{"id":44598,"date":"2025-12-15T11:07:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T05:37:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/2025\/12\/15\/guardians-of-dandaka-the-awakening-by-anil-sawan\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T11:07:22","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T05:37:22","slug":"guardians-of-dandaka-the-awakening-by-anil-sawan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/2025\/12\/15\/guardians-of-dandaka-the-awakening-by-anil-sawan\/","title":{"rendered":"Guardians of Dandaka: The Awakening by Anil Sawan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New Delhi [India], December 15: <\/span>From the rain-washed greens of Kerala to the bustling energy of Bengaluru, author and wildlife photographer\u00a0Anil Sawan<\/em>, 42, has spent his life straddling two worlds\u2014technology and the wilderness.<\/strong>\u00a0By profession, he leads Digital Product Management and Transformation, but by heart, he belongs undeniably to the forest. His third and latest book,\u00a0Guardians of Dandaka: The Awakening<\/em>, marks his first venture into eco-thrillers and continues his unwavering mission of bringing the wild closer to younger readers.<\/p>\n

A Voice That Grows from the Wilderness<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sawan\u2019s roots run deep into India\u2019s natural landscapes. As a passionate wildlife photographer, he has spent years watching \u201clight settle on fur, feathers, lakes, and leaves,\u201d allowing these quiet moments to guide his storytelling. His poetic beginnings\u2014Aaranya: Verses from the Living Wilderness<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Kabini: Whispers of Myth and Wilderness<\/em>\u2014laid the foundation for a literary journey that blends wonder, myth, ecology, and emotion.<\/p>\n

His shift to publishing more seriously began after taking his wife and eight-year-old son on their first wildlife safari. Their unexpected awe made him realise how distant the forest feels to many young people. It sparked a commitment to create stories that are warm, exciting, immersive, and real\u2014stories that make the wild feel like a living companion.<\/p>\n

About the Book<\/strong><\/p>\n

Guardians of Dandaka: The Awakening<\/em>\u00a0follows\u00a0seventeen-year-old Advik<\/strong>, who arrives in the Dandaka Reserve expecting a quiet holiday. Instead, he is thrust into a forest alive with secrets, danger, and the deep pulse of nature. Journeying alongside his uncle, a forest officer, Advik encounters tigers, elephants, and the rich rhythms of the wilderness\u2014while a dangerous poaching network threatens the fragile balance of the ecosystem.<\/p>\n

What unfolds is a gripping blend of adventure, mystery, and conservation. As the stakes rise, Advik must uncover his courage and step into a destiny he never imagined. The book opens the first doorway to a larger series rooted in the Dandaka landscape.<\/p>\n

What Readers Can Expect<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fast-paced adventure meets emotional depth, inviting readers to experience the forest as a living presence. Beyond the thrill, the story nudges readers to recognise conservation as a shared responsibility, not a distant concept. The novel speaks to young adults and adults alike, weaving themes of belonging, courage, and the quiet wisdom of the wild.<\/p>\n

Author\u2019s Vision<\/strong><\/p>\n

For Sawan, this book is more than a story\u2014it is \u201ca small lamp placed in young hands,\u201d an invitation to wander deeper into the forest and let it speak. He envisions expanding\u00a0Guardians of Dandaka<\/em>\u00a0into a full YA\/adult series filled with new mysteries and guardians.<\/p>\n

He also plans two more storytelling pathways:<\/p>\n