Valmik Thapar was never just a conservationist. Known widely as the 'Tiger Man of India', Thapar spent over four decades obsessively documenting and demanding justice for the Bengal tiger, refusing to let the animal be reduced to a tourism logo. From the forests of Ranthambhore, the driest tiger habitat in the world, to the innumerable pages of his searing books and documentaries, his work blurred the line between science and activity. Thapar passed away last year in May, and in honour of both his immeasurable life’s work and the subject of his devotion, the Bengal tiger, photographer and conservationist Kairav Engineer presents 'Ranthambhore – 50 Iconic Years', a book that documents more than half a century of Ranthambhore National Park.

The book takes readers on a sweeping journey through the evolution of Ranthambhore National Park over the past fifty years, thoughtfully structured as a series of jungle safaris that traverse the park’s expansive 70-kilometre terrain. Each section mirrors the experience of moving through the forest itself. Compiled from the work of over 130 Indian and international photographers, the book becomes a collective visual archive, bringing together multiple perspectives and decades of observation. Through these images, it documents the remarkable diversity of flora and fauna that survives and thrives in one of the world’s most arid habitats, revealing not just the iconic presence of the Bengal tiger, but the intricate ecosystem that sustains life in Ranthambhore. 

As a testament to the organisation’s and Thapar’s commitment to the Bengal tiger, all proceeds from the sale of the book will be donated to Tiger Watch, supporting the work of frontline forest guards and strengthening anti-poaching efforts.

As both the Ranthambhore National Park, and the life of Valmik Thapar was everything but ordinary, the launch of this book also transforms into something completely one-of-a-kind. From the 20th to the 22nd of January, a multi-sensory journey across two floors of the CCA Building at Bikaner House from, invites visitors into the layered history and living ecology of Ranthambhore. Archival maps, rare paintings, and historical texts trace the park’s evolution from the Mughal period to the present, foregrounding the Early Wildlife era and the complex coexistence of humans and predators around the Ranthambhore Fort. This foundation flows into a text-driven Timeline Corridor charting key wildlife milestones, culminating in the Film Room, where rare footage and screenings of Valmik Thapar’s iconic BBC documentaries serve as a cinematic tribute to him. Featuring crowdsourced imagery from generations of photographers and paired with a soundscape recorded in the Ranthambhore wilderness, the exhibition offers a deeply immersive encounter with the tiger’s domain. 

Ranthambhore – 50 Iconic Years does not romanticise the jungle so much as it bears witness to it, capturing the resilience of a landscape Thapar spent his life defending. In translating these pages into an immersive public experience, Kairav Engineer ensures that Thapar’s legacy moves beyond memory, urging viewers to reckon with what it truly means to conserve. Long after the exhibition ends, the questions it raises are about coexistence, about responsibility, and most importantly, about survival.

Pre-order your books through their website here.

Visit the 'Ranthambore: Fifty Iconic Years' exhibition at the CCA Building, Bikaner House from 20-22 January from 11 AM - 7 PM.

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