A Half Century of Ranthambore Unfolds in a Poignant Delhi Showcase and A New Collector’s Book

On January 20, 2026, the CCA Building at Bikaner House in New Delhi became the site of a momentous celebration, the unveiling of Ranthambore – 50 Iconic Years, a landmark exhibition and photographic volume honouring five decades of India's most celebrated tiger habitat. 

Curated by acclaimed photographer and conservationist Kairav Engineer, the exhibition marks a profound final collaboration with the late Valmik Thapar (1952–2025), the legendary "Tiger Man of India," who co-authored the work before his passing. The exhibition transcends the traditional book launch, transforming it into an experiential journey through immersive film rooms, wilderness soundscapes, archival maps, and rare paintings. 

Central to this kaleidoscopic view is the collective vision of over 130 Indian and international photographers, chronicling Ranthambore's extraordinary evolution from royal hunting ground to conservation sanctuary.

Half a Century of Conservation, Where Wilderness and Heritage Converge

Ranthambore's 50-year journey represents a remarkable testament to conservation's possibility when nature and human communities find equilibrium. What began as Project Tiger in 1973 has evolved into one of India's most successful wildlife preservation stories, where tiger populations have flourished despite, and alongside, human presence. 

A contributor to the project, speaking under anonymity about contemporary conservation discourse, offered a striking perspective, "See the biggest achievement of Ranthambore is that despite human interactions the tiger numbers have been preserved. The villages have been moved from core but they still remain as integral. The Ranthambore Fort is a UNESCO heritage site, what was once a hunting ground is now a conservation reserve for animals. The biggest blessing of it all is that we don't even need to maintain the fort at a vigorous scale because the nature around it is preserving it with utmost care. Had this been a city than what it is right now, it would have needed more preservation efforts."

Romila Thapar, renowned historian, professor emerita at JNU and aunt of Valmik Thapar, reflected on this unique symbiosis: "When we see a place that is filled with nature and not concretised, we nowadays tend to feel that the preservation has not been done properly. The beauty of Ranthambore is that, in all of its wilderness, the fort remains conserved, pristine as much as possible." This observation illuminates a crucial truth, that nature itself becomes the finest conservator when given space to thrive.

A Final, Fitting Tribute to Valmik Thapar’s Legacy

The timing of this exhibition, coming near the first death anniversary of Valmik Thapar, renders it an especially poignant tribute to a man who dedicated his life to understanding and protecting India's tigers. Thapar's legacy extends beyond his celebrated writings and advocacy; it encompasses a fundamental reimagining of how we perceive and relate to wildlife. 

Kairav Engineer reflected on the collaboration's genesis, "It was a very humbling feeling to be associated with Valmik and the whole project came together over an evening with him, we were just discussing that Ranthambore has completed 50 years and there should be something special made and I threw the idea that, you know, let's do a book with crowdsourced images that celebrates 50 years of landmark photographs from the park... working with Valmik was one of the best experiences of my life. Very sad that he couldn't see it come into fruition, but it was one of the best."

Ram Rehman, renowned photographer and founder of SEHMAT collective, who knew Thapar personally, reflected on the exhibition's deeper significance, "I knew Vallu (Valmik) personally, I even know the family. The exhibition really is a befitting tribute to his undying legacy around his most beloved creature. I'm glad it could come to fruition. Valmik's legacy I hope people see beyond the luminous light of greatness but also his standings on what conservation really meant, beyond the darkness of whatever is happening right now and what the narrative around conservation is right now with private players entering in the field as a business. I hope the exhibition informs that, at least to the general public about what it truly means."

Beyond the Powerful Stare,Tigers as Living Beings

The exhibition and accompanying volume offer something revolutionary, a departure from the traditional portrayal of tigers as mere symbols of power and aggression. Through Kairav Engineer's lens and Thapar's vision, tigers emerge as complete beings with vulnerabilities, intimate lives, and complex existences. The project documents not just the iconic stares and dramatic hunts but the quieter moments; courtship, motherhood, play, and the constant negotiation with threat and scarcity. 

Engineer describes the volume, published by Roli Books, as "a collector's item, one of the best wildlife books out there in India right now with some of the rarest wildlife scenery," adding that whilst "crowdsourcing images was tough, I'm very happy and glad that there was a lot of people who were generous enough to donate their images to this work." Significantly, the project is 100% for charity, with all proceeds benefiting Tiger Watch, Valmik's organisation of choice, a detail that speaks to the photographer community's understanding of conservation as collective responsibility. 

By presenting tigers in their full complexity and positioning memory as a medium for preservation, the exhibition, which will run from 20-22 January, 2026, at CCA Building, Bikaner House, Delhi, challenges viewers to see beyond the postcard image and recognise the fragile, precious reality of wild lives lived on the edge.