Join us at Champaca with Pankaj Singh and Athulya Pillai for the launch of their new book Eldo, and a conversation around their bestselling title Yangdol. The session will be moderated by Ramya Reddy.
These are stories that invite you to slow down and notice- whether it’s the Himalayan landscape, or the unfamiliar comfort of darkness. Told through words and illustrations, both Eldo and Yangdol open up quiet, intimate worlds. We’re delighted to bring you this evening of storytelling and reflection, surrounded by books and conversation.
About the Books:
Eldo is two things at once- an evocative visual essay on darkness and a story about a walk into a storm, in the dead of night. It asks: what does it mean to step out into the dark? Who do we become in the absence of light? What do we notice when our eyes and our senses adjust? This poetic inquiry explores our fading relationship with the night, and how our bodies, once intuitive instruments of perception, are growing distant from it. Eldo is a meditation on stillness, silence, and shadow- an invitation to reimagine darkness not as fearsome, but as full.
Their earlier book, Yangdol, is set in a remote Himalayan village in Ladakh, and follows a young girl’s lifelong yearning to see the elusive snow leopard- the ‘Grey Ghost’. Woven with memory and wonder, Yangdol is a tender reflection on patience, kinship, and growing up close to the wild. More than just a tale of pursuit, it speaks to the values passed down in rural Ladakh- of gentleness, kindness, and the quiet dignity of coexistence. Written for readers aged 7 and above, it has captivated readers of all ages.
Here are the Event Details:
Date: May 31, 2025, Saturday
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Champaca Bookstore, Vasanth Nagar
Since there is limited seating, we recommend you confirm your spot here.
About the Speakers:
Pankaj Singh is a writer and filmmaker whose work reflects his deep curiosity for the natural world. Through Faraway Originals, a collective he co-founded, he tells stories that lie at the intersection of nature, science, and human connection. His narratives are quiet, immersive, and rooted in simplicity.
Athulya Pillai is an illustrator and storyteller based in Bangalore. Her work is grounded in observation—of creatures, places, and people—and often leans into themes of wildlife conservation and ecological memory. With her delicate lines and thoughtful visual language, Athulya brings the emotional texture of landscapes and lives to the page.
Moderating the conversation is Ramya Reddy, visual storyteller, photographer and author of Soul of the Nilgiris: A Journey through the Mountains. Ramya’s work intimately explores the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve and its indigenous communities, blending narrative, image, and design. She collaborates closely with Toda women artisans and is deeply committed to cultural and ecological preservation.