2. Story Requirements
the
STORY
should
Address the topic of BIODIVERSITY
Be RELEVANT / FAMILIAR to the audience
Find and illustrate connections
Create interest and empathy,
not guilt and sympathy
Deliver something unexpected
Evoke a sense of responsibility
3. the
STORY
sofar
Story development
Is located in a peri-urban
and urban landscape.
Narrated by witnesses and
marginalised species.
Focuses on dietary and
animal diversity.
A set of five accounts woven
together in a narrative.
Is non-linear.
Has a casual, descriptive tone.
Gives the reader a generic template.
Landfill
Tree Stumps
SuPERMARKET
HIGH RISE
APARTMENTS
Settlement
4. Character Development
“ What would you do with a sticker
tree anyway ? You can’t eat a
sticker!” said Grandfather Monkey.
“Yes, but it must be a wonderful
thing! The cityfolk put it on their
apples to make them crunchier!”
Long Fingers replied.
The Monkeys
Live in a peri-urban landfill.
Live in tension with the humans over
food and habitat.
Observe and mimic human habits.
Long-fingers is playful, meddlesome,
inquisitive.
Grandfather Monkey is wise, cautious,
full of stories.
Observed changes because of the
long life span.
G.M. Food, impact of changing habits.
5. Character Development
“I’m a third generation apartment
dweller, mind you. And I can tell you
the ventilator window is ideal for
nests. Of course, it’s risky.
But it’s less riskier than living
on trees, don’t you agree?”
The pigeon
The outlaw of the high-rise apartments.
Habitat evolves with urban development.
Are threatened by humans but persist
in the same environment - are survivors.
Deforestation, habitat loss, dwindling species.
6. Character Development
“ The part I most looked
forward to was the bargain,
being pulled to and fro
between grocer and shopper.
I felt so important...holding
a bounty of fragrances and
colours, being fought over
like that!”
The Shopping bag
Witnesses the change in food habits
and consumption patterns.
(Sees, thinks, wonders)
Has seen the local market being replaced
by the supermarket
Whimsical and nostalgic
Comments on disappearing dietary
diversity, market politics, consumer choices.
Monoculture in the urban lifestyle.
7. Character Development
“ Getting covered in mud was
part of the job, the plough didn’t
mind that. He knew when he was
taken from the slushy paddy to
the coarse millet patch, he
would shed the rich, dark mud
over the young millets.
The Plough
Essential part of food production but is overlooked.
Represents the farmer’s toil, which is an invisible force
to the city-dwellers.
Has seen change in farming patterns,
witnesses the farmer’s dillema.
Is connected to the variety of crops and notices
the disappearing local varieties.
Monoculture in farms, threat to local seeds, crop failure,
impact on the life of farmer - leads to ecological refugees.
8. Character Development
“ The farmer’s son opened his
trunk and wondered what he’d
do with the seeds he had carried
from his village. He decided to eat
them the following day. The next
day, he had run out of fuel again.”
The Trunk
Travels from the farm to the city.
Describes the life of an ecological refugee.
Disparity in accessing nutritious food,
expensive fruit and vegetables.
Public Distribution System, food and economy
