Ecologist Gadgil pens children’s book

It was then that Gadgil conceptualised Muchkund. “I wanted a character rooted in mythology,perhaps a spirit or a ghost,which could assume the form of any animal and consequently speak their language,” says Gadgil,elucidating “And once the character was set,I embarked on weaving stories based around it.”

And that’s how Muchkund and His Sweet Tooth was invoked and at the same time met by Pratham Books’ request for a children’s book. “In our mythology,Lord Shiva is the lord of all ghosts and vetalas.

And in Marathi tradition you have different kind of ghosts,one of which ismunja,a ghost which is fond of travel; and Muchkund is a munja,” said Gadgil.

It is in such a setting that the story unfolds. “Muchkund enters the forest as a bear and obviously what bears enjoy the most is honey. And the bears plunder several beehives,which eventually leads to the near extinction of bees,” reveals Gadgil,adding

“That is when Muchkund,now a bear,mobilises all bears and points out the importance of the conservation of bees. The story later on tackles issues of man-made hazards to bees like coarse,harmful techniques of honey harvest which causes fatal harm to bee communities. And as we all know,several plants rely on bees for pollination.” Muchkund and His Sweet Tooth is available in five languages including English,Marathi and Hindi.