In his debut children’s book, ‘Eye to l’, wildlife expert Nirmal Kulkarni takes young readers on a thrilling jungle journey with a majestic tigress. NT KURIOCITY details
RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT KURIOCITY
With expertise in herpetology, field ecology, conservation, and wildlife photography, Nirmal Kulkarni is now making his debut in children’s literature with his book, ‘Eye to l’.
Published by Niyogi Books as part of their new children’s series, ‘Perky Parrot’, and illustrated by Aanchal Lodhi, ‘Eye to l’ follows the journey of two boys who encounter a majestic tigress in a South Indian jungle. The story is packed with thrills and brings to life elements such as the taste of Goan spicy masala and the aroma of the wet forest floor.
The book is available in bookstores across India and on various online platforms. “The inspiration for ‘Eye to l’ came from my personal experiences in the field, especially my camera trap surveys and line transects in the Nagarhole Tiger Reserve in Karnataka years ago,” says Kulkarni.
The title, ‘Eye to l’, was chosen to reflect the book’s essence. “The title sums up the entire story. To truly understand it, readers will have to explore the pages themselves.” It took him a year and a half to complete the book, from writing the initial story to the editing, illustrations, and design work.
The main characters in the book are based on real life, reflecting various facets of people he knows. He adds that the book’s setting is made to feel real, with details that come to life as readers explore the story. “For instance, having two young Goan boys in a South Indian forest who miss the flavours of Goan food adds a unique and relatable touch. After all, one can’t separate a Goan from Goan food,” he says.
‘Eye to l’ is focused entirely on forests, with details such as alarm calls, scents, and adventures. “The book also explains in simple terms how field surveys are conducted to estimate large cat populations. My goal is to instill a sense of wonder and raise awareness about wildlife conservation among young readers,” he says.
The book is aimed at readers aged six and above, and Kulkarni is full of praise for his illustrator Aanchal Lodhi. “She fully grasped the story and brought it to life with her illustrations,” he says.
Kulkarni also mentions that, given this was his first book, there were no major challenges thanks to the support from the editorial and design team at Niyogi Books. “As I work with children for conservation education, I saw this book as part of my work,” he says.
The feedback for ‘Eye to I’, he says, has been “overwhelmingly positive”, with both young readers and parents expressing enthusiasm. “They have praised the book’s engaging language, stunning illustrations, and its inclusion of scientific elements,” says Kulkarni, who previously released ‘Wild Jewels of Mhadei’, a colouring book focused on the biodiversity of the Mhadei region. He is currently working on two new books, one exploring Goan culture and the other focusing on wildlife.
