What
have we achieved in mowing down mountain ranges, harnessing the energy of
mighty rivers, or moving whole populations about like chess pieces, if we
ourselves remain the same restless, miserable, frustrated creatures we were
before? To call such activity progress is utter delusion. We may succeed in
altering the face of the earth until it is unrecognizable even to the Creator,
but if we are unaffected wherein lies the meaning?
-Henry Miller
Touched a raw chord dint it?
But what misery lies untold is misery double-fold.
These were the words that crept into my mind when I read about the depleting
forests of Jharkhand. Jharkhand, the land synonymous with forests, the land
whose visage we imagine is green with smiling brightly hued tribals whose cause
for celebration begins and ends in the forest. The land that celebrates life in
jungles, under the thick canopy of trees, the green-lungs of the Eastern belt,
the land that is rich in mineral resources- you name it they have it in short
all those elements which can produce billions and billions of dollars. But then
you utter Jharkhand and the screaming headlines of a Madhu Koda or a Shibu
Soren stares back at you. But there is never any mention of the fast-depleting-at-the-blink-of-of-an-eye
huge tracts of trees and with them the endangered species of flora and fauna!
Jharkhand is now 12 years old. But the
forests that give it its identity, give no cause for celebration. While the
state is forging ahead with its grand plans of industrial development tapping
into the rich mineral resources, the forest ranges of the Santhal Pargana are
fast disappearing. Reasons..well they are myriad in number.
Careless and illegal human activity heads
the list. Man’s insatiable greed has taken him to gobble the dense mountainous
forests and all its richness within. The huge expanse of 5470 square miles of
solid lung space has been home to several indigenous tribes for centuries.
Tribes who have lived with wisdom that has been passed down from generation to
generation, communities who have lived in harmony with the forests that
provided them with sustenance of such magnitude and importance that the so
called modern way of living seemed inconspicuous and insignificant. These
forests have been home to hundreds of rare species of birds and animals, making
them the destination of numerous enthusiasts, researchers and bird watchers
worldwide.
Way back in 1910, the West Bengal Gazetters
published a book written by L S O’Malley, that reveals the large presence of
wild animals in Dumka, Godda, Pakud, Sahebganj, Devghar and Jamtada forests.
Malley also states that the clash between man and animal began around 1790-1810
when the Santhal tribes began to claim the forests for their own.
There has been drastic change of scene and
since the last 11-12 years the Santhal Pargana that was once home to the Asian
Elephants, has all but wiped it out. The gentle pachyderm’s 11 ft huge skeleton
stands as a mute testimony of its presence in the Museums of Kolkata. Pattabadi
and Dumka forests no longer echo with the trumpeting and groans of these wise
animals. Who is to be blamed?
Life still continues and wild pigs, bears,
rabbits, wild cock, royal peacock, wild cats, hyenas, jackals and bucks still inhabit these forests.
But woe to the greed of man again, these are marked! What was once considered
to be a favorite pastime of kings and zamindars continues to attract the upper
echelons of society, whose modern weapons make the killing in large numbers.
Making matters worse is the huge demand for skins, bones, teeth, horns and meat
of rare species in the international market. Animals straying into human
habitations and getting caught or killed are again a matter for grave concern.
Those that have been killed or maimed or captured or sold are never brought to
the notice of the forest officials, and the numbers get screwed.
Research into the numerous
varieties of birds and animals in the forests are bound to bring cheer in to
the hearts of many wildlife enthusiasts. But those familiar with the forests
believe that the government officials are hand-in-glove with the poachers and
hunters of the region. Illegal killing of rare birds and animals is rampant and
in such an alarming way that many are not sure if these did exist in the first
place!
Strapped for funds, civil
society organizations, natural wildlife groups feel that with no active support
or any massive drive ordained to save wild animals, birds and trees, the
extinction of several rare species of flora and fauna from these forests is
just a matter of time. Time may come when Jharkhand meaning the land-of-jungles
may soon seek to change its name!
