Pradip Krishen, 2023-05-29, 2023-08-12

Born in New Delhi 1949, Pradip Krishen is a well-known Indian filmmaker and environmentalist. He did his schooling in Nairobi, New Delhi and Ajmer and went on to study history at St. Stephen’s College, University of Delhi, and modern history at Balliol College, University of Oxford.

He began his career as a professor at Ramjas College, University of Delhi. However, his fascination with cinema led him to transition to filmmaking in 1975, emerging as a prominent figure in India’s parallel cinema movement. He went on to direct three award-winning acclaimed feature films- Massey Sahib (1985), In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones (1989), and Electric Moon (1991).

Despite his cinematic success, disillusionment with industry challenges prompted him to leave filmmaking and in 1993, Krishen shifted focus to field botany and ecological restoration. Starting in the Pachmarhi jungles in Madhya Pradesh, he immersed himself in identifying trees, later documenting Delhi’s flora and leading public tree walks. A pioneer in ecological gardening, Krishen spearheaded projects like the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and the Kishan Bagh sand dune restoration in Jaipur, opened as a public park in 2021.

Krishen’s books, including the bestseller Trees of Delhi: A Field Guide (2006), Jungle Trees of Central India: A Field Guide for Tree Spotters (2014), and Abha Mahal Bagh: A Garden of Wild Plants from the Thar Desert (2019), are celebrated for their accessible approach to India’s ecology.

His work continues with projects like creating a wildflower meadow in Gwalior and riverbank restoration on the Chambal River, combining science with sustainability.