A collection of seventeen short stories from Uttarakhand, the Himalayan state of northern India, invite young readers to discover the mountains, through its stories.

While the backdrop for these stories is the rustic setting in remote, high-altitude villages and towns of Uttarakhand, possibly far removed from the worlds of the readers, the central themes and characters of the stories aim to be relatable and relevant for children anywhere in the world. The endeavor is to offer children a taste of culture and tradition from the Himalayas and an appreciation for diversity.

Stories such as, ‘The bagpiper’ offer an insight into the musical history and tradition of Uttarakhand, while stories such as ‘Kaafal’ are my adaptations of local children’s folktales, passed down by oral tradition for hundreds of years.

Another highlight of the book is a story called ‘The villian’ which touches upon a very deep-rooted issue in Indian society – that of color prejudice, especially amongst young girls. The story aims to help children appreciate their uniqueness and accept their color of skin and their bodies, with pride.

The book also features two real-life characters and their stories – Gaura Devi, who pioneered the ‘Chipko movement’ (tree hugging) to set an example for forest protection across the world, and Nain Sigh Rawat, who is one of the greatest explorers and surveyors in the continent. Both real-life heroes from the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand.