Every year more than 1, 50,000 people from across India and some from across the world visit Sunderban. The world's largest mangrove forest is an UNESCO declared heritage site.
But of course, most people visit Sunderban just for a magical glimpse of the tiger. For the irresistible lure of locking eyes with the elusive tiger even as the camera freezes in one's hand.
But one question here, of the thousands of people who visit Sunderban, how many have actually seen the tiger?
More than 200 tigers are reported to be living along the 100 islands that span across West Bengal and Bangladesh. But noisy boats, broken watch towers, rowdy tourists and unregulated tourism have made the sighting of tigers an almost impossible sight.
There are stories of the stealthy hunter striking with unimaginable speed even as they swim across the river in quick strides and carry away the unsuspecting prey even before people can look around them. But that happens only in the deep of the forest where the poor tribal people still live today.
Tiger tourism has brought fame to Sunderban. It's no longer a sleepy, forgotten town. Exotic resorts like Sunderban Tiger Camp have sprung up on the islands which offer city travellers a few days of quiet and peace in the utmost luxury of well decorated cottages with sumptuous food and entertainment. But the luxury and the wealth has not really benefited the villagers.
The islands so poignantly depicted in Amitava Ghosh's ‘Hungry Tide' tell a tale of neglect and decay.
The plight of the villagers is painful and distressing. Daily fight for survival with limited access to education, healthcare, sanitary, transportation facilities and the surprise attacks by the tiger have all drained down the resources of the villagers.
As for the visitors, when they realize that the stealthy tiger they had come to see is not willing to oblige them, most of them spend their days gorging on the sumptuous fresh food with little thought to the islands or its people.
But, there's much more to Sunderban than the tigers. In fact, maybe the tigers are a little tired now of all the people rushing about in the boats madly waiting for a glimpse of them.
I remember one incident clearly. As dusk fell and our designated boat for the river cruise navigated across the vast swamp lands to make our way back to the safety of the cottages, most people hardly had eyes for the beautiful mangrove trees, the flying birds, or the lone, lazy crocodile on the river bank. All eyes were fixed on a spot behind the trees on one island, where one of the people in the boat, said he had noticed something moving. Everyone and their cameras waited impatiently as the boat came nearer to the island, silence stretching into the dark.
"Isn't that too small to be a ti
Every year more than 1, 50,000 people from across India and some from across the world visit Sunderban. The world's largest mangrove forest is an UNESCO declared heritage site.
But of course, most people visit Sunderban just for a magical glimpse of the tiger. For the irresistible lure of locking eyes with the elusive tiger even as the camera freezes in one's hand.
But one question here, of the thousands of people who visit Sunderban, how many have actually seen the tiger?
More than 200 tigers are reported to be living along the 100 islands that span across West Bengal and Bangladesh. But noisy boats, broken watch towers, rowdy tourists and unregulated tourism have made the sighting of tigers an almost impossible sight.
There are stories of the stealthy hunter striking with unimaginable speed even as they swim across the river in quick strides and carry away the unsuspecting prey even before people can look around them. But that happens only in the deep of the forest where the poor tribal people still live today.
Tiger tourism has brought fame to Sunderban. It's no longer a sleepy, forgotten town. Exotic resorts like Sunderban Tiger Camp have sprung up on the islands which offer city travellers a few days of quiet and peace in the utmost luxury of well decorated cottages with sumptuous food and entertainment. But the luxury and the wealth has not really benefited the villagers.
The islands so poignantly depicted in Amitava Ghosh's ‘Hungry Tide' tell a tale of neglect and decay.
The plight of the villagers is painful and distressing. Daily fight for survival with limited access to education, healthcare, sanitary, transportation facilities and the surprise attacks by the tiger have all drained down the resources of the villagers.
As for the visitors, when they realize that the stealthy tiger they had come to see is not willing to oblige them, most of them spend their days gorging on the sumptuous fresh food with little thought to the islands or its people.
But, there's much more to Sunderban than the tigers. In fact, maybe the tigers are a little tired now of all the people rushing about in the boats madly waiting for a glimpse of them.
I remember one incident clearly. As dusk fell and our designated boat for the river cruise navigated across the vast swamp lands to make our way back to the safety of the cottages, most people hardly had eyes for the beautiful mangrove trees, the flying birds, or the lone, lazy crocodile on the river bank. All eyes were fixed on a spot behind the trees on one island, where one of the people in the boat, said he had noticed something moving. Everyone and their cameras waited impatiently as the boat came nearer to the island, silence stretching into the dark.
"Isn't that too small to be a tiger?" one brave soul ventured out finally after 10 minutes of patient waiting. Just then, the elusive figure came out from behind the trees, not a majestic tiger, not even a baby tiger but a small monkey.
I wonder who was laughing at us more then, the tiger or the monkey or maybe both.
You don't need to see a tiger to love Sunderban. The vast open stretches are home to some of rare birds if one cares to look at them. The mangrove themselves are a fascinating sight with the water submerging the roots and unmasking them periodically as if hinting at mysteries yet untold.
The crocodile, river dolphins, sea turtles and deer are the other animals one can chance upon in these islands.
But the most fascinating of all is the history of the place. The proud, magical beats of the tribal dance still practiced by the villagers of the islands, the stories of the ancient "Bon Bibi" goddess who they believe, protect them from danger and the simplicity of the villagers who spend every single day battling danger and yet never lose their smile are a far bigger reward for visiting the place.
So, let's not disturb the tiger. Let's visit Sunderban for all its riches beyond the tiger and help the people of islands to better their lives over time.
ger?" one brave soul ventured out finally after 10 minutes of patient waiting. Just then, the elusive figure came out from behind the trees, not a majestic tiger, not even a baby tiger but a small monkey.
I wonder who was laughing at us more then, the tiger or the monkey or maybe both.
You don't need to see a tiger to love Sunderban. The vast open stretches are home to some of rare birds if one cares to look at them. The mangrove themselves are a fascinating sight with the water submerging the roots and unmasking them periodically as if hinting at mysteries yet untold.
The crocodile, river dolphins, sea turtles and deer are the other animals one can chance upon in these islands.
But the most fascinating of all is the history of the place. The proud, magical beats of the tribal dance still practiced by the villagers of the islands, the stories of the ancient "Bon Bibi" goddess who they believe, protect them from danger and the simplicity of the villagers who spend every single day battling danger and yet never lose their smile are a far bigger reward for visiting the place.
0 comments:
Post a Comment