A Day to Remember

On 12th July, Whispers of the Wild finally came to life.

The book launch and wildlife exhibition went far better than I had imagined. What I expected to be a formal event turned into a joyous celebration. The hall was filled with warmth, laughter and conversations. The positive energy was palpable, and what touched me the most was that everyone seemed to celebrate the book even more than I did. It left me feeling incredibly fortunate and grateful for the people who have been part of my journey.

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The journey to this day had begun almost a year earlier, in August 2025, when I started selecting photographs and designing the book. It proved to be one of the most emotionally demanding phases of the entire project. Many tiger photographs that I was deeply attached to had to be left out. Every image carried memories of long hours in the field, but I had to keep reminding myself that this was a book about all of India's wild cats—not just tigers.

Even as the book was taking shape, I was still travelling in search of the few species that had eluded me while simultaneously writing the accompanying text. Looking back, those months were a balancing act between photography, travel, writing and design.

The photographs were selected in consultation with Anu, who also generously processed every image. More importantly, she became my sounding board throughout the design process, helping me think through countless decisions until the book gradually evolved into what it is today.

Like every creative project, there were moments of self-doubt. I often questioned whether producing a premium coffee table book was the right decision. During those moments, my daughter Gayathri and a few close friends never allowed my confidence to waver. Their belief in the project gave me the conviction to keep moving forward.

From the very beginning, I knew that my greatest support would come from my family and friends. But I was equally conscious that their encouragement should never become an excuse to compromise. I wanted the book to stand on its own merits. Whether someone knew me or not, I wanted them to feel they were holding a beautifully produced book with meaningful photographs and stories.

The day I received the first printed copy, I felt we had achieved that goal. Anu, Rohit—the printer—and I had created something we could all be proud of. Yet I also knew that the final judgement would come only when readers experienced the book for themselves.

That is where I find myself today.

As feedback begins to arrive, I find myself looking forward to three different perspectives. Friends who simply enjoy wildlife and beautiful books. Photographer friends, whose comments are often thoughtful but naturally tempered by friendship. And finally, wildlife photographers and readers who do not know me personally—their opinions will perhaps be the most objective and therefore the most valuable.

The launch itself was made memorable by the people who shared the stage with me. The wildlife exhibition was inaugurated by Nasir, my trusted driver and companion in Corbett for the past fifteen years. It felt only fitting that someone who had contributed so much to my wildlife journey should open the exhibition.

The book was then launched by my cardiologist, whose heartfelt speech was one of the highlights of the afternoon. Unfortunately, no one seems to have recorded it—a small regret from an otherwise perfect day.

One of the most heartwarming sights was seeing many of my guides and drivers from different parks attend the event with their families. For several of them, it was their first visit to Mumbai. Despite the unfamiliar surroundings, they felt completely at home, and seeing them mingle effortlessly with my friends was perhaps the most rewarding moment of the day. Those relationships, built over years in the forests of India, have been as important to this journey as the photographs themselves.

Whispers of the Wild was never conceived as a commercial venture but as a celebration of twenty years of wildlife photography. The fact that it became financially self-sustaining is deeply satisfying.

As I write this, I continue to wait for more reviews from readers. Every comment teaches me something, and I am especially looking forward to hearing from people who have no personal connection with me and will judge the book solely on its own merit.

For now, though, I am simply grateful.

Grateful to everyone who believed in the project, contributed to it, travelled to be there, bought the book, and shared in a day that I will remember for a very long time.