This is my first ever blog. Never thought I have those writing ingredient within me. Not sure of now as well but still trying.. I remember the incident when I was in school around 7th std.. And my mom show my horoscope made of palm leaf, to our old family astrologer asking what profession I should choose when I grow up. He looked at it and then looked at me popping those two big round eyes above his looking glass and said in Oriya “ye Jhiya ta bahut bada lekhika baniba.” Means “ This girl will be a great writer.” Whole of my family laughed including me as I always flunked in literature and everyone knew I hate it. Math was always my strength.. Writing and me….. impossible.. But they say love makes you do the impossible. And I think that’s happening now as I AM IN LOVE..
Love for animal is in my gene inherited from my family. I grew up appreciating the beauty of wild and nature. And from childhood cats would attract me specially their eyes.. I know they are cunning but little cunningness adds to the beauty.. I use to see all the big cats like tiger..lion.. Leopard in zoo, in captive and spend long time in front of their cage looking at them. I use to appreciate them. And believe me at that small age also I could find the torment, disenchantment in their eyes and which makes me distressed as well. I never could understand the fact in that age. Slowly I realize if u made for 7.7 sq miles territory and kept in 20ft by 20ft cage then how u feel.
Lik this…
How does it feel to you..
But Paradox is they are safe here.. In wild these cats are free. But are they enjoying their freedom.. ?? Anyway thats differnt aspect all togetehr.
Then slowly I grow up and got so enthralled in struggle to survival that this passion slept quietly in some corner within me. Education.. then job.. then marriage… then kid.. one by one stages of life, I passed through every bit of it and try to prove myself the best.
I usually browse through Discovery, Nat Geo, Animal planet etc in TV whenever I get a chance to watch TV. Suddenly once an advertisement by Bipasa Basu on “Where tiger Rules”, caught my attention during month of Mar 2013. Whole April 2013 its going to telecast every night in Animal Planet. That’s it, during that month between 9 to 10 I would have fooled death when the show was on the air in Animal Planet. Even I recorded all the episodes and have seen them number of times even I lost count.
Seeing that splendid beauty on screen, I couldn’t hold my enticement to see them in wild. First national park came into my mind is Ranthambore. There is another reason. In the “Where Tiger rules” series, maximum episode has featured on Rathambore. Especially the story of Machli and Broken tail inspired me to visit their territory.
That’s it.. I made a plan to visit during May.. Few research in internet.. all booking done.
18th May 2013 – The journey is about to start. All packed and set up.. last min checklist all ticked..
12 noon I suppose to start from home.. but cab guy ditched and thanks to my loving hubby who at instantly agreed to drop me in station. I was feeling really bad to leave my 4.5 years old daughter behind.. That was the first time I was leaving her for many days. I was expecting she will cry which may make my journey more difficult. But surprisingly she waived me bye with a smile. Now I can enjoy my trip..
If you want to see the real India, u should travel by the train. It felt so good to travel by train after so long.. Traveling alone may not sound so interesting but for me its a mixed feeling. I got to read one of those book which were covered in dust in my bookshelf for so long. Then browse the net till I get the connection. Look outside the window and enjoyed watching passing trees, fields, mountains..
And again same time I was missing my cutie pie.. her amazing words.. Her smile.. I already started missing them..
Well 1st safari in Ranthombore went on without the gimps for whom I came all the way so far.On the first look the forest was so desolate and vigorous.. A perfect empire of a perfect emperor.
Was bit upset. But again the forest’s beauty isn’t just with the tiger.. There are so many more which I had never thought of it. Like this one which suddenly caught my attention..
A shikra feasting on a juvenile parakeet. First felt bad for the little one then this is the law of nature.. Struggle for survival is not only with us but each and every entity in this world. You failed.. you finished.
Next day early morning 2nd safari also went without the sight of it.. I was completely devastated. As if, its challenging me “Catch me if u can, you don’t get your love of life so easily. Girl you have to struggle to see me.” Cool… I too accept your challenge.. I am not the one who can let go so easily.
Then just to divert myself.. and show him bit attitude. I started appreciating the other aspect of the forest.. Just to show him, he is not the only one for whom I came all the way.. There are so many enchanting factors around which I can adore.. Like this jungle Barbet.. They are so witty and can be so expressive..
We usually hate Lizards.. If one house lizard somehow enter my home, my man will lose his night’s sleep and make me also sleepless till I drove that away. But this Lizard, Monitor lizard, I don’t think anyone can hate it.
Then comes the 3rd Safari in 2nd day afternoon. It was an intense summer with 45/46 C with completely desiccated heat. I was almost in brink of sunstroke but still I didn’t gave up.. I have to find it somehow.. Let me see how difficult is its challenge.. I was all set and gypsy came to pick me from my hotel. What I am seeing Dr Dharmendra Khandal is in the gypsy.. After few minutes of Safari Suddenly I saw few other gypsy were stopped in one place. My heart beats getting faster.. Can I see it now.. Slowly when the gypsy approach near.. Mom and son is co0ling off in the water hole. What a sight.. Slowly our driver manage to take the front view. By then my hands and legs are trembling with excitement. From the water, slowly the cub, referred as Sultan, took his head up and looked at me.. That’s the life changing moment from me.
When that 1 year old looked first time into my eyes.. Mesmerized me completely. Till now nothing was so powerful in the whole world which can make me surrender myself to that supremacy.. May be this is how it feels to be hypnotised. Suddenly the guide shake me.. “Madamji.. photo lijiye na.. ” May be he is calling me from long time but those Mom and son had conquered all my senses already. Then only I came back to this world and realised i need to take photographs. Even today also when I see the above photo of Sultan looking straight into my eyes.. I feel thousands of butterfly fluttering their wings within me.. And warmly soothe my heart, my souls and my mind.
Suddenly the cub got up from the water and walk towards the road. You should see the attention of mom , the way she growled at her son as if “Where do u think u r going “
Then the mother as well followed him and got up from water hole and slowly cross the road and vanished behind the rocks. But the spell still continue and continuing till date…
In next morning Safari I got to meet the father..
He is kind of unusually huge and so stunning.. And ferocious as well. one thing I observed in tigers that they are huge and u can see very little mane around their neck which make them look more vicious.
Yes.. The tiger in different national parks within india differs a bit depending the habitat of the forest and pray base.
hen in next safari got to see this beauty as well…
In the subsequent safaris encountered few more splendour of Ranthambore.
Initially when I was planning this trip I thought 4 days in Ranthambore is too much and I may get bored.. I was quite apprehensive about this trip. But when in final day I was parting with that place I felt so depressed.. Even the joy and excitement of meeting my daughter and husband after a weeklong was not prevailing the sorrow of leaving that precious behind.
Wish I could do few more safaris.. Wish I could meet once again.. Wish I could look into its eyes forever.. and ever.. and ever..
