Assambirds

An Encounter With The Kafkaesque Guest A Chinese Mantis ( Tenodera sinensis ), encountered on a summer morning, inspired by the absurd anxieties of Gregor Samsa and the ancient, prehistoric world it outlived. Waking up to find a prehistoric visitor on my bedroom wall felt like a surreal intrusion from the world of Franz Kafka. On a quiet Tuesday summer morning, I woke up to an unexpected guest. As I opened my eyes, I found myself staring at a praying mantis perched on the wall, just two feet from my face. (It was a Chinese Mantis Tenodera sinensis .) For a moment, I lay there paralyzed, utterly fascinated by its bizarre anatomy—those impossibly long legs, a needle–thin body, two sweeping antennae, and an ov...

The Boudha An illustration of Boudhanath Stupa: devotees, pilgrims, and locals circumambulating the monumental dome of the Great Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. Boudha—affectionately known as Boudhanath Stupa, Jarung Kashor , or Khasti Mahachaitya —stands as one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this iconic landmark is both a vital spiritual sanctuary and a premier magnet for travelers exploring Kathmandu. Ever since I moved to Nepal in 2025 to teach English at North Pole Boarding High School in Jibjibe, Rasuwa—thanks to a wonderful opportunity from Mr. Krishna Bahadur Tamang—I had been longing to visit the Kathmandu Valley. So, after four busy months in Ji...

The Man Who Filmed Wildlife: A Journey Into The World of Dr. Robin Banerjee An artistic illustration depicting biodiversity champion and filmmaker Dr. Robin Banerjee peering through his iconic Arriflex 16ST 16mm celluloid movie camera. Immersed in the dense jungles of Kaziranga, he captures the majestic one–horned rhinoceros—the very creature that stole his heart and inspired a lifelong mission of global wildlife conservation. If there were more Robin Banerjees in the world, it would be a better place. — David Shepherd Long before eco-tourism and digital wildlife channels existed, pioneer filmmaker Dr. Robin Banerjee braved the world's most perilous terrains with heavy celluloid cameras to capture the ...