THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: T N A Perumal, who etched a mark of his own in Indian wildlife photography, was remembered at a meeting held under the aegis of the Kesari Memorial Journalists Trust and KUWJ here on Tuesday. Former Chief of Forest Force T M Manoharan said Perumal was a conservation photographer with an artistic bend of mind. Despite winning over 200 prestigious awards, Perumal was down to earth and led a very simple life in humble surroundings, he said. “His interventions always helped the Forest Department officers while dealing with sensitive issues related to conservation. If he spoke to a Minister or a political leader on an issue concerning conservation none could question him,” he said.
Environmentalist P K Uthaman said Perumal was always the doyen of Indian wildlife photography. “With his black and white magic, Perumal was far ahead of his contemporaries. However, the country did not give him what he deserved,” he said.
Not even a good book authored by him carrying his best photos was published yet. Wildlife photographer Balan Madhavan said Perumal was born in the wrong country. While his contemporaries in the US and Europe earned millions of dollars every year, Perumal, who was better than them, had to live in penury in a small house in Bengaluru, he said.
KUWJ district president C Rahim presided over.
Today’s photographers are interested in getting more likes for their pictures in the social media even before snapping their first wildlife photo, he said. Balan Madhavan asked the Forest Department to at least name the wildlife photography award in the name of Perumal.