Fateh Singh Rathore devoted the better part of his life to making Ranthambhore National Park a safe haven for the tiger population to live and grow in. He was intolerant of red tape and led a tireless crusade against poachers. Globally respected for his work, he was unpopular with Indian forest officials whenever he sought to point out anything that went wrong or falling tiger numbers. In such cases, the official reaction was always denial in other national parks such as Sariska or Panna, this kind of denial has led to a near wipe-out of the entire tiger population.
Fateh survived a bid on his life, fought stiff resistance from a powerful lobby of bureaucrats, and was even barred entry into his beloved national park, all because he would not give up his fight to save tigers. Yet, against all odds, he remained an eminently upright man, admired by Rajiv Gandhi, Bill Clinton, Amitabh Bachchan, and wildlife activists like Valmik Thapar. Deeply loyal to his friends, Fateh remained an unconventional family man, a gifted amateur actor and a lover of the good life. Soonoo Taraporewala’s insightful biography, based on her years of association with this indomitable ‘tiger warrior’, not only brings alive Fateh Singh Rathore’s extraordinary legacy but also opens up wider questions about wildlife conservation in India.
About the Author Soonoo Taraporewala is keenly interested in issues related to nature conservation. After working for over twenty years as a librarian at the British Council in Mumbai, she now pursues her interests in literature, classical music, travel and photography. She has a special love for the forests and animals of Ranthambhore.
