SATKHIRA. Nov 10: Pachabdi Gazi, a living legend of the Sundarbans is no more. At the age of 81. Pachabdi Gazi, a world . famous passed away unsung at his village home of Sora under Shyamnagar thana in Satkhira district on October 12.

Pachabdi Gazi who killed 61 Royal Bengal Tigers. 25 crocodiles and numerous wild boars and deer, had been suffering from different kinds of ail-

ments like gastric ulcer, diabetes and many intestinal diseases for a long time.

Poverty stricken Pachabdi Gazi could not manage square meal a day. He also could not purchase medicines and diets.

He lost his eyesight and power of hearing. Due to old age ailments and growing infor-mity, he remained bed ridden and none came to help him. As a result, on October 12, he left the world silently leaving his courage and also his eight daughters, sons, six grandchildren and a host of admirers.

Pachabdi Gazi, a great hunter, followed the footprints of his father. He went into the Jungles at an age when children usually attend schools. He got the proper training in hunting from his father. As a recognition of his matchless bravery in tiger hunting, he was awarded Saned-E-Khidmatgar (certificate for serving humanity) during the Pakistani rule.

Pachabdi Gazi came from a hunter family of the village Sora under Shyamnagar thana, situated on the edge of the evergreen Sundarbans. His family nave been hunters for generations. His grandfather. Klnu Gazi, was also a noted tiger hunter. Ismail Gazi, a brother of Klnu Gazi was also an expert hunter. Meher All Gazi, his illustrious father who is said to have slained 50 tigers, fell victim of a tiger. At least seven of his kith and kins were killed by tigers. In spite of all these mishaps. Pachabdi Gazi, the record-maker in the history of tiger hunting had kept his reputation unspoiled for about half a century by dint of his match-

less skill and indomitable courage.

Once young Pachabdi Gazi went into the Sundarbans as a the. then. .GOC Omrao Khan. Two Pakistani soldiers of their team were attacked by a tiger while they were hunting deer. Pachabdi snatched away the rifle from one of the soldiers and killed the tiger. Charmed by the valour of Pachabdi Gazi, Omrao Khan brought him to the local forest office and appointed him as his boatman.

From that very day he had been working as a boatman in the Forest Department. He was not promoted from the post of boatman to a guard though many worthless employees in the Forest Department were promoted overnight. This indifferent attitude of the official of the Forest Department frustrated the well-known hunter. Pachabdi Gazi during his life time.

This famous hunter accompanied former Iranian monarch Reza Shah Pahlavi and King Mahendra of Nepal in their tiger hunting expeditious in the Sundarbans. He worked as their guide in hunting. Be-

ravaged any forest hamlet of and on. He had to serve the high officials of the Forest Department tn their household affairs far .the. sake of his fab.. By killing tigers, with the permission of the Forest Department he saved life of many villagers.

The erstwhile Pakistan government donated him three acres of cultivable land. But the donated land had been eroded by the river long ago. The deeds of khas land were awarded to him by Satkhira district administration nine years ago. But he could not possession of land till his death. In this circumstances. it was almost impossible for Pachabdi Gazi to maintain a family of 15 mem-

Pachabdl Gazi, the great tiger hunter, saved many fellow villagers from the paws of the Royal Bengal Tigers, even by taking risk of his life But it is a great regret that none came to recognise officially courageous of Pachabdi.

Moreover, poverty was his life long companion. As a result. he and other members of his family had to remain unfed or half-fed Pachabdi fought against the man eater and ne

sides he extended his coopera tlon to many national and international amateur hunters who came here for hunting at various time.

Pachabdi could exactly imitate the roar of tiger with the help of an earthen pipe or with his palms and mouth. He was able to draw attention of deer within range by uttering their mating calls. He was an expert in applying various traps in tiger hunting- For this reason high officials who came to visit the Sundarbans took him as escort. Moreover. Pachabdi was called in whenever a man eater

won. But poverty defeated him. Pachabdi died as a neglected man of our society

Pachabdi was unfortunate as he was born in this country. If he would have been born in other western countries, his courage would be recognised. He might be the Jim Corbett who killed a number of tigers in India during the period from 1930 to 1935

Pachabdi who killed 61 tigers. 25 crocodiles and a good number of wild-boars; but he remained unknown in our society This indifferent attitude, made Pachabdi frustrated.