I enter into Mahesh boundary
where his family is doing household works. Mahesh introduce me to his mother and
two sisters Geeta and Savita. Both girls
takes me into newly made cement house. Room is decorated with artificial
decorative plastic flowers and garlands. Room is illuminating with CFL light. Two
beds are in two corners and one table and chair is taking place in another
corner. One remaining corner is engaged with small TV. As I took place in chair
Geeta went to make tea and Savita remain there. Savita is pretty talkative and
want to know about my work and why I am here in festival time ? I answered all
her questions and just ask to start conversation with her - You have cable here ? She flicker her
eyes and says - Yes ! But this is Tata
Sky. She is going to open TV but
before that I ask one more question - You
don’t go to collect water ? She reply standing in front of TV - No ! I don’t coz I have lots of work to do
in home and field. Like prepare food, take care of cattle, feed them, cut
fodder for them and so many.
She keep on saying - Me and my sister both go to school and studying in 12th
class. Our school is nearby. Though we are satisfied with our school and
teachers but after school I would have to go out for higher studies. I want to
study bio chemistry and work coz farming is very expensive and some time it becomes
risky also. As you know elephants are big nuisance here. They come in group and
destroy our agriculture badly. We don’t get any help from government for this
loss so nobody wants to do agriculture. Everyone is interested to sell their
land to hoteliers, who are building huge hotels and resorts to make money.
She is talking nonstop but meanwhile Geeta and
Mahesh both enter, Geeta arrange table in front of me and put cup of tea. It is
suffocating inside so I come out in verandah in cool breeze. Opposite verandah there
is beautifully architect mud hut. Sawita said – We like staying in hut because this is natural air conditioner. It
becomes hot in winters and cool in summers. Sipping tea I asked – Then why you made this cement house ?
Both girls looked each other strangely and then Geeta reply – In village everyone making new style house
now so we also made this. Mahesh is silently listing and moving his head in
yes or no sign.
It’s getting dark so I
thank them for tea and move back to my room. Now it is cold, windy and dark.
But I went to compound next to my tent where I saw big elephant. 19-20 years
old guy, wearing jean and striped shirt, giving sugarcane too poor creature. He
calls me up there and says – Her name is
Ladli and I am her Mahout. Ladli is such a lovely name I think and asks – is she yours ? – No ! I am caretaker only. Owner lives in Rampur and comes to collect
money which she earns from safari. Money !!! Safari !!! She earns!!! I was
confused. He clears – Everyday she go 5-6 times for elephant safari and for
each safari she get 2500 rupees. Poor Ladli busy chewing sugarcane and staring
me through her small eyes. How much she
eat in a day ? I want to know. 40-45
kg. sugarcane and you know she is 45 years old from Rampur – Mahout replied
give sugarcane to Ladli…
Sad to know about
Ladli. She should have free in jungle but working like slave here. Mahout is
also from Rampur and living here with his family. All in his family do the same
work. Her mother lit wick lamp inside house and says – we don’t get much for our hardwork but what to do. We also have to
survive. I am listing her but my interest is in Ladli who is taking and
breaking sugarcane. Mahout ask me – would you
like to cross between her leg ? I was again puzzled so I ask – why ? He said – it is lucky, your all wish will come true. Though I don’t trust in
these superstitious but want to experience so I crossed between her legs. Not
to say it is an amazing experience. I left Ladli and back to my tent…
Night was cold. I could
hear perpetual sound of river in silence.
Next morning I woke up by 6 but it was dark, cold, and windy so I went
into bed again. Around 7 I came out took
tea and went to Garjiya Devi Temple by walk which is almost 6 km…
It is chilly but pleasant
walk which I am enjoying however vehicles moving abruptly on road are making
walk spoil. Soon I reached a place from where one trail going up in jungle. I
follow the trail and went upward. After little walk I saw a board showing one
ancient temple is in distance of 300 meter but I walked much more than 300
meter between jungle. Anyhow with lots of turns and bends I reached in temple.
It is ancient but reconstruction work has snatched out its ancient look…
I met a saint wearing saffron
loincloth and head cover with light saffron scarf. On his copper color face his
white beard is shining and falling on his chest. I greet him. He also greets me
and calls me to sit in front of hearth where some other items are also taking
place. Perhaps this is his kitchen. He told me moving to sunny area – I live here alone. Villagers come here and
they give me food and other stuff to survive. I don’t go anywhere. He is
busy in mixing tobacco and marijuana on his palm and talking to me also – I saw tigers many times. They often come
to the temple but Shiva’s blessings are with me so I don’t scare. They
basically don’t attack if you won’t hurt them. Now he starts filling
mixture into cigarette and says - This
area is chilled in winter but in summer it is pleasant here. He asked me
then – Have you seen any village upside ?
And without waiting reply he told – Its
only jungle upside. Village could be seen only in downside area. This is the
reason this jungle is still very rich. He has finished his work and looking
for match box which I gave him. He lit cigarette and said – Now temple is under archaeological
department who are renovating it. He keeps silent and takes long puff of
cigarette. Smoke hovered on both of us. I left him with his enjoyable moment
and roam around temple…
This is god Shiva
temple. One Shivlinga is in center of temple and many other ancient statues are
outside for renovating work. I see towards saint who is still enjoying long
puff of cigarette. I back to him and say goodbye. He smiled at me and return
match box which I offer him and back. He told me shortcut route which is going
to road. I crossed a stream and reached to road. Now shops have been open and
bustle starting. Here I noticed that everything is on the name of CORBETT like
Corbett Chicken Shop, Corbett Hair Saloon, Corbett Tailors and many hotels
also…
Continued…
