i came...i saw...i would never see again !!

There was an article in a leading English newspaper about the beauty of the sprawling  Manas National Forest in lower Assam. It spoke largely about the tourist attraction it had and published a photo of a foreigner sitting on a elephant.
I have a large group of friends from Assam settled in many Metros and whenever I speak to them, the first question they ask is "Howz Assam doing?" And many a times our whole evening had just one question to discuss....Assam. This subject used to draw discussion on various topics of terrorism, ethinicity, politics, development etc. But there has always been a topic that never caught people's attention...the rampant illelegal wood smuggling going on.
The presence of terrorist groups and their control over the huge natural resource of Wood...Manas National forest shall feature strongly on all the maps and google earth images...except on ground !!
Over last many years, there has been a consistent deforestation and illegal smuggling of wood in this area...with many kms of forested areas being cut of all the quality trees. This is not possible without a strong understanding between the forest officials and other govt agencies. Large number of "thella's" cross the forest in the night and trucks loaded and wood despatched to various parts by morning.
Here...its an open secret...any village boy shall let you how to get good quality wood from deep inside the jungles and how is it "managed" to cross the check points and loaded on to the trucks.
I wonder sometimes all the major campaign that are started by many NGO's or campaign that get publicity from the media have any effect on the reality that is prevailing...
Its a sad state of affairs...and my answers sometimes demoralise the evening with my friends from Assam in hyd...There shall be greenery but of all bushes and grass and all the major trees shall be confined to few photographs that are placed in the Assam state museum...
I came...I saw...I hope to see them again !!

the reality !!

hi sir,
well....wanted to share an experience with you that took place 5days back...
We had gone for an ambush inside vill-Rangijhora, a remote vill near
the manas forest composed mainly of Bodo and pockets of Aadivasi. We
observed some light near a corner house and heard a male-female
conversation. i presumed that some ndfb guy must be having fun
inside....so laid an ambush very close to the house...we were ready..
it was first light...vill became active...and the couple from the
house came out...it wasnt a bodo house...it was actually a Aadivasi
house with two children....
we couldnt move in the day....so continued sitting close and observing...
i saw the children of the house getting a bowl hvg cooked but dried
rice...probably few days old....last few mostly....They then put water
in it,boiled it again, added some colour...and started having it !!
later it was served to the mother n father..
after a keen observation, i saw a fried piece of meat lying
around....but took a punch when i realised that it was a rat/rodent,
semi-fried and ready to be cooked...then there were also some eagle
legs with huge curved nails/paws...
the lady of the house havnt had a full saree to cover herself....she
was wearing a lungee at the bottom...a small piece of blouse, managing
to cover herself...and a small towel used to cover the front...men
folk were no better either....
the day progressed...and i realised that actually there were 4brother
with their families n father in four small houses close by. all the
brothers met in the morning...spent time with father(he was resting)
and all the women folk sat under the shade in the afternoon after
finishing basic work and talking with eachother....
apart from all the situation they are/been used to...they are a
contended family...staying together with father...sons n families....
that day shook me sir....
one...i felt sorry for their state, especially children eating what i
could never imagined....so, planned to give my old clothes that i
carried from peace station...buy couple of sarees...and some money...
two....i prayed and thanked god that day for the wonderful life he has
given me...lovely parents n family...friends...good profession and the
passion in me....
that one day forced me to think to levels deep within me...the fact
that with such a dire state....it was a happy joint family...get me
solace when i think i am down/disappointed...
i hope i havnt bored u sir...just felt comfortable sharing with you...
regards,
naren