Khadmod- Sonnet of the Wild (2024)

In a remote tribal village, Raipada in Maharashtra, a young adolescent named Raju shares a deep bond with his grandfather, a wise and nature-loving elder. Despite being unable to fully grasp his grandfather's puzzling stories and preachings about the natural world, Raju holds them close to his heart. With the lurking danger of wild animals around the village, Raju enters the jungle due to a life altering event as fate plays out. Lost and alone, he grapples with the harsh realities of jungle life, facing challenges that test his survival instincts. As he confronts these difficulties, he reflects on his grandfather's words and their contrast with the societal norms and the education he's received from his teacher - Suresh Sir who has devoted his life for the education of tribal children. The resolution of this dilemma leans towards the thoughts of his grandfather as the events unfold. As he traces the journey, being in the shoes of a wild animal in the jungle unknowingly, the words of his grandfather about the jungle and environment start to come full circle. Days in the jungle make him acutely aware of the hardships animals endure daily. In his hallucinations and darkest moments, he recalls his grandfather's sage advice: "You empathise only after living one's life." With each memory and challenge, Raju's perspective on life and nature transforms. He realises that the preservation of this jungle is not just vital for its inhabitants but also for humanity itself. For Raju, it becomes the journey of finding pieces of his grandfather's puzzle.