Table of contents : Introduction Prologue : past as precursor of future 1. The Himalayan memoir 2. Tectonic serendipity 3. International biological highway 4. Life in flux 5. The first axe 6. The Chipko saga 7. The first train to Lhasa 8. Dam rivers, damn rivers 9. Payback time 10. Towards sustainability 11. Individuals, institutions and ideals.