Stop the tiger chase, find nature's truth: Ashvini Menon
19 January 2021 — Written by Reyan Mishra
Every responsibility comes from the fact that we owe most of what we have to nature. Beyond 8 and YouCAN foundation have joined forces to underscore the significance of the environment in every aspect of our life. A part of the initiative is the Earth Internship Program to prepare the young learners to avoid and adapt to the unforeseeable environmental changes taking place globally. Beyond 8 learner, Shweta who is currently interning with YouCAN had a lively tete-a-tete with Ashvini Menon, a renowned artist, illustrator, and designer with a unique perspective on environment, wildlife conservation, and sustainability. Excerpts:
Shweta: When and how did you discover your passion in life?
Ashvini: Since childhood, I have loved animals and have an affinity towards wildlife. As I grew up, I realized that I wasn’t aware of the threats they constantly face because of our bid to achieve fast-paced development.In my last year of college, I was given assignments that gave opportunities to speak with environmentalists, activists, and scientists who filled me up with true insights on the subject. That’s exactly when it clicked and I knew I wanted to do something substantial for the environment and wildlife welfare.
Shweta: I read that you created eco-themed comic strips called ‘Ecotisms’ for over two years for The Hindu. How do you think the impact reached the public?
Image source: Visitnt.com
Ashvini: I have been on a safari to Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan with my mother. I noticed excitement among tourists to watch the tiger. People who could find the tiger were happy and others who didn’t have enough luck had pulled faces. The vehicle controllers are urged to speed up to chase the tiger. I believe there are so many more things of beauty and wonder in the wild to see, observe, and learn from. And a common moral message is that if the tiger is not ready or available to be seen in public, we must respect it and not chase them to the point they get exhausted just to get a glimpse. Here’s another example: tourists tend to think they haven’t got much out of their safari escapade if apes or monkeys didn’t do anything funny or mischievous. From all those experiences, I have grown to believe that we need to change our way of looking at wildlife - and I constantly try to imbibe that into my artwork.
You can explore Ashvini’s work on her Instagram page and website. For more exciting updates on the In8 Earth Internships, follow the YouCAN Instagram page.