The rising waters of the ocean due to climate change at the Sundarbans Archipelago is causing salinity and death of the “Sundari” trees (literally meaning Beautiful) Mangrove trees and causing ecological impacts like Eco-migration of the inhabitants and close to endangerment of tigers and Bengal dolphins. Cities like Kolkata who are somewhat protected by the Sundarbans are succumbing to the ravages of Nature. The correlation of the Sundari trees and the tiger widows and the forest spirit Bon Bibi is drawn in the painting. Bon Bibi the forest deity is worshipped by both the Hindus and Muslims of the forest personifies the balance of nature and all living things. The lives of the Tiger- Widows offer a glimpse of a unique relationship between environment, culture, and mental health. Their story is one of the gender issues and stigma but also of Eco migration, human trafficking and the delicate balance of nature and how the victims of the forest are trying to conserve the forest by planting Sundari Trees. The painting tries to portray the complex effects of climate change on both humans and tigers through the folk lore of Bon Bibi and the malevolent Tiger God Dokkhin Rai.
An excerpt on the painting in The Mercury News
https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/10/29/cupertinos-euphrat-celebrates-animal-world-with-new-exhibit/