- This event is over. However, time travel possible through our Audio & Video! See upcoming events
Snakeman of India
The Life Story of Romulus Whitaker
Speakers
Join us for an enthralling evening as we dive into the wild, formative years of Romulus Whitaker through his memoir, Snakes, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll: My Early Years. Esteemed conservationist and the revered ‘Snakeman of India’, Whitaker, along with his co-author Janaki Lenin, will be in conversation with Darius Sunawala.
This event brings to life his journey of a boy from the US to the heart of India, where his passion for snakes and wildlife conservation took root. From harbouring a pet python under his boarding school bed to his hair-raising adventures across continents, Whitaker’s story in Snakes, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll is not just about snakes but a love affair with nature.
The evening will comprise firsthand experiences that led Whitaker to become a leading figure in the global conservation space.
Speakers
Romulus Whitaker
Romulus Whitaker (b. 1943) is unquestionably one of the best-known figures of the wildlife conservation scene in India. He is famous for establishing the Madras Snake Park, the Madras Crocodile Bank Trust and the Andaman and Nicobar Environmental Team, as well as for his work conserving India’s rainforests—the habitat of so many endangered species. He received the Rolex Award for Enterprise and the Whitley Award for his contribution to nature conservation. In 2018, he was awarded the Padma Shri. Whitaker has co-authored the definitive Snakes of India: The Field Guide and produced several wildlife documentaries, including Emmy Award-winning King Cobra for National Geographic.
Janaki Lenin
Janaki Lenin writes about wildlife and conservation, and the intermingling destinies of humans and animals. She was a columnist for The Hindu and is the author of the two-volume memoir My Husband and Other Animals, and Every Creature Has a Story.
Darius Sunawala
Darius Sunawala has been one of Bangalore’s most popular radio-professionals. In 2000, he abandoned a successful MBA course halfway through in order to take up a radio career with All India Radio. Over his 3 decade long career in radio, he has hosted multiple prime-time shows, designed and set up radio stations across the country and was the National Creative Head of Fever 104fm. He remains a sought-after consultant in the radio industry but, in recent years, has spent more time in podcasting, theatre, comedy improvisation and his organic farm in Ooty.
