Interview Summary
Pradip Krishen shares his journey from filmmaking to ecological restoration, beginning with his discovery of Pachmarhi in the early 1980s while shooting his debut film. He says he fell in love with the town’s jungles, built a home there, and developed a deep interest in tree identification. With a friend, he explored Pachmarhi’s forests and later collaborated with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) on a conservation-focussed development plan. Unfortunately, though, the plan faced local opposition.
Krishen talks about his curiosity about trees extending to Delhi, leading to his well-known book Trees of Delhi: A Field Guide (2006). His passion for native flora took him to various regions, advising on planting projects in the lower Himalayas and Nagaur, Rajasthan.
In Jodhpur, he led the Rao Jodha Desert Rock Park project, where his team successfully restored native desert vegetation by removing invasive Prosopis juliflora. The project, Krishen shares, demanded ecological experimentation, soil analysis, and adaptive strategies to replicate natural desert conditions. Local communities and traditional miners were involved and it was ensured that the park reflected the region’s biodiversity. Krishen also highlights the monitoring and adapting efforts along the way.
(00:00:26) Exploring Pachmarhi and its unique character, building a home and exploring the jungle
(00:07:58) Redesigning the Bison Lodge Museum
(00:09:57) Challenges in implementing a conservation plan for Pachmarhi
[00:15:34-00:16:09- Restricted Access. Contact archives@ncbs.res.in for details.]
(00:20:54) Legal challenges with the house in the village of Bari Aam
(00:27:41) Discovering the flora of Delhi
(00:38:16) Publishing Trees of Delhi: A Field Guide
(00:46:27) Planting and gardening projects
[00:48:09-00:48:24- Restricted Access. Contact archives@ncbs.res.in for details.]
(00:57:36) The Rao Jodha Desert Park Project
(01:12:02) Monitoring and adapting the Project
Dates
- Creation: 2023-06-08
Creator
- Krishen, Pradip (Interviewee, Person)
- Venkatram, Preeti Shree (Interviewer, Person)
- Venkatram, Preeti Shree (Processing Archivist, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Level of Access: Open/Online
Biography
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.
Extent
79 Minutes
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the Archives at NCBS Repository
National Centre for Biological Sciences - Tata Institute of Fundamental Research
Bangalore Karnataka 560065 India
+9180 6717 6010
+9180 6717 6011
archives@ncbs.res.in