GANESHA

Some books tend to leave an everlasting impression on a reader’s memory Ganesha is one such book. Few things that make this book memorable is beautiful elaborated timeline. It is a well-researched and diligently written book the writer has taken into account subtle details that goes well with history. The writing is not only persuasive but also profoundly moving. A book like Ganesha is well contrived one as it can easily derail from its intended storytelling. The books story line is weaved along changing times of modern world and its impact on worldly beings. Surreal narration of incidents left me in agape and awe. Some incidents narration is far to realistic and gore and brutal at times but from writer’s perspective it was essential to make us understand and relate to the situation. The story telling is supple and ethos the brutality of poaching and wild life hunting. Dr. SKD has researched and have taken care of minute details of the wild life and their ways to make his writing poignant and realistic. I am an die hard national geographic and discovery channel documentary fan and this book never let my attention snap. The book starts from African savanna with a elephant calf of mixed breed (half African and half Asian) peculiarity in looks and behavior and his existence in torrid condition. Writer takes us on an odyssey from Africa to Asia. The narration is acrid and cleverly engages the readers with weaving the story around ever changing geo political situation. Timeline goes from 2^nd world war to India’s independence to 1^st wild life conservation laws to rise of LTTE and sandal wood mafia.

Incidents that stand-out:

1.    African savanna’s description

2.    Carnage of elephants just for mere fun

3.    Sea voyage and storm

4.    Elephantine way of life and their memory and dedication

5.    Poaching menace in north east and south India and smuggling