“Sajal Mondal is born in Basanti, a census town in the Sundarban not far from the Matla river and the Sundarban National Park. He is an actor and often performs locally at the Mangrove Theatre Centre, in Kolkata and across India”.
In early 2025, the city of Kolkata witnessed something truly remarkable — a Sundarban Tram Journey, a three-day cultural and ecological celebration on wheels. A tram, transformed into a vibrant canvas of art and storytelling, became a moving museum dedicated to the biodiversity and culture of the Sundarbans.
The project began weeks earlier when I joined a team from Melbourne, Australia, travelling deep into the Sundarbans. From remote villages to the edges of the sea, they immersed themselves in local life, studying biodiversity, cultural practices and the everyday struggles and joys of the communities living in and alongside the mangroves. The insights they gathered became the foundation for the design of a tram in Kolkata.
On return to Kolkata, artists were invited to collaborate on this vision. Together, they created a dazzling moving exhibition — a tram alive with stories of the Sundarbans’ ecology and culture. To make the experience meaningful for passengers, special cards were designed, including six Sundarban biodiversity cards with a Bengal Tiger, Kingfishers, Saltwater Crocodile, Chital Deer, Sea-eagle and Red Jungle-fowl, some butterflies, birds and marsupials from Australia and another series of four cards called the Climate Tigers. These cartooned tiger characters looked at the effects of climate change on the Sundarban with a sea-level rise tiger, summer tiger and monsoon tiger. One of the cards expressed a solution by encouraging the use of pollution free electric trams. Passengers also received traditional gifts such as patachitra bookmarks (scroll paintings) and a series of colourful old style tram tickets, turning the ride into an unforgettable cultural journey.
I had the privilege of serving as a tram conductor during this project. Dressed in our specially designed mangrove tram shirts it was more than a logistical role — it was about guiding passengers through an open classroom on wheels. Much like open education, this initiative allowed everyday travellers to learn, engage, and reflect on the shared challenges of ecology and culture across continents.
One of the most powerful aspects of the project was its environmental message. Trams, as carbon-free transport, symbolising sustainable urban living. Preserving this heritage mode of transport, alongside protecting fragile ecosystems like the Sundarbans which sent a clear call for awareness and action. For me, being part of this movement was both inspiring and humbling.
When the project concluded, I felt compelled to carry its spirit forward through performance. I created a play called ‘The Tigers Journey’ - An immersive and interactive performance blending physical theatre, storytelling and visual imagery, where a Tiger dressed in a tram conductor's costume becomes the storyteller of climate change, biodiversity loss, and the struggles of survival in a rapidly changing world. A tiger who leaves the forest, joins the tram journey in the city, and returns home to share this transformative experience with its community. Performed in a minimalist style with a tiger mask and my tram conductor’s costume, the piece was staged at community events in the Sundarban, Aliah University in Kolkata and schools along Mumbai’s mangrove belt. Everywhere I performed, audiences embraced the message — proof that art can bridge worlds and spark awareness in powerful ways.
None of this would have been possible without the collaboration and support I received. I remain deeply grateful to the Australian team — especially Roberto — and to the Australian Government for their vision and commitment in bringing this project to life.
The Sundarban Tram Journey was not just a celebration of biodiversity and culture; it was a living, moving reminder of how humans, art, and the environment are deeply connected. I carry immense pride in having been part of this journey and look forward to seeing such initiatives grow in scale and impact in the years to come.
