Purvi (A calling from the wild)

Written by Purvi

Conservation doesn’t begin with saving forests; it begins the moment a forest changes your heart. Hey there conservationists! I’m Purvi, an eighteen-year-old, still figuring out where I belong in the world, but the one place that always felt certain to me is the wild.

Growing up, I have always been fascinated by the natural world, but it was limited to the plants in my garden and different trees on my occasional visits to the nature trails. But as time passed by, I got more engrossed in my studies to a point that I lost that connection with the wild. And I don’t remember how things started getting so bad that my mental health started to deteriorate. My days would revolve around doomscrolling and I was stuck in that loop. 

But it all changed when one fine day in 2024, my dad told me that, except for his job, he was investing in the management of a resort in a national park. And it wasn’t long before I found myself visiting the Bandhavgarh National Park with my dad. Bandhavgarh, a place of mesmerising wilderness, is one of India’s most renowned national parks and is especially famous for its thriving tiger population. The towering sal trees, the quiet dirt roads winding through the jungle, and the strange yet comforting symphony of birds and insects made the forest feel alive in a way I had never felt before. It wasn’t just the excitement of being in a national park or the hope of spotting a tiger, but a sense of purpose to be a part of protecting and conserving it. 

One moment that stayed with me deeply was realising that the beauty I was witnessing was not guaranteed to last forever. Forests like Bandhavgarh survive today because of years of conservation efforts, strict protection, and the dedication of countless people who have chosen to defend these ecosystems. Without that effort, the forests, the wildlife, and the delicate balance that exists there could easily disappear. 

After that realisation, I felt an urge to understand conservation beyond what I saw during safaris. I started reading and researching more about wildlife conservation, protected areas, and the challenges that forests like Bandhavgarh face today. 

The more I learned, the more I realised that conservation is not only about protecting animals, it is also deeply connected to the people who live alongside these forests.

Wanting to understand this better, I began visiting nearby villages around the park and speaking with members of the local indigenous communities. Listening to their stories and perspectives opened my eyes to an entirely new dimension of conservation. For many of them, the forest is not just a landscape or a protected area; it is a source of livelihood, culture, and identity that has shaped their lives for generations. That was a turning point in my perspective on conservation.

Learning and experiencing all of this, I started “Arantara”, an initiative rooted in the idea of healing through the wild. Through Arantara, I hope to help people reconnect with nature in a deeper and more mindful way, while also creating awareness about the importance of protecting the forests and the communities that live alongside them.

Today, I am still at the beginning of this journey, learning and discovering more about conservation with every step I take. I may not have all the answers yet, but what I do know is that the connection I found with the wild has changed the way I see the world. Forests like Bandhavgarh have shown me that conservation is not just about protecting wildlife; it is about protecting relationships: between people, land, and the countless species that share this planet with us.

For more of Purvi, check out @thearantara on Instagram.