‘The Tree with Eyes’: Short stories set in Himalayas are horror accounts of ecological destruction

There was a time when writers would escape to the hills, spending their days with trees, streams, and wildlife, seeking inspiration for their art. This romantic notion of the hills is amply felt in literary works born from such circumstances, which in turn, compel the reader to believe that the mountains are sites of pristine beauty and undisturbed peace. Writings across genres – poetry, travelogue, fiction – unanimously agree that there are few things as majestic as a mountain. These literatures have made their impact felt on movies, photography, music, and most strongly, on travel. The hills are the default getaway during the cruel summer in the plains, motorbiking in the treacherous mountains is a niche travelling style of its own, and if these weren’t invasive enough, it is now an aspiration to own houses in the hills, which are increasingly being constructed without any regard for its delicate ecology.

Deep into the hills

Bela Negi’s debut work of fiction, The Tree with Eyes and Other Stories, understands this plight very well. Negi, who lives in Nainital, has a front-row view of the reckless damage that the Himalayas have been subjected to under the guise of development and tourism. But she takes the reader deeper into the...

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