Reliving the Memories of an Indian Forester: Memoir of S Shyam Sunder

DETAILS : Author: Shivsharan Someshwar Publisher: ‎ Manipal Universal Press Publication date: ‎ 1 January 2020 Language: ‎ English Print length: ‎ 404 pages ISBN-10: ‎ 9388337131 ISBN-13: ‎ 978-9388337137 Item Weight: ‎ 650 g ABOUT THE BOOK Reliving the Memories of an Indian Forester: Memoir of S Shyam Sunder, edited and retold by the sustainable development scholar Dr. Shivsharan Someshwar based on the personal accounts of S. Shyam Sunder, is an engaging biographical work that captures the realities of environmental conservation in modern India. Published by Manipal Universal Press, this 404-page volume provides an insider’s look into the complex machinery of the Indian Forest Service (IFS). The foundational philosophy of this memoir is to lay bare the human element behind bureaucratic administration, showing how passion, field-level intuition, and a willingness to challenge institutional rigidity are vital to protecting natural ecosystems against growing societal and industrial demands. The narrative functions as a beautifully structured series of vignettes that balance humor, high stakes, and serious policy reflection. It follows Shyam Sunder’s journey from his education in Mangalore and Madras through a highly competitive selection into a Class I government post in the early 1950s, eventually rising to become the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of Karnataka before retiring in 1989. The book documents his legendary efforts to make Karnataka a model state for forestry, mapping adventures that range from standing yards away from a charging tusker to navigating tense interactions with powerful chief ministers and arguing with Indira Gandhi about the proper way to eat avocados. Through its witty prose, the text explores the reality of managing a staff of ten thousand officials, balancing environmental preservation in the Western Ghats, and addressing the systemic neglect of rural and indigenous communities trapped within rigid state mandates. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Shivsharan Someshwar (often credited as Shiv Someshwar) is an internationally recognized academician, urban planner, and development professional who edited and structured this memoir. He holds a PhD in Urban Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and has served as a Visiting Professor at Columbia University in New York and Sciences Po in Paris. His career is heavily centered on international development, public policy, climate risk, and ecosystem management. Dr. Someshwar's editorial approach to this memoir is deeply respectful, highly structured, and rich with narrative texture. Rather than formatting the book as a dry chronological timeline of administrative postings, he preserves S. Shyam Sunder's sharp wit, energetic voice, and unfiltered candor. By weaving personal anecdotes with broader insights on public governance, Someshwar successfully transforms a private recollection into a foundational text on the real-world execution of environmental policy in South Asia.