“98 Days of Nila: It Takes a Village… to Save a Dog!” by Devakee Rahalkar is a heartfelt true story that celebrates love, resilience, and the extraordinary power of community. When Nivedita’s beloved dog, Nila, goes missing from a boarding facility near Bengaluru, what follows is a relentless 98-day search that captures not just one family’s devotion but the compassion of an entire city. Through unfamiliar villages, dense fields, and miles of uncertainty, the search for Nila becomes a movement that unites over a thousand volunteers—people who had never met Nivedita but were bound by a shared sense of empathy and hope.
This remarkable journey unfolds across 25 kilometers of rural terrain, where strangers turn into allies, and social media becomes a lifeline of love and coordination. What begins as a personal quest transforms into a larger testament to the goodness that still exists in the world—a powerful reminder that sometimes, miracles are not simply found; they are created through kindness, determination, and faith. “98 Days of Nila” is not just about finding a lost dog—it’s about rediscovering humanity itself. It is a story that touches every heart that has ever loved an animal and believed in the unspoken bond between humans and their four-legged friends.
Author Devakee Rahalkar brings this real-life saga to life with tenderness and authenticity. Based in Mumbai, Devakee lives with her own “furry and hairy” family—her grumpy six-year-old indie pup and a four-year-old toddler who wholeheartedly believes he’s a golden retriever. An alumna of IIM Kozhikode, Devakee spent over a decade as a management consultant before turning her storytelling skills toward more soulful narratives. Her deep love for India’s indigenous dogs and her passion for giving them the recognition they deserve shine through every page of this book.
Moved profoundly by Nivedita and her family’s courage and compassion, Devakee regards telling Nila’s story as both an honour and a responsibility. With “98 Days of Nila,” she hopes to inspire readers to see our desi dogs not as strays but as symbols of loyalty, love, and resilience. This book stands as a moving tribute to the magic that happens when hearts connect and communities come together for a single act of love—a story that reminds us that even in moments of loss and despair, hope has the power to bring everyone home.