What kind of kind? Click on the cover image below to access the free e-book.
The story is a combination of facts and fiction. It explores the virtue of kindness and it teaches us a little about the behaviour of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles, and about the behaviour of us humans.
The main protagonist of this story is Shanti Sofia, the daughter of Yajaira Vargas, a park ranger at Paso Pacifico, an organisation that works with local communities to help protect and restore biodiversity where people already live.
Yajaira Vargas works on Paso Pacifico’s initiatives at Playa El Ostional, at the La Flor Wildlife Refuge in Nicaragua and Shanti Sofia is engaged in their junior ranger programme. Like her mother, she is inspired to help protect endangered sea turtles. She spoke some insightful words, which I have used in the story—‘Turtle eggs are supposed to hatch in the sand, and not in the mouth.’
I thank Shanti Sofia, Yajaira Vargas, all the other rangers, and Paso Pacifico, for their commitment and for inspiring me with their work and their words. Their experiences and their approach to resolve the problem of human predators, with empathy and understanding gave me the background that I needed to write about a virtue as delicate as kindness.
So often misinterpreted and misrepresented, kindness is not just about friendliness and generosity. Kindness requires the development of a kind heart—a heart that cares.
One million species are on the road to extinction. Can we stop this from happening? Perhaps, if we begin to care.
It is for us to choose what kind of kind we would like to be.
Thank you,
Neha Mundhra
Kyo and Obi 
Very gentle and convincing in approach to a subject that is so tender and gentle itself.
Neha,I can feel your kindness in undertaking to talk of such an important aspect of life with so much tenderness.May your message spread far and near to heal the heart that has become so callous and indifferent.
Neha, you have written about such an important emotion that is sorely lacking in today’s world. I think you really captured the meaning of being truly kind not just to oneself or to fellow human beings but to every living creature. I am sure this story will make children and adults think about kindness with a deeper understanding of what it entails. Thank you.
“It is for us to choose what kind of kind we would like to be.” – This is so deep! Hope that this helps us all to get out of our little bubble of self-centeredness and care about other creatures around us.