Pippa Mukherjee’s new book delves into the shrubs and climbers of India
The Hindu
Pippa Mukherjee’s new book delves into the shrubs and climbers of India
Pippa Mukherjee’s deep love for and kinship with the environment are obvious in every sentence she writes and speaks. “Religions are not as important as the spirituality that one feels from seeing and living with nature,” says the Kodaikanal-based environmentalist, author and educator, whose new book, Shrubs & Climbers in India: A Field Guide (Nigoyi Books), documents around 200 species of Indian shrubs and climbers.
The book offers details of their physical characteristics, distribution and medicinal properties. “It serves as an expert companion for anyone who wishes to understand the diverse world of Indian flora, making it easier to identify the best shrubs and climbers for different regions and unlock their potential,” according to the book’s blurb.
The idea for Shrubs & Climbers came to Pippa soon after her third book, Flora of the Southern Western Ghats and Palnis: A Field Guide, was published in 2016. “When I finished writing this book, which took me five years, (I realised) it was ideal for those living in the Western Ghats, but perhaps too niche for other areas,” says Pippa, a founder member of the Palni Hills Conservation Council, which started in 1985. “It was then that I decided to look at other species from all over the country and chose 200 species that would appeal to a larger audience.”
She began researching this new book in 2020, around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she found herself stranded in England. “Luckily, I had a lot of research material with me and could also contact botanist friends in India to make the texts possible.”
Getting high-resolution photographs was more difficult. “I had some of my own photos, but also had to have professional help with many, so this delayed the publication,” says Pippa, who launched Shrubs & Climbers at Ambara, Bengaluru, last month.
Pippa Mukherjee with her latest book | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
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