Jairam Ramesh

The book brings together all the experiences that Indira Gandhi had with nature in the field, and with nature conservationists, scientists, wildlife protection activists, etc., with many of whom she maintained a sustained and active correspondence and fruitful interaction, both within India and internationally. This resulted in many wilderness and biodiversity-rich areas being saved from dams and other massive development projects, and the constitution of many into national parks/ wildlife sanctuaries. She was the driving spirit behind many landmark efforts and undertakings like Project Tiger, which has brought Indian wildlife back from the brink. As the author says, Indira Gandhi was the main, sometimes the only, support for an embattled and battered forest service, but she was also critical of the crassly commercial and mono-cultural world view of the mainstream foresters. The author has done a great service by bringing together all this material in his inimitable manner, reminding us of the great debt that we owe to this great leader.… (more)