Jungle Nama

Jungle Nama is a graphic verse novel that adapts a traditional Bengali legend about Bon Bibi, the protective goddess of the Sundarbans forest. Published in 2021, it represents Amitav Ghosh's first venture into verse writing and features illustrations by Salman Toor. The story takes place in the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest spanning India and Bangladesh. This rich ecosystem of forests and river deltas serves as more than a backdrop - it functions as a living character in the narrative. The text follows the classic structure of the Bon Bibi legend, presenting the tale through a distinctive blend of visual art and rhythmic verse. The format pays homage to the dwipodi poyar meter of traditional Bengali verse while making the story accessible to contemporary readers. The book addresses timeless themes of human greed and environmental consequence, serving as an allegory for modern ecological challenges including climate change. Through its fusion of mythology and environmental consciousness, it connects ancient wisdom to present-day concerns.

Readers appreciate the book's blend of environmental message with Bengali folklore, particularly through its verse adaptation of the Bon Bibi legend. The artwork by Salman Toor receives frequent mention in reviews for enhancing the storytelling. Many note the accessibility of the dwipodi poyar verse form and how it makes complex themes digestible for younger readers. Several reviewers highlight the book's relevance to current climate change discussions. Common criticisms include the text feeling occasionally forced to fit the verse structure, and some readers find the story pacing uneven. A few mention struggling with the Bengali terms despite the included glossary. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (167 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (89 ratings) Sample review: "The verse flows naturally most of the time, though there are spots where it feels a bit stretched. The environmental message is clear without being preachy." - Goodreads reviewer

The Great Derangement by Amitav Ghosh This non-fiction work explores climate change through mythology and literature, complementing Jungle Nama's environmental themes and Bengali folklore connections.

When the River Sleeps by Easterine Kire This novel weaves indigenous Naga folklore with conservation themes through the story of a hunter seeking a sleeping river's stone of power.

The Hungry Tide by Amitav Ghosh Set in the Sundarbans like Jungle Nama, this novel intertwines Bengali folklore, environmental concerns, and human-nature relationships in the mangrove forests.

Forest of Tigers by Annu Jalais This anthropological study examines the relationship between humans and tigers in the Sundarbans through local myths and social practices.

The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin This science fiction novella presents themes of environmental exploitation and indigenous wisdom through the lens of interplanetary colonization.

🌿 The story of Bon Bibi is still actively worshipped by both Hindu and Muslim residents of the Sundarbans, making it a rare example of a syncretic deity that transcends religious boundaries 🎨 The book features artwork by acclaimed artist Salman Toor, whose paintings have been exhibited at prestigious venues including the Whitney Museum of American Art 📝 The verse follows the traditional Bengali meter called dwipodi poyar - a couplet-based form that has been used in Bengali literature for centuries 🌳 The Sundarbans, where the story is set, is home to approximately 4,000 Bengal tigers and is the world's largest contiguous mangrove forest, spanning India and Bangladesh 🖋️ Author Amitav Ghosh wrote the entire narrative in strict meter and rhyme, making it one of the first contemporary English literary works to use this classical South Asian form