What do you think?
Rate this book
The Myth of the Wild Gaur
Megham Mountain is a quiet and tranquil hill tucked away in the Nilgiris. The people of the mountain believe in a “Golden Web of Harmony” where animals, plants, and humans can co-exist. However, the peace of the Mountain is threatened when a company begins to extract water from a pristine lake. They aim to bottle the water and sell it under the guise of “Fresh Mineral Water”.
Theni, the daughter of the chief honey collector, discovers the company’s hidden agendas. When the water disappears from the lake near Theni’s home, the Majestic Wild Gaur is the most affected. The herd of Gaurs begins to migrate into the town, leaving behind their destroyed home.
In what follows, Theni and her friends embark on an adventure to confront the company and restore the “Golden Web of Balance”. In the process, Theni discovers more about the Myth of the Wild Gaur and why her ancestors created such a myth in the first place.
Theni, the daughter of the chief honey collector, discovers the company’s hidden agendas. When the water disappears from the lake near Theni’s home, the Majestic Wild Gaur is the most affected. The herd of Gaurs begins to migrate into the town, leaving behind their destroyed home.
In what follows, Theni and her friends embark on an adventure to confront the company and restore the “Golden Web of Balance”. In the process, Theni discovers more about the Myth of the Wild Gaur and why her ancestors created such a myth in the first place.
84 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2023
4 people want to read
About the author
Priyadarshini Panchapakesan
6 books6 followersPriyadarshini Panchapakesan has authored two books, "The Postwoman and Other Stories" and "Unsung Sheroes and Heroes". She loves to write on themes that are usually brushed under the carpet. She wants to make a difference to the world by writing on things which others fail to notice.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 13, 2023
As an adult, reading children's books has now grown to be a guilty pleasure of mine. Priyadarshini's 'The Myth of the Wild Gaur' is the latest addition to the list. It's a short novella that tells the tale of Theni and her friends who live on the Nilgiris. When they discover that someone has been stealing water from the forest lake nearby, threatening the habitat of the majestic wild gaur, they decide to come together to solve the problem. What ensues forms the crux of this book.
Most of the books I'd read as a child were stories set in the West. The names, landscapes, people, and problems had seemed improbable and alien. Priyadarshini's book is a welcome change to this. With Tamil names and terrain that seamlessly infuse an Indian flavor to the universal story of protecting the nature, she strikes a firm balance. The language is simple yet evocative. Add to this the beautiful illustrations by Ashlin.
The kids in the story are compassionate, polite, and assertive. They are supported by adults the likes of whom are hard to come across in real life. Is the story idealistic? Yes. But it's not the kind of idealism that makes you want to dismiss it as unattainable. Rather, it's one that renders you hopeful and want to strive to make it a reality.
Most of the books I'd read as a child were stories set in the West. The names, landscapes, people, and problems had seemed improbable and alien. Priyadarshini's book is a welcome change to this. With Tamil names and terrain that seamlessly infuse an Indian flavor to the universal story of protecting the nature, she strikes a firm balance. The language is simple yet evocative. Add to this the beautiful illustrations by Ashlin.
The kids in the story are compassionate, polite, and assertive. They are supported by adults the likes of whom are hard to come across in real life. Is the story idealistic? Yes. But it's not the kind of idealism that makes you want to dismiss it as unattainable. Rather, it's one that renders you hopeful and want to strive to make it a reality.
July 16, 2023
In 'The Myth of the Wild Gaur,' Priyadarshini weaves an enchanting tale of environmental stewardship and the power of community action. The story follows a group of young heroes, Theni and her friends, who confront and fight back when their forest and its inhabitants fall prey to an exploitative business venture.
⛰️
Megham Mountain, located at the heart of Nilgiris, and its resident Wild Gaur are in danger. A water company has put its roots in the lake and started drawing pumps of water out of it to be bottled and sold. As a result, the lake is drying, forcing the animals of the Shola forest to find alternative resources to quench their thirst. Quite obviously, unlike humans, animals don’t/can’t drink bottled water; they largely depend on natural resources for their daily needs.
⛰️
When Theni finds out about this, she and her community band together, showcasing the potency of collective community action in combating environmental degradation.
⛰️
Through engaging storytelling, Priyadarshini adeptly highlights the urgent issues of land and water conservation, habitat loss, and the impact it has on animals.
⛰️
The book delivers a crucial message: our actions can reverse the harm we've caused to our planet. Another powerful message is when Theni demystifies the myth surrounding the Wild Gaur—that touching it would burn and shrivel human skin. During the climax, when she touches the little Wild Gaur, he bows and relishes the touch. It’s a beautiful message that animals, just like humans, accept love and respect and only harm when they sense danger.
⛰️
Priyadarshini's beautifully woven narrative acts as a rallying cry for more stories like this, nurturing a generation of informed and compassionate individuals who will inherit and likely be endowed with healing our precious planet.🫂
🌎
Age group: 10+
⛰️
Megham Mountain, located at the heart of Nilgiris, and its resident Wild Gaur are in danger. A water company has put its roots in the lake and started drawing pumps of water out of it to be bottled and sold. As a result, the lake is drying, forcing the animals of the Shola forest to find alternative resources to quench their thirst. Quite obviously, unlike humans, animals don’t/can’t drink bottled water; they largely depend on natural resources for their daily needs.
⛰️
When Theni finds out about this, she and her community band together, showcasing the potency of collective community action in combating environmental degradation.
⛰️
Through engaging storytelling, Priyadarshini adeptly highlights the urgent issues of land and water conservation, habitat loss, and the impact it has on animals.
⛰️
The book delivers a crucial message: our actions can reverse the harm we've caused to our planet. Another powerful message is when Theni demystifies the myth surrounding the Wild Gaur—that touching it would burn and shrivel human skin. During the climax, when she touches the little Wild Gaur, he bows and relishes the touch. It’s a beautiful message that animals, just like humans, accept love and respect and only harm when they sense danger.
⛰️
Priyadarshini's beautifully woven narrative acts as a rallying cry for more stories like this, nurturing a generation of informed and compassionate individuals who will inherit and likely be endowed with healing our precious planet.🫂
🌎
Age group: 10+
April 2, 2023
'The Myth of the Wild Gaur' is both ambitious and optimistic and aims to instill the values of caring for the environment and fighting against injustice in children. It was a very beautiful read and I loved the descriptions of Megham Mountain and the wild gaurs as well as the relationships between Theni and the community and the teacher and the students. Looking forward to reading more from the author.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews