What if the dodo had nothing to do with the cliché of a stupid, fat bird? What if “as dead as the dodo” was not one of those off-hand sayings anymore? Then maybe, we could solve the disappearance mystery. And take the our national bird’s history seriously.

Well, that’s exactly what Alan Grihault has been busy doing. Exploring the legends. Giving back to the long suffering dodo its true place in paradise. A noble task contained in Dodo, the bird behind the legend. The book published by the Imprimerie & Papeterie Commerciale was launched last Friday.

From beginning to end, Alan Grihault the author, leaves no stone unturned. His extensive research ranges from the scientific to the historical. In a vivid yet simple English, he takes us back to the colonial days of Dutch occupation, summons up figures and engravings to prove his point.

After sharing with us the first piece of writing about the dodo, penned down in 1599 – which describes the dear creatures as “fowls twice as big as swans” – the author compiles an exhaustive list of testimonies. They all point to the fact that the dodo – with its centuries of history – the dodo has a track record worth more than one trip down memory lane.

The book is on sale at the promotional price of Rs 490 at the Blue Penny Museum shop until Saturday.