Pankaj Oudhia

That’s why it is necessary to visit forest regularly

“Why you are going to forest?” This question was coming from inside me. I was tired due to over-exertion in field as well as in computer last day. Last night I hardly got three hours of sleep. “You can postpone this visit. Take rest and enjoy your life. Why you are bearing pain mere for documentation of Tradtional Knowledge?” The voice came again from somewhere inside. Ignoring this voice I started preparation for visit. I found severe pain in left leg. Oh, it was injury due to walking in rocky areas without any footwear. I ignored and it was becoming serious problem. I decided to take some forest herb during the survey. Finally within one hour I started visit to forest. I decided to sleep in car as destination in at four hour distance. After trying it for ten minutes I decided to forget tiredness and instructed my driver to come back and let me drive.

Every time I prefer to reach the destination with different route. This time I saw a sign board saying “Way to Tenganai Mata Temple” Without any delay I turned the car to that road. I visited this area several times but not from this route. This region is rich in flora and fauna. In sharp turning when I used power break I heard sharp noise similar to the breaks of heavy trucks. We were in shock. No other vehicle was on road. Our car was unable to produce such loud noise. We stopped the car and decided to wait for a while. A passing by biker stopped and when I informed him about our experiences, he simply laughed and said that there is no need for worry. See the monkeys on Saja tree. They mimic the sound of breaks. They are habitual to this sound and whenever any vehicle passes they make this sound.

It was really very interesting observation. Later in the day when I shared this experience with the farmers of Kansinghi village they enjoyed it half heartedly. “This year we cultivated Moong and Urd (Green and Black Gram) but failed to get good returns.” They said. “I know that it is due to poor monsoon.” I said with sympathy. “No, not due to poor monsoon but due to the monkeys. They destroyed the crops completely. We are unable to do any thing for this increasing menace.” They expressed the pain.  Kansinghi is situated near forest and I have mentioned in previous research articles that during cropping season farmers stay at night to protect their crops from wild boar. They get much success in this work every year but they are unable to fight with monkeys.

During noon we met three Tradtional Healers collecting specific herb in forest. “We are from Orissa and visit this forest every year to collect this herb. We use it in tens of formulations. This herb is present in our region but since generations we are collecting it from here. This forest enriches it with medicinal properties.” They informed. They showed me the collected herb. I identified it as Sebastiana sp.. I have documented the Tradtional medicinal knowledge about this species earlier. I shared this knowledge with them. In return they informed about special herbal formulation useful in treatment of Sickle Cell Anaemia. Sebastiana is one of twenty herbs they add in this formulation. I thanked them. I am visiting this forest from many years but never met these Healers. I was lucky as I ignored body ache this morning and decided to travel with pain. “Visit to forest whenever it is possible. Every time you will get new treasure.”  The Healers truly say.

“You have to travel sixty kilometers in Jungle road to meet this farmer. Are you ready?” A senior native asked me. I was in search of Medicinal Rice. I agreed to try to reach that village before sunset. We started. Initially road was good but then real forest road started. Two rivers without bridge tried to stop us. These were Hill Rivers and there was heavy rainfall last night. Rivers were having water but not enough to stop us. The driver crossed it with much skill and we reached to that village. Sad news was waiting for us. The farmer growing Medicinal Rice was no more. He passed away last year and after his death his children threw away all medicinal rice and started cultivation of improved varieties. We were one year late. I tried to interact with the widow but failed to get much knowledge.

Many times my friends visit to forest with me. They enjoy the trip but always ask that you visit to forest from your expenses in interval of few days. Whether you get knowledge equivalent to expenses? “Yes, I get much more as compared to expenses. I can wait for projects so that I can make these visits more useful but I feel that as time is very limited in this life I must continue visits till my pocket will allow.  

From forest lover to member of “Wood Mafia”:  Irreversible Transformation of forest natives

Thak, Thak, Thak----Thak, Thak---I never like to hear this sound in forest but this sound is becoming louder and louder day by day. If you want to conduct surveys in forest you must have enough tolerance for this sound. It is not a sound of ferocious carnivore or Sloth Bear; it is a sound that shows that “Wood Mafia” is at work. They are cutting trees without any fear. Which tree? All trees without any selection medicinal or non-medicinal, young or old, nothing, they have to clear as much as forest possible as wood buyers are waiting for them in nearby cities with cash payment. 

I am meeting with Vir Singh from over a decade. He knows every plant in forest. He knows where Sloth Bear and Machadema stay during day time. He can go in forest anytime without any preparation. He has met wild animals many times. He knows how to tackle problems in forest. I got opportunity to travel with him in dense forest during rainy season when no one even thinks of entering in forest. He showed me different types of snakes, orchids and mushrooms. For the first time when I met him he was a farmer. He was growing Tradtional rice and pulses. He was happy with that life. “Forest always calls me, even when I sleep. If I don’t go to forest I loose my vitality. I don’t like rice and pulses, wild tubers and fruits are my food and without it, I can’t survive.” It was his favorite dialogue.

After completing the survey in his area when I shifted my attention to other regions I lost regular contact with him. During recent visit when I met him again. The villagers warned me to keep distance with him as many times forest department has raided his house. When I tried to get the details I found shocking news. Once lover of forest now Vir Singh is active member of “Wood Mafia.”  Every night he visits to forest and next morning return with truck load of wood with other members. As he is well aware of forest the leader pays higher wages. I decided to talk with him.

“Believe me; I have never seen experts like you. Although you are not aware of your importance but you are not less than Biodiversity expert. I will try to register your name in the list of Tradtional herb experts so that you can get regular training at forest department. After it you can earn from your knowledge. I will also try to give regular assignment to you like I was doing earlier.” I tried to convince him.

“Thank you Doctor Sahab, I will work for you without any charge but once entered in this business there is no way to return back. I respect your love to forest. Order me not to destroy your favorite forest, I will sacrifice my life but never enter in that specific forest.” There was a glitter on his eyes. I said nothing. I cannot declare any forest as my favorite forest. I want to see all forests in its original form. If Vir Singh will leave one forest for me unfortunately we have many other Vir Singhs eager to cut it for money.

“Why people are gathering there?” I asked to the senior native while returning from forest. In main road I saw mob discussing loudly. “Sahab, they are waiting for you. They are considering you as senior officer from either forest department or police department. They are returning from forest with wood pieces. It is illegal and as no one visits to this region from outside they are considering you as senior officer.” He said. “It is wrong. I am researcher only, nothing else. Please clarify it without any delay.” I instructed. He approached to the mob and returned back. “They are calling you.” This was his message.

When I reached there I saw everyone was waiting with money to present me possibly as bribe. From small children to octogenarians, all were the part of that mob. Every one was carrying wood pieces in back of their bicycles. The scene was shocking and full of pain. I tried hard and repeated several times that I am not from government department. Finally they accepted and disappeared within minutes. Although the word “Wood Mafia” seems dangerous but I shocked to see its unseen face.

Many times I feel that there is need to aware the people including people living in forest region about the real value of tree. They live in diamond mines and selling it at the cost of dirt. They earn hardly few hundred rupees from wood pieces. If they try to understand the real value to tree they will never sell it in this way.

Through my writings I always try to convince the planners to think on this aspect. Thousands of herbs and herbal formulations are present in the state but still natives are facing the problem of unemployment. I suggest for small scale industries based on minor forest produces. It can generate employment for generations. But the planners are limited to seminars and guest lectures in star hotels and foreign trips in the name of study.

I met Tradtional Healer selected by the authorities for training. I presented myself as patient. He asked so many questions and after it started writing prescription.” Take these medicines from medical shop in Raipur city.” He instructed. “But these are common pain-killers and not Tradtional medicines.” I objected.  He was supposed to practice Tradtional Knowledge for which forest department authorized him as official Tradtional Healer. But after getting the certificate, he is cheating natives fearlessly.

After me he checked my driver. To impress him he put digital thermometer in his palm. “What are you doing?” I asked. “Sshh, I am measuring blood pressure.” I started my camera to shoot this new method. Later I showed it to my friend working in that department. “Don’t tell us about it. We are aware of it. It is due to political pressure we have to declare such persons as official Tradtional Healers. We are doing it for mere formality.” He said shamelessly.

When I tried to nominate Vir Singh for this training they asked about political connection. And finally rejected his name. This is not good trend. If we really want to save this earth we must give opportunity to deserving candidates without any corruption. Corruption and forest cannot survive on this earth at same time.

© Pankaj Oudhia