Nature and Childhood

My father used to tell me “You should have a career in animal care and wild life”. I used to find it absurd to say the least. I was a good reader, good at Hindi, History and Biology even. I was good at Yoga, macrame, tie and dye; food was my passion. I had taken up home-science and Bakery as my SUPW. I was pursuing a Visharad in Hindustani vocal, had a done a successful

My Yoga teacher loved me so did my drama teacher after a very successful and fulfilling summer workshop at National School of Drama, Mandi House. I loved reading stories- detective stories. I couldn’t find logic in why he would suggest this. Logic, I still can’t.

It is always the call of the nature.

I was in 8^th grade when Virender Kaur ma’am took us for a nature walk in the sprawling campus of my school Mothers’ International. She helped us identify plants and trees. However what really stayed with me is when she helped identify different birds like the Kingfisher, an oriental magpie robin, a bulbul, and some others…all neatly tucked in a 40 minutes fleeting class. I was so amazed to know that a bird with such a cool name as a ‘Kingfisher’ was in my school. I think one of my classmates knew some of the names of the birds. I didn’t. None of the fancy sounding names. But in that moment, I remember feeling so grateful to her that she took us for that walk. I don’t think I had been so deliberately informed before. That’s education, I guess. Also, a silent initiation for me. Even I didn’t realise it. Back in 2003, internet wasn’t so freely available. I remember my classmate getting a bird book to class. I was so fascinated by its glossy pages. The bird guides used to feel overwhelming and daunting. But I wish I knew the names. The daunting look and feel of the books and the high price made me dismiss the thought of ever owning such books. Like I told you internet was not an option so freely available. So I treasured the little knowledge of knowing a Kingfisher apart from a Bulbul apart from a Magpie robin and used to remind myself at random times. Surely, I don’t remember telling my dad about this nature walk. How did he know.

As a thirteen year old apart from simply wishing I knew more names of the birds I didn’t do anything else. I didn’t sit in my balcony to observed birds, I didn’t buy a second hand bird guide, I didn’t borrow books. I didn’t ask my friends. I didn’t ask my teacher or parents for help. Why? I wonder. Because it didn’t seem important to me that I should feed my curiosity. I had that Maths test, that play rehearsal to go to, my music classes, devotional songs practice, birthday parties, urgent need to finish all the Feluda novellas (had finished all 36 of them between 2003-04) etc. I was happy. Very happy.

Class 3 (probably)- did a few pages on beaks of birds. Different types. Like weaver bird etc and how their beaks help them to perform different function. I think I remember reading that water birds have small pores in their beaks so that when they catch fish, all the excess water drains out through the holes in the beaks.

Class 6^th- School trip to Bharatpur Sanctuary with a tiny disposable camera. Thinking to myself that when I grow up Ill come with my family with a better camera and in a better season.

We had a school trip to Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. Well, it was Gwalior, one more place and Bharatpur. But I am here to write about the Bird Sanctuary. Now known as Keoladeo Ghana, prior to 1935, it was a private duck shooting reserve of the Bharatpur Rulers. Earlier research in the wetland used to be done by the likes of Salim Ali with or without funding but with the support of Maharaja who used to offer the assistance of his shikaris and game guards.[1] Post independence  while signing the deed of transfer of power, at the insistence of the Maharaja, a clause was included in the deed that the Maharaja would retain shooting rights in Ghana for himself and his guests/friends. However, later he was coaxed into giving up on this right. The uniqueness of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary is well explained by Ali in his autobiography. He writes:

“What gives to Ghana its unique distinction as a birdwatcher’s haunt is not only the fantastic concentration and diversity of species of both resident and migratory waterbirds at the appropriate seasons, but the uncommonly extended period of half a year or more at a stretch over which bird-watching can be enjoyed here. In a season of normal monsoon, residents such as storks, egrets, cormorants, etc. commence breeding in August. By November, before the parents and young have evacuated the heronries, the influx of the migrant ducks and geese have begun, which continues till end-November, by when the migrants have completely taken over. The prolonged unbroken period for the watching if water birds is a feature which is perhaps unequalled elsewhere in the world.” [2]

[1] The Fall of a Sparrow, Salim Ali – pg 147, chapter 15.

[2] Page 149- Salim Ali book.