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Across the country

Scourge of the man-eaters

Prof Abu Ahmed
SATKHIRA, Sept 16 : Pachabdl Gazi, a world famous tiger-hunter is now stooped down by the blows of ageing.
He has been suffering from different kinds of ailments like gastric ulcer, diabetes and very many intestinal diseases. His eyesight down to feeble. He is often bed-ridden due to growing Infirmity. Poverty stricken Pachabdl Gazi cannot manage two square meals a day. So Is also the situation with the purchase of medicines and diets which he can hardly manage. Some kind of cultivable land donated by the then Pakistan government had long been eroded Into, the river. The deeds of khas land awarded to him by the government about two years ago, have not yet come to h1s possession. In such circumstances It is almost Impossible for Pachabdl Gazi to maintain a family of fifteen members.
He came of a hunter family of the village of Sora under Shyamnagar thana, lying at one end of the evergreen
Sundarbans. All of his family have been hunters for generations together. His grandfather Kinu Gazi, was also a noted tiger-hunter. Ismail Gazi, a brother of Klnu Gazi, was also an expert hunter. He lost his life while stalking one of those great beasts. Meher All Gazi, his Illustrious father who is said to leave slain more than 50 tigers himself fell a victim to a tiger. A few years ago his younger brother was also killed by a tiger. At least 7 of his kith and kins were killed onc/by one by tigers. In spite of all these mishaps Pachabdl Gazi, the peerless record-maker in tiger hunting history, has kept his reputation unspoiled for about half a century by dint of his matchless skill and Indomitable courage.
A very spare looking Pachabdl Gazi has killed 59 tigers in total. Until 1972 he killed more than* 25 crocodiles. wild boars and numerous deer. He followed th^*foot-prints of his father in "'to the jungles at an age when children usually attend schools. He got proper training in hunting from his father. As recognition of his matchless bravery in tiger hunting, he was awarded certificate of Sanad.-E-Khldmat (certificate for serving humanity) during the Pakistan period.
A young Pachabdl Gazi once went into the Sundarbans as a companion of the then GOC Omrao Khan. Two Pakistani soldiers of their team were attacked by a tiger while they were hunting deer. Pachabdl snatched away the rifle from one of the soldiers and killed
the tiger. Charmed by the val our of Pachabdi Gazi Omrao Khan brought him to the local fogcal.Wfic^. and appointee! him as his boatman. Since then he has been working as a boatman in the forest depart ment.
This famous hunter accom panied former Iranian monarch Reza Shah Pahlavi and King Mahendra of Nepal in their tiger hunting expeditions In the Sundarbans and worked ns their guide tn hunting. Besides he gave his help to many national and International amateur hunters who came here for hunting at various times.
Pachabdl can exactly imitate the roar of tiger with the help of an earthen pipe or with both of his palms fitted to his mouth He is able to draw deer within range by uttering their mating calls. He Is expert In applying various tricks and stratagems in tiger hunting. And specially for this Pachabdl Is to remain present whenever any high official comes to visit the Sundarbans Moreover. Pachabdl Is called In whenever a man-eater enters and starts ravaging a human habitation. Off and on he has to serve the high officials of the department In their household affairs. He is to save the villagers by killing tigers with the permission of the forest department.
During mid-Jufy of the current year. J found Pachabdl sitting with a fishing rod by the side of a pond In front of the forest office at Burigoalinl in the Sundarbans. Lungl-clsd Pachabdl had no other clothes on him. A small child was helping him. His eyesight has become so weak that he could not recognise me until Introduced myself.
When I proposed to take a snap of him, he said with unhidden sarcasm : "How can this photo help me ? What is the use of writing about me any more T He continued to say, "my only thing of pride 1s the memory of my adventurous experiences of tiger hunting. No government has recognised my achievements. Till today I could not be promoted from the post of a boatman to a guard. My family of fifteen members often go unfed or half fed. After my death what will happen to my children V He went on saying with a grief in choked voice. "I took the risk of life in the Interest of the state But there Is no change In my fortunes ’ He complained that many completely worthless employees in the forest department are promoted overnight. Even a low-paid employee is able to make buildings and buy cars.
I saw tears in the eyes of Pachabdi Gazi There are visible wrtnkles of old age all over his body. His speaking power has also grown feeble. He is about to lose also his power of hearing.
Although he is physically crippled by the blows of poverty and age he retains his mental strength of a tiger-hunter Intact. Pachabdl is ever ready to take on a man-eater, anytime. But he has to wait for the permission of the authority