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Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Valmik Thapar walked with tigers, now he rests
JAIPUR: Valmik Thapar was 24 - fresh out of St Stephen's with a gold medal in sociology and an old boy from The Doon School. He stood at a crossroads. Life had questions, but no answers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Then the jungle found him. In Ranthambhore, 1976, he met Fateh Singh Rathore - the national park's legendary field director. "Once you've looked into the eyes of a wild tiger," Thapar would later write, "you're never the same." That encounter didn't just chart a career spanning 50 years, it ignited a cause that would redefine tiger conservation in India. On Saturday morning, a pall of silence fell across Ranthambhore's forests. Thapar, 73, died at his Delhi home after a prolonged battle with cancer. More than just a conservationist, Thapar was a man who walked with tigers - and also an author, documentarian, policy adviser and activist. Valmik Thapar was tiger's most tireless advocate But to many, Valmik Thapar was the tiger's most tireless advocate. His relationship with Rathore, bloomed into a decades-long partnership that not only saved Ranthambhore's tigers from vanishing but also seeded a national movement for big cat protection. "I met Valmik as a 10-year-old in 1976," said Goverdhan Singh Rathore, son of Fateh Singh. "He was going through a difficult time and came to Ranthambhore seeking peace." "That meeting with my father led to a friendship that lasted a lifetime. Both led a long-running crusade to save Ranthambhore and its tigers," he added. In 1987, Thapar founded Ranthambhore Foundation - one of the first efforts in India to integrate conservation with community uplift. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Villages ringing the park became part of the mission. Healthcare, education, women's employment and traditional crafts were woven into a model that linked forest protection to human well-being. NGOs like Dastkar joined the effort, showing conservation didn't need to be a choice between people and animals. Dharmendra Khandal, a close associate and conservation biologist, recalled time in the field with reverence. "With Valmik sir, it was not just a safari; it was a masterclass in the wild. His energy at 70 was unmatched. Even between safaris, he wouldn't rest - he would invite me home for long, intense conversations about Ranthambhore's future." Thapar authored nearly 50 books, narrated documentaries including Land of the Tiger for BBC, and served on over 150 committees, including National Board for Wildlife. He was unafraid to call out missteps in govt policy, yet managed to win trust across political and bureaucratic divides. "He was fearless. Today, he has laid down his armour and gone to eternal rest," said Balendu Singh, former honorary warden of Ranthambhore. To those who worked with him, Thapar was a visionary mentor - sharp, driven, and unyielding. "His booming voice will echo through the valleys of Ranthambhore forever," said Goverdhan Singh. Even in his final days, Thapar was deep into writing a two-volume chronicle marking 50 years of Ranthambhore. Wildlife filmmaker Subbiah Nallamuthu, who chronicled India's tigers for global audiences, perhaps captured Thapar's impact best. "He was the voice through which India's tigers first spoke to the world. Long before streaming platforms and social media, he gave the tiger a language that was poetic, political and proudly Indian. The tiger may have lost a voice, but for those who read his words, watched his films, and walked the trails he once did, that voice still echoes. " Thapar leaves behind his wife Sanjana Kapoor, daughter of actor Shashi Kapoor, and a life spent tracking pawprints through history.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Wildlife Conservationist Valmik Thapar Dies At 73
New Delhi: Valmik Thapar, one of India's most eminent wildlife conservationists and authors, died at his residence Saturday morning. He was 73. Born in New Delhi in 1952, Thapar dedicated his life to the study and conservation of wild tigers, especially in Rajasthan's Ranthambore National Park. He co-founded the Ranthambhore Foundation in 1988, a non-governmental organisation focused on community-based conservation efforts. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh termed his death a great loss. "Today's Ranthambore, particularly, is a testimony to his deep commitment and indefatigable zeal. He was uncommonly knowledgeable on a variety of issues relating to biodiversity, and not a day passed during my Ministerial tenure without our talking to each other, with me almost always at the receiving end," Ramesh posted on X. He said that during his tenure as chairman of the Standing Committee, Thapar was a constant source of valuable suggestions and advice. Thapar's father, Romesh Thapar, was a well-known journalist. His aunt is historian Romila Thapar, and his cousin, journalist Karan Thapar. He studied at The Doon School and later graduated with a gold medal in sociology from St Stephen's College, Delhi University. Thapar married theatre artist Sanjana Kapoor, daughter of actor Shashi Kapoor, and they have a son. Thapar was mentored by Fateh Singh Rathore, a legendary figure in Indian conservation and a key member of the original Project Tiger team. Over his five-decade-long career, Thapar strongly lobbied for tougher anti-poaching rules and efforts to protect tiger habitats. He was part of more than 150 government panels and task forces, including the National Board for Wildlife, which is led by the prime minister. In 2005, Thapar was appointed a member of the Tiger Task Force, set up by the UPA government to review the management of tiger reserves following the disappearance of tigers from Sariska Tiger Reserve. When the task force, chaired by environmentalist Sunita Narain, concluded its report, Thapar submitted a dissent note. He expressed concern that the report was overly optimistic about the coexistence of tigers and humans. Thapar argued that for tigers to survive in the long run, certain areas needed to be kept free from human interference. He said that a minimum area should be managed exclusively in its natural form for a tiger. Thapar wrote or edited more than 30 books on wildlife, including Land of the Tiger: A Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent (1997), and Tiger Fire: 500 Years of the Tiger in India. He also presented and co-produced several well-known films for channels like the BBC. One of his more famous works was a six-part series "Land of the Tiger" (1997), which explored the nature and wildlife of the Indian subcontinent. In 2024, he appeared in the documentary "My Tiger Family," which showcased his 50 years of observing wild tigers in Ranthambore National Park. Thapar had strong reservations about Project Cheetah, India's initiative to reintroduce African cheetahs into the wild. He argued that India does not have the necessary habitat or prey base to support free-ranging cheetahs and that the authorities lacked experience in managing spotted felines in the wild. Paying her tributes, conservation biologist Neha Sinha called him "the international voice of Indian tigers for many many years" and urged people to read his influential books such as "Tiger Fire" and "Living with Tigers" as a tribute. Wildlife conservationist Nirmal Ghosh remembered him as "a giant of tiger conservation" who leaves behind "a lasting legacy as a global spokesman for the tiger."
Scroll.in
5 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Valmik Thapar, tiger conservationist and author, dies at 73
Valmik Thapar, a renowned wildlife conservationist and author, died in New Delhi on Saturday. He was 73 and was diagnosed with cancer in 2024. Thapar was involved with efforts to protect wild tigers, particularly in Rajasthan's Ranthambore National Park, for nearly five decades. In 1987, he co-founded the Ranthambhore Foundation to integrate local communities into conservation efforts and later collaborated with the non-profit Dastkar to help displaced villagers earn a livelihood. Thapar also served as a member of more than 150 government panels and task forces, including the National Board for Wildlife and the Tiger Task Force, which was set up in the face of tigers disappearing from Rajasthan's Sariska. In a dissenting note, he had warned the task force against the coexistence of humans and tigers. In his 2012 book, Tiger My Life, Ranthambhore and Beyond, Thapar had described his mission as one that involved creating 'inviolate spaces' for tigers, where they could 'live free, away from noise, away from humans'. He was a vocal advocate for stricter anti-poaching laws. Thapar was also an author and filmmaker. He wrote and edited more than 30 books, including Land of the Tiger and Tiger Fire, and co-produced a BBC documentary series titled Land of the Tiger. Expressing condolences to Thapar's family, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said he was 'deeply saddened to learn about the passing of noted conservationist'. Deeply saddened to learn about the passing of noted conservationist, author and naturalist, Valmik Thapar. A leading authority on Tiger conservation, he was as one of India's most respected wildlife experts and was appointed a member of the Tiger Task Force of 2005. My deepest… — Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 31, 2025 Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said that Thapar's death was a 'great loss'. 'Today's Ranthambore, particularly, is a testimony to his deep commitment and indefatigable zeal,' said Ramesh. 'He was uncommonly knowledgeable on a variety of issues relating to biodiversity and not a day passed during my Ministerial tenure without our talking to each other – with me almost always at the receiving end.' Valmik Thapar, a legendary figure in the world of conservation over the past four decades - especially tigers - has just passed away. It is a great loss. Today's Ranthambore, particularly, is a testimony to his deep commitment and indefatigable zeal. He was uncommonly… — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 31, 2025 Conservation biologist Neha Sinha called him 'the international voice of Indian tigers for many many years'. Rest in Peace, Valmik Thapar, the international voice of Indian tigers for many many years. As a tribute to him, do read the many books he penned on tigers: 'Tiger Fire', 'Living with Tigers' and others. — Neha Sinha (@nehaa_sinha) May 31, 2025 Author and wildlife conservationist Nirmal Ghosh said that Thapar has left 'a lasting legacy as a global spokesman for the tiger'.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
India's tiger warrior dies at 73: Who was Valmik Thapar and what is the legacy of India's tiger conservation icon
In a world increasingly disconnected from nature, Valmik Thapar was a rare voice who spent his life listening to the wild. Passionate, persistent and deeply committed, he gave the tiger not just his time, but his voice, pen, and camera. On Saturday morning, India lost one of its fiercest wildlife guardians as Thapar passed away in Delhi at the age of 73. Born in New Delhi, Thapar dedicated over five decades to studying and protecting wild tigers, especially those in Rajasthan's Ranthambore National Park . According to PTI, he was mentored by the legendary Fateh Singh Rathore , and Thapar became a prominent face of India's tiger conservation movement. He co-founded the Ranthambhore Foundation in 1988 and served on more than 150 government committees, including the National Board for Wildlife and the Tiger Task Force. A prolific author and filmmaker, Thapar wrote or edited over 30 books, including Land of the Tiger and Tiger Fire. He also produced and narrated documentaries for BBC, Discovery and National Geographic, most recently My Tiger Family, which chronicled his 50-year journey with Ranthambore's big cats. His relationship with the famous tigress 'Macchli' became symbolic of his deep, emotional connection with wildlife. Yet, he was far from sentimental in his advocacy. Thapar consistently pushed for stricter anti-poaching laws and believed that certain habitats must remain untouched by humans for tigers to thrive. His dissenting note in the 2005 Tiger Task Force report, warning against the overestimation of human-tiger coexistence, remains a testament to his firm convictions. Family background and educational qualifications Thapar came from a family of intellectuals, son of journalist Romesh Thapar, nephew of historian Romila Thapar, and cousin to journalist Karan Thapar. He studied at The Doon School and St. Stephen's College, graduating with a gold medal in sociology. He was married to theatre artist Sanjana Kapoor, daughter of Shashi Kapoor. Remembering him, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh called him 'truly unforgettable' and 'a legendary figure in the world of conservation.' — Jairam_Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) The leader further called Valmiki "uncommonly knowledgeable" on a variety of issues relating to biodiversity.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Valmik Thapar, wildlife conservationist and author, passes away at 73
Valmik Thapar, one of India's most eminent wildlife conservationists and authors, died at his residence Saturday morning. He was 73. Born in New Delhi in 1952, Thapar dedicated his life to the study and conservation of wild tigers, especially in Rajasthan's Ranthambore National Park. He co-founded the Ranthambhore Foundation in 1988, a non-governmental organisation focused on community-based conservation efforts. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh termed his death a great loss. 'Today's Ranthambore, particularly, is a testimony to his deep commitment and indefatigable zeal. He was uncommonly knowledgeable on a variety of issues relating to biodiversity, and not a day passed during my Ministerial tenure without our talking to each other, with me almost always at the receiving end,' Ramesh posted on X. Valmik Thapar, a legendary figure in the world of conservation over the past four decades - especially tigers - has just passed away. It is a great loss. Today's Ranthambore, particularly, is a testimony to his deep commitment and indefatigable zeal. He was uncommonly… — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 31, 2025 He said that during his tenure as chairman of the Standing Committee, Thapar was a constant source of valuable suggestions and advice. Thapar's father, Romesh Thapar, was a well-known journalist. His aunt is historian Romila Thapar, and his cousin, journalist Karan Thapar. He studied at The Doon School and later graduated with a gold medal in sociology from St Stephen's College, Delhi University. Thapar married theatre artist Sanjana Kapoor, daughter of actor Shashi Kapoor, and they have a son. Thapar was mentored by Fateh Singh Rathore, a legendary figure in Indian conservation and a key member of the original Project Tiger team. Over his five-decade-long career, Thapar strongly lobbied for tougher anti-poaching rules and efforts to protect tiger habitats. He was part of more than 150 government panels and task forces, including the National Board for Wildlife, which is led by the prime minister. In 2005, Thapar was appointed a member of the Tiger Task Force, set up by the UPA government to review the management of tiger reserves following the disappearance of tigers from Sariska Tiger Reserve. When the task force, chaired by environmentalist Sunita Narain, concluded its report, Thapar submitted a dissent note. He expressed concern that the report was overly optimistic about the coexistence of tigers and humans. Thapar argued that for tigers to survive in the long run, certain areas needed to be kept free from human interference. He said that a minimum area should be managed exclusively in its natural form for a tiger. Thapar wrote or edited more than 30 books on wildlife, including Land of the Tiger: A Natural History of the Indian Subcontinent (1997), and Tiger Fire: 500 Years of the Tiger in India. He also presented and co-produced several well-known films for channels like the BBC. One of his more famous works was a six-part series 'Land of the Tiger' (1997), which explored the nature and wildlife of the Indian subcontinent. In 2024, he appeared in the documentary 'My Tiger Family,' which showcased his 50 years of observing wild tigers in Ranthambore National Park. Thapar had strong reservations about Project Cheetah, India's initiative to reintroduce African cheetahs into the wild. He argued that India does not have the necessary habitat or prey base to support free-ranging cheetahs and that the authorities lacked experience in managing spotted felines in the wild. Paying her tributes, conservation biologist Neha Sinha called him 'the international voice of Indian tigers for many many years' and urged people to read his influential books such as 'Tiger Fire' and 'Living with Tigers' as a tribute. Wildlife conservationist Nirmal Ghosh remembered him as 'a giant of tiger conservation' who leaves behind 'a lasting legacy as a global spokesman for the tiger.'
