#563 - The Myth of the Wild Gaur
by Priyadarshini Panchapakesan
“The Myth of the Wild Gaur” by Priyadarshini Panchapakesan. Published by Paper Lantern. A thought provoking story emphasising the importance of maintaining the delicate balance between living beings in the ecosystem.
The story is set in the Megham mountain at the heart of the Nilgiris. The mountain was inhabited by a variety of flora and fauna. The locals believed that an invisible web held and protected all of them. Even if one thread of the web was disturbed, it would cause the entire web to be torn and upset the ecosystem. The people who understood this aspect very well and took care of the mountain were the local tribals who lived deep in the Shola forests. They had an ancient knowledge about the inhabitants of the forest.
Little Theni, the daughter of the chief honey collector from the tribe had just started going to school. She was a very curious and feisty girl. When she stumbled upon an almost dry lake deep in the forest while looking for the majestic Wild Gaur, she found pipes buried below the mud. Someone was taking away the water from the lake thereby emptying it. This mystery was too much to bear and she decided to get at the root of it. Without water left in the lake, the Wild Gaurs were sure to move away from their home in this part of the forests towards the town. The web of balance had been disturbed and it was up to Theni and her folks now to act before it was too late. Read the book to know about the mystery of the pipes in the lake as well as the myth of the wild gaur and why it might have been created.
The book is a lovely means of introducing the children to the majestic Wild Gaur which often gets overlooked when we think of wild animals in Indian forests. It is often mistakenly called a bison. That was one of the main reasons, I looked forward to picking up this book. Also the important message of living in harmony with nature without greed getting along in the way is shown in an appealing manner. My ten year old and I were captivated by this simple but powerful story. We liked the way Theni and her friends took up the cause wholeheartedly and did not shy away in the face of initial setbacks. They managed to rope in the entire community to stand up and ask for justice. Endearing characters, crisp narration, fast paced plot, important topics like conservation and awareness about environmental balance bundled into the narrative without being too preachy and some charming illustrations ensured that the story held our attention. There is one thing that we felt could have been done with the illustrations. There is one illustration per chapter placed at the end of the chapter. It would have been better to have had it within the chapter to make it more relatable to the readers while reading the chapter itself is what we felt. Also, a section at the end of the book maybe on facts about the wild gaur would have been wonderful. This could be considered for the next edition of the book. My son is now eager to see a Wild Gaur the next time we go to a forest :) Overall a “MUST READ” for the important messages that it packs in.
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 8 and above.
Disclaimer - We received this book from the author, Priyadarshini Panchapakesan, for review. Thank you for sending across the book Priyadarshini!