conservation policies that include concrete habitat protection regulations.

 Thanks to FATHOM AI for the session summary

Biocracy redefines responsibility

The idea of biocracy emerges from an uncomfortable yet straightforward realisation: most of our political decisions today are still centred almost entirely on human convenience, power, and short-term gain, while the ecological systems that sustain life are treated as secondary—or worse, expendable.

Biocracy can be understood as a form of governance where decisions are not driven solely by human wants but are fundamentally guided by ecological needs. In such a system, the health of air, water, soil, forests, and climate becomes a primary factor in policy-making, not an afterthought. 

If we honestly evaluate the dominant forms of governance—democracy, monarchy, autocracy, or even technocracy—we find that they are increasingly inadequate for the challenges of our time. These systems were designed in eras that did not account for ecological collapse. Today, when AQI levels are at historic highs, visibility is literally blurred, forests are cut relentlessly, and regions like the Aravallis are reduced to dumping grounds, it becomes evident that something is deeply broken. 

The crisis is not only environmental; it is political and moral. Our regimes continue to function as if nature is infinite, resilient, and silent. But nature is neither limitless nor silent anymore—it is responding, and the consequences are visible everywhere. 

This brings us to a crucial question: On what basis should future governments be formed?

Should political power still be decided purely on ideology, caste, religion, or economic promises? Or is it time to evaluate leadership on parameters such as air quality, tree cover, water security, pollution levels, cleanliness, and the sustainability of future generations? 

I firmly believe that the next generation of voters—the youth—are far more aware and informed than ever before. They will not vote merely on narratives that have existed for decades. They will ask different questions: 

• What is the AQI of my city?
• How many trees are being protected or planted?
• What is the state of water and soil?
• Is development sustainable, or merely destructive?

This shift in thinking is the foundation of biocracy.  

Biocracy may be unrealistic. Can trees, rivers, mountains, animals, or soil have rights? Can they be represented in governance? It may sound impossible today—but history tells us otherwise.  

A hundred years ago, most countries did not allow all citizens to vote. Universal suffrage once seemed unthinkable. If someone had proposed it then, it would have been dismissed as impractical or idealistic. Yet today, it is a fundamental democratic principle. Similarly, recognising ecological entities as stakeholders in governance may seem radical now, but it may well become inevitable. Because without protecting nature, no political system—however powerful—can survive. 

Biocracy redefines responsibility. 

The photo of Kunal in the lap of Aravali