IIMB launches book co-authored by Prof. G Shainesh at Bangalore International Centre
‘Exploring Nature: Flora and Fauna of IIM Bangalore’ released on 14 September in presence of co-authors, IIMB faculty, alumni
17 September, 2024, Bengaluru: A coffee table book titled, ‘Exploring Nature: Flora and Fauna of IIM Bangalore’ celebrating the flora and fauna of the IIM Bangalore campus, co-authored by Prof. G Shainesh, Chairperson, Initiatives on Consumer Insights and faculty of the Marketing area of IIMB, was launched on 14 September 2024 at the Bangalore International Centre Library, in the presence of Prof. Rishikesha T Krishnan, Director, IIM Bangalore, Harish Mittal, President, IIMB Alumni Association (IIMBAA), along with IIMB alumni, former and current faculty members of IIMB as well as naturalists and conservationists in the city.
The other co-authors of the book – a visual journey through the campus’s diverse flora and fauna – are naturalists Priya Venkatesh, Founder, The Naturalist School and Karthikeyan S, Chief Naturalist, Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR).
Welcoming the gathering, Prof. RT Krishnan said, "When people think of the IIMB campus, they often focus on its renowned architecture. However, I would argue that you cannot truly appreciate our campus without considering its lush greenery. Today, it is the biodiversity that stands out perhaps even more than the buildings. This book captures the vibrant ecosystem cultivated at the campus – from the towering trees that dwarf our structures to the minute details of our insect life. It is a testament to the unique green space we have created in the heart of the city, and I am thrilled that we are sharing this aspect of our campus with the wider community."
The event offered the opportunity to meet the authors who shared their experiences of putting the volume together and what inspired them to write the book. The book launch was followed by a panel discussion on, ‘Embracing Biodiversity for a Nature-inclusive Bangalore’, featuring the co-authors of the book and P S Narayan, Global Head of Sustainability, Wipro. The discussion delved into how, despite urban challenges, the IIMB campus serves as a model for creating spaces that harmonize academia and ecology.
The IIMB campus now hosts a variety of trees and flowers, birds and butterflies, insects and fungi – all carefully documented in the book. IIM Bangalore has been awarded for housing the ‘Best Garden in Academic Institutions’ in the state by the Karnataka State Department of Horticulture. The book's authors and Prof. RT Krishnan offered a special word of thanks to the Horticulture team of IIMB which has nurtured and nourished the campus.
Prof. K Kumar, who led the IIMB History Project, spoke of what it takes to create environmentally responsible and forward-thinking educational institutions. Harish Mittal described the transformation of the IIMB campus from a brown piece of land in the 1980s to the oasis of green that it is today. "IIMB has about 285 species of trees on campus, the most in any academic institution in the country and the best in increasing green cover". K N Murthy, formerly from the Indian Forest Service (IFS), who is also an alumnus of IIMB, suggested that the institute collaborate with other campuses in the city, including corporate campuses, to bring biodiversity back to Bangalore.
This is the third book in the series launched to commemorate the Golden Jubilee celebrations of IIMB. The first was, ‘The Evolution of IIMB: Directors Perspectives’ launched on IIMB’s Foundation Day in 2019; the second was Kiran Keswani’s book on campus architecture titled, ‘The Making of a Campus: IIM Bangalore’ during the Foundation Week celebrations in 2023, and this is the third that celebrates the unique campus. All the books are brought out under the aegis of the IIMB History Project. This book celebrates the rich natural heritage of the IIMB campus, offering insights into its plant and animal life. The volume is a narrative of resilience, coexistence and the profound connection between education and the environment.
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