KOCHI: It is their common love for nature that brought Sahyadri Natural History Society members Jayakumari T R and Vinod Kumar R, together to write a book on nature and the drives that led them closer to it.
The duo has just co-authored a total of 18 books on environmental topics, four of which will be released on Sunday as part of the World Environment Day celebrations. Jayakumari, who is also a retired vice-principal at Government College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, said there are few example of friends co-authoring these many books together. Considering it a rarity, the duo has applied to the Limca Book of World Records.
“We have applied for the record under the title ‘The Most Number of Books Written by Male-Female Friends in any Indian Language’, she said.
While twelve books have already been released, six of the books are being printed.
Jayakumari, who started writing books on environment-related topics a few years ago, had been finding time for the same in the midst of her teaching profession. Harbouring a passion for both writing and teaching, she has also authored six books on Wildlife and Environment, independently.
While it was her love for botany and nature that drove Jayakumari to author the books, it was Vinod’s passion to travel which led to his. Even before being a part of the Nature Society, he had been an avid traveller. So much, that he opted out of his graduation course, to follow his passion.
Having written a novel first, he chose to concentrate on the destinations of his travels through his later books. Vinod, who have authored 33 books, said,” I have travelled to all the wildlife sanctuaries and other popular destinations across the state and places outside Kerala like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.”
Their first work together
Having collaborated together for their first book ‘Janmanakshatrangalum Vrukshangalum’ in 2012, their common love for nature drove them to pen their second work ‘Keralathile Vrukshangal’ on the subject which was selected by the Sparrow Nature Conservation Forum, an NGO based in Pathanamthitta, for a paristhithi Sahitya award last year.
Their latest work spans over 1000 pages. “No other book studies 314 varieties of trees in such detail.” Being staunch nature lovers, both of them plan to continue with their literary efforts. “More than just a reference material, our aim is to share our knowledge as well as create awareness,” she said.