Inimesesööjad

by Jim Corbett, Erast Parmasto (Translator), Jüri Kaarma (Illustrator)

Raamat räägib autori tegutsemisest 1920-1930 aastatel Indias inimsööjate leopardide ja tiigrite küttimisel. Palju õpetlikku, millest igaühel vast midagi kõrva taha panna. Tegu siis ikka tõsiste vastastega. Näiteks leopard, kes oma tegutsemise aja jooksul surmas 800 ! inimest. Kuigi India valitsus pani välja preemiaid, ei olnud selle leopardi küttimine jahimeeste hulgas eriti populaarne, sest... leopard pistis pitslisse ka järjestikku neli teda tabama tulnud jahimeest. Kuidas Jim Corbett temast jagu sai, sellet üks osa raamatust räägibki.

Jahipidamine siis ajal, mil ei olnud ei laserkaugusemõõtjaid, 20-kordse suurendusega punatäppe ega muud sellist. Ainuke tehika oli taskulambi alge, mis tavaliselt otsustaval hetkel alt vedas. Isegi optilist toru, nagu ta seda ise nimetas, ta ei kasutanud.

Relvadena kasutas mees kaheraudset 500-kaliibrilist stutserit ja hiljem mitmetel raamatus toodud põhjustel 275 !!! kaliibrilist Mauseri karabiini. Viimasega küttis ta muuseas edukalt inimsööjaid tiigreid.

Üheks toodud põhjuseks, miks mees sellist "titekaliibrit" tiigri vastu kasutas oli ka asjaolu, et mees oli selle relvaga palju lasknud ja temas kindel. Siit ka väike mõtteaine meie noortele jahimeestele, kes omale vinti valivad ja nõuandeid ootavad - valige selline relv, millega jõuate (finatsiliselt) edaspidi palju harjutada ja lasta. Siita ka moraal, et vahel on "täpne töö kirurgi skalpelliga tõhusam, kui poolumbes lajatamine sepahaamriga"

Genres: Nonfiction, Adventure, Nature, Wildlife, Travel, India, History

238 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1946

About the author

Edward James "Jim" Corbett was a British hunter, turned conservationist, author and naturalist, famous for hunting a large number of man-eaters in India.

Corbett held the rank of colonel in the British Indian Army and was frequently called upon by the government of the United Provinces, now the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, to kill man-eating tigers and leopards that were harassing people in the nearby villages of the Garhwal and Kumaon region. His hunting successes earned him a long-held respect and fame amongst the people residing in the villages of Kumaon. Some even claim that he was considered to be a sadhu (saint) by the locals.

Corbett was an avid photographer and after his retirement, authored the Man-Eaters of Kumaon, Jungle Lore, and other books recounting his hunts and experiences, which enjoyed much critical acclaim and commercial success. Later on in life, Corbett spoke out for the need to protect India's wildlife from extermination and played a key role in creating a national reserve for the endangered Bengal tiger by using his influence to persuade the provincial government to establish it. The national park was renamed Jim Corbett National Park in his honour in 1957 after his death in 1955.

Reviews

[Apratim Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book set in Garhwal in 1920s.The book comes from an age where hunters were sportsmen and animals were trophies.Jim Corbett provides minutest details about his adventure here which also tells about Garhwal of 1920's and this narration often makes adventurers of today seem small.Further his deep sympathy for victims and acceptance of his failures is heart warming.The reason I rate this as a five star book is due to the fact that this is a perfect hunter's adventure which is a goodread even today.

[Antu Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

কুমায়ুনের মানুষখেকো সম্ভবত ভ্রাম্যমাণ লাইব্রেরীর সিক্স/সেভেনের পাঠ্যসূচিতে ছিল। দেশ-বিদেশের সব রোমাঞ্চকর অ্যাডভেঞ্চার পড়তে পড়তে ব্যাপারটা কাল্পনিক পর্যায়ে চলে যাচ্ছিল তখনই আমার শিকারকাহিনীর সঙ্গে পরিচয়। বাঘসিংহ যে জঙ্গল ছেড়ে লোকালয়ে এসে মানুষখেকো হয়ে উঠতে পারে আর তখন এসময় একজন শিকারীকে সরকার হায়ার করতে পারে এরকম ধারণাই ছিল না। ভাবতাম শিকার জিনিসটা অবৈধ এবং লোকলস্কর নিয়ে রাজাবাদশাদের একটা শখপূরণ আর বিনোদনের খোরাক!

‎কুমায়ুনের মানুষখেকো পড়ে বড্ড ভালো লেগে গেলেও মাঝাখানে আর শিকারকাহিনী নিয়ে একক কোনো বই পড়া হয়ে ওঠেনি। মির্চি নতুন করে জিম করবেটের কথা মনে করিয়ে দিল।

‎রুদ্রপ্রয়াগের নরখাদক লেপার্ডটাকে কী বলব! সাক্ষাৎ শয়তান! মহামারীর সময় সৎকার না করা মৃতদেহ থেকে লেপার্ডটা মানুষের রক্তের স্বাদ পেয়ে নিজের লালসা মেটাতে লোকালয়ে এসে নিজের বুদ্ধি আর টিকে থাকার ক্ষমতায় নিজেকে পিশাচতু্ল্য করতে বেশি সময় লাগে না। ওটার টিকে থাকার এই ক্ষমতার আভাস পেলে আমি শুরু থেকেই গোনা শুরু করতাম হান্টার জিম করবেটসহ লোকালদের ও কতবার ফাকি দিয়েছে আর কতবার হাতের মুঠো থেকে ফসকে পালিয়েছে!

‎আর শিকারী করবেট সাহেবকে নিয়ে কী বলব! শিকারীসুলভ ধৈর্য আর দৃঢ়তার জন্য নিজের জীবদ্দশায় বহু নেটিভ হান্টারদের আইডল হিসেবে তো ছিলেনই; বহু বছর পরও এই মর্যাদা ধরে রেখেছেন। ব্রিটিশ-ভারতের নেটিভদের সঙ্গে ব্যবহারের যে বর্ণণা পাই তা থেকে তাকে নাকউচু ব্রিটিশ ভেবে আলাদা করার উপায়ও নেই; যেখানে সমকালীন লেখকদের লেখায় উপনিবেশগুলো আসলেই এসব পাঠকের চোখে লাগে। স্থানীয় ও আদীবাসী মানুষদের জীবন ও বিশ্বাস বর্ণণাতেও তাকে পৃথক করা যায় না একজন ইংরেজ সাহেব হিসেবে।

[Aishu Rehman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Corbett's pure style again makes for an enjoyable read. There is no nonsense with Corbett. He makes you feel like you wish you where there. It's the leopard and its home, the hunter, the country and it's people and he brings out the beauty in this package.

After reading this book I concluded that his name is deserve to given one of the National Parks in India for his service to Innocent people of those days. He risked his life so many times to save those rudraprayaga area people from man eating leopard. First class.

[Mike (the Paladin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The copy of this book I have is copyrighted 1948. The events in the book took place from 1918 to 1926...eight years. Jim Corbett is well known to most "outdoors types" and wrote a good number of books. His style is mostly a straight forward one in that he tells events as they happened laying them out factually. He doesn't embellish the facts for effect or seek to make them more horrific or more "dangerous seeming". He doesn't have to.

As he opens the book Mr. Corbett mention that the official reports of this man eater say he killed 125 people, but Mr. Corbett says, "I know this is wrong."

My thought? Well of course these numbers are always inflated... But no. Mr. Corbett (he can also be called Colonel Corbett as he was a colonel in British Indian Army) says that he knows of several kills that happened while he was there that aren't counted in the official tole. The number is greater, probably much greater than 125 people killed.

There are many reasons why any big cat becomes a "man-killer". Corbett discusses a few here but in this case he thinks he knows what turned the leopard into a human killer, why it developed a taste for human meat.

The first known appearance of the man-eater is in 1918. The normal way the dead were (and often still are) handled in India was that they were cremated on a stream bank where the ashes could go into the water and hence to the Ganges and then on to the sea. In normal times this can be a bit labor intensive. Carry the body sometimes over miles, gather the wood and carry that to the place then clean up.

This begins in 1918. The flu pandemic hit the world hard and it hit this area very hard. There was no way the full funeral rites could be carried out for all the dead. The general way it was handled (according to Corbett) was that a live coal was placed in the corpse's mouth and the corpse was rolled into a stream...or just into a valley.

Corbett believes that over the 2+ years of the epidemic the leopard developed a taste for human flesh from the bodies simply left unburned and in the open. When his source of "easy meat" was cut off (when the pandemic ended)he simply began to hunt humans.

Whether this is what happened of not it sounds logical.

I'm temped to go on here and relate the tale told in the book but I won't. It's a fascinating story, maybe not told as a book would be today but still very readable and very interesting. I'll leave you to follow the story of the 8 years of terror endured by the people of the area. Corbett mentions how the curfew of the area was so strictly observed that the area would go "dead" quiet and look deserted by the time the sun was down. There are accounts of the incredible silence with which the leopard killed. There are eyewitness accounts of those kills and others. There is the story of the full eight years. Read it for yourself.

[Nivas · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Man Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag by Jim Corbett is not only about the man-eating leopard, also about the people of Garhwal region during pre-independent India, and their struggle to survive during those eight long years in which the man-eating leopard reigned with fearsome terror and deceive intuitiveness, killing hundreds while avoiding being captured or killed. This book gives insightful information regarding the circumstances in which a carnivorous animal turns into a man-eater and the changes in its behaviour and nature thereafter. This book also gives a detailed account of the preparations to track, identify, and capture a mat-eater, the skills required to navigate though rugged hills, and the knowledge of forests and its many other inhabitants, the reasons behind the failure to kill the man-eater in earlier attempts, and mostly about the importance of social awareness and community level assistance and gratitude.

Reading this book is an adventurous ride with harrowing moments, bone-chilling scenes, dreadful fear for our own life, and continuous efforts to survive against a strongest and merciless opponent who was graced with natural killing abilities, and has a vicious taste for human flesh, and a never-ending human spirit at the times of death and despair.

[Anirudh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most terrifying books I have ever read. I couldn't sleep properly for days after reading this. The story it self is very gripping and in the hands of Tejaswi the book comes out as superb. The fact that everything written in the book is a real life event makes it even more terrifying.

[Farhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

৪ দিন ধরে তাড়া করে অবশেষে বদমাশ চিতাবাঘটাকে মারতে পারলাম!

মানে, আসলে করবেট সাহেবই চিতাটাকে মেরেছেন, আর তিনিই গাড়োয়ালের বন্ধুর পাহাড়-জঙ্গলে কয়েক মাস ধরে প্রাণটা হাতে নিয়ে সকাল-সন্ধ্যা-রাতে কখনো গাছের ডালে, কখনো মাচায়, কখনো গর্তে বসে থেকেছেন ঠায়; ঝড়-বৃষ্টি-কনকনে ঠাণ্ডা-চামড়া পোড়ানো গরমকে উপেক্ষা করে। কিন্তু বইয়ের পাতায় কার্পেট সাহেবের (তাঁকে ভালবেসে এ নামেই ডাকতো গাড়োয়ালিরা, যাদের সুখ-দুঃখের সাথে একাত্ম হয়ে ছিলেন তিনি অর্ধ শতাব্দীরও বেশিকাল) সাথে আমিও ছিলাম তো! আর রুদ্রপ্রয়াগের মানুষখেকো চিতাবাঘটা যেমন কখনো ভাগ্যের জোরে, আর বেশিরভাগ সময়েই নিজের অস্বাভাবিক ধূর্ততার কারণে আট বছর ধরেই শিকারীদের হাত থেকে বেঁচে গিয়ে সরকারি হিসেবে ১২৫ জন (বাস্তবে আরো বেশি, সম্ভবত) মানুষকে খতম করেছে, এই জমজমাট কাহিনীটা পড়ার মাঝেও বারবারই বাধা পড়ছিল। শেষে আজকে বাসায় হুমকি দিয়ে রেখেছিলাম, আজ রাতেই যদি বাঘ মারা না পড়ে তো কুরুক্ষেত্র হয়ে যাবে।

তো বাঘ অবশেষে মারা পড়েছে, কিন্তু শিকার কাহিনীতে বাঘ-সিংহ-হাতি-মোষ-গণ্ডার যা-ই থাকুক না কেন সে মারা পড়বেই, নয়তো কাহিনীই লেখা হতো না। আসল কথা হলো, কিভাবে মারা পড়লো। আর করবেটের এই চিতাবাঘ মনে হয় শিকার ইতিহাসেরই সবচেয়ে কুখ্যাত নরখাদকগুলোর একটা। শিকার সংখ্যায় এরচেয়ে কয়েকগুণ বেশি আছে এমন নরখাদকও আছে, কিন্তু রুদ্রপ্রয়াগের চিতা যে প্রায় অতিমানবিক ধূর্ততা দেখিয়ে এক অমানুষিক আতঙ্কের সৃষ্টি করেছিল ৫০০ বর্গমাইল এলাকার অধিবাসীদের মাঝে এক দীর্ঘ সময় ধরে, তেমনটা খুব কমই দেখা গেছে। আর তাকে মারতে গিয়ে জিম করবেট শুধু যে অতিমানবীয় দক্ষতা আর বনজঙ্গল সম্পর্কে প্রায় আদিম মানবের মত অনুভূতির পরিচয় দিয়েছেন তা-ই নয়, ধৈর্য্য আর কষ্টসহিষ্ণুতারও এমন দৃষ্টান্ত রেখেছেন যা শুধু ঝানু একজন যোদ্ধাকেই মানায়।

কিন্তু শুধু এ কারণেই কি জিম করবেটের এত নাম-ডাক? বা শুধু শিকারের গল্প পড়ার জন্যই করবেটের লেখা পড়তে হবে? আদপেই নয়। করবেট নিজেই একজন বর্ণিল চরিত্র; সে বর্ণনা জিম করবেট অমনিবাস-এর ভূমিকায় রয়েছে। কিন্তু উচ্চশিক্ষিত না হয়ে, জীবনের ৭০টা বছর পাহাড়ে-জঙ্গলে অশিক্ষিত লোকজনের মাঝে কাটিয়েও তাঁর কলম এতটাই জাদুকরী যে, শুধুমাত্র স্রষ্টাপ্রদত্ত কোন ক্ষমতাবলেই এমন লেখনী সম্ভব। তার কলমে গাড়োয়ালের প্রকৃতির বর্ণনা মনে করিয়ে দেয় বাংলার বিভূতিভূষণকে (যদিও মহাশ্বেতা দেবীর অনুবাদের কারণে এমনটা মনে হতে পারে, কিন্তু তাঁর ইংরেজিও অতি উঁচুমানের), আর কি আশ্চর্য মমতা তাঁর পাহাড়ের সরল দরিদ্র মানুষগুলোর প্রতি। সে কারণে করবেটের যে কোন লেখাই শিকার কাহিনী নয়, বরং হয়ে ওঠে এক জীবনব্যাপী অ্যাডভেঞ্চারের গল্প। তিনি প্রাণী শিকার করেন মানুষের প্রাণ বাঁচাতে, কিন্তু সেই প্রাণীদের দিকে তাঁর ভালবাসা এতটাই যে, নরখাদক চিতাকেও তিনি দোষী ভাবতে নারাজ; তাঁর কাছে চিতাবাঘের এই শিকার প্রকৃতিরই নিয়ম। প্রকৃতি, ধরিত্রীমাতার সরল সন্তানরা আর প্রকৃতিকে ভরিয়ে রাখা অদ্ভুত সুন্দর প্রাণীকুল, এই নিয়েই জিম করবেটের যে কোন লেখা তাই হয়ে ওঠে একেকটা মাস্টারপিস পেইন্টিংয়ের মত। যারা এখনো করবেট পড়েননি, আজকেই শুরু করে দিন।

[Nikhita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous. A must read!

[Yashwanth Lakke Gowda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the only book which I have read multiple times in my high school.
Still as gripping as ever.

[Петър Стойков · Rating 4 out of 5]

Както забелязах преди известно време, на Земята вече не останаха диви, неизследвани местности. В която и дълбока джунгла да отидеш, докато се усетиш ще почнеш да се препъваш в дървари, фотографи на Нешънъл Джиографик и „екоактивисти“ които протестират в защита на хабитата на червеногъзия мушитрънен бръмбар който живеел само там. Не е било толкова отдавна времето обаче, когато джунглите са криели значителни изненади и опасности – а Джим Корбет е бил специалист именно по тях.

Леопардът от Рудрапраяг е човекояден леопард, който в началото на 20-ти век убива и изяжда над 120 човека в местността Рудрапраяг в Индия и за период от 8 години тероризира местното население, живеещо доста нагъсто (все пак – Индия), но в малки селца из планините, в къщи направени от кал и дърво. Местните хора се ужасяват от него толкова, че вярват, че е зъл дух и дори не правят опити да го убият, въпреки че имат оръжие и са ловци.

По това време Индия е под властта на Британската империя и английският парламент се принуждава да се обърне към известния ловец Джим Корбет, който има опит с лов на хищници от семейство котки и по-специално тигри-човекоядци в други области на Индия и да му осигури средства и помощ за залавяне на леопарда.

Опитите за отравяне с различни отрови (стрихнин, цианид) се оказват неуспешни, както и заложените многобройни капани. Леопардът от Рудрапраяг е стар и изключително хитър – избягва капаните, не яде отровеното месо, а в същото време скача през прозорците на къщи, кърти вратите и дори прокопава глинените стени за да вземе поредната си жертва.

Все пак, Джим Корбет, с помощта на друг английски ловец и на местното население успява да надхитри човекоядеца и да го убие, рискувайки на много пъти собствения си живот – да вървиш нощем из джунглите или да чакаш в укритието и на сутринта по следите да разбереш, че докато напразно си чакал човекоядния леопард, той всъщност се е движил отзад и е дебнал теб, чакайки да отпуснеш само за момент вниманието си…

[Riddhika Khanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gripping tale of true adventure.
This book was a page turner and I was literally biting my nails on the edge of the seat while I read it.
It has been written in a very simple and structured way. The natural flow of the story, the incidents of the man eater and the methods used to gun him down was excellent. Corbett has a way of narrating a tale.
In this story, his task was to kill one man eater who had created a havoc in many villages of Uttrakhand. But it was no ordinary animal. With a sharp mind and an unusual cunning, the leopard knew almost all the ways of the human world.
Jim Corbett meets his match!!
The ways which Corbett used to combat the leopard showed his skills and his understanding of leopards and tigers. But somehow, due to bad luck and many other factors, gunning down this particular leopard had been difficult.
While reading the book, I felt immense respect for this man eating leopard. He was also no short of being a hero. Till the last chapter, I had a doubt whether Corbett will be able to kill him or not.

The most outstanding part of the book was Corbett's attitude. I loved the way how he interacted with villagers and understood their loss with immense apathy. Moreover, I loved the way he thought about the man eater as an animal who because of some unfortunate reason had been turned into a man eater. He did not think of the leopard as an enemy but only as an opponent.

It was a great experience reading this book and the thrill and mystery was no short of an Agatha Christie or a Sherlock case.

Recommended to all nature and wildlife lovers! :)

[Anandi Bhattacharya · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this masterpiece 11 stars out of 5, I would. My my, what a beautiful piece of literature.

I have known Jim Corbett since before I got into reading myself, thanks to my mum's story sessions at night. His encounters in the wild are rightfully publishing-worthy, and his splendidly simple use of the English language is what makes his stories so easy to devour. Many consider The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag to be his magnum opus, and I'm inclined to agree. This supremely intelligent man-eater (who had about 8 years to study the ways of man) made Jim go through many, many failures- cloudy nights, unwelcome sounds, or just clever camouflages. His stories are living proof of how failures and successes are just a part of the life you have to continue living and keep doing what you feel is right.

He was a saint to the hill-folk of Garhwal and Kumaon, and he is one of the most talented authors to me, whose stories are so close to my heart that one may not be able to differentiate them from me. He is truly, a legend among us and so are his stories.

[Jonathan Ammon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent October Scary Read. Corbett’s style makes this a brisk tale even when he adds fishing and boar-hunting stories to his account. 15-20 years ago I read the short version of THE MAN EATERS OF TSAVO, and I remember that account being even more frightening than this one, but I will take India over Africa any day, and Corbett is a knowledgeable and respectable guide. This one was not as scary to me as TSAVO, but I doubt I would find TSAVO as spine-tingling today either.

[Akhila Ashru · Rating 5 out of 5]

ಕೆಲವು ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳನ್ನ ಮೊಟ್ಟಮೊದಲ ಬಾರಿಗೆ ಓದಿದ ಅನುಭವ ಅಭೂತಪೂರ್ವವಾಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ರುದ್ರ ಪ್ರಯಾಗದ ನರಭಕ್ಷಕ ಅಂತಹ ಪುಸ್ತಕಗಳನ್ನು ಒಂದು. ನಾನು ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನು ಆರನೇ ತರಗತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊಟ್ಟ ಮೊದಲ ಬಾರಿಗೆ ಓದಿದ್ದೆ. ಮಲೆನಾಡಿನ ಮಾಗಿ ಚಳಿಯಲ್ಲೂ ಓದುವಾಗ ಬೆವರಿದ್ದೆ. ಆಮೇಲೆ ಸಹ ಸುಮಾರು ಐದಾರು ಬಾರಿ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನು ಓದಿರಬಹುದು. ಪ್ರತಿ ಹಂತದಲ್ಲೂ ಮುಂದೇನಾಗುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂಬ ಕುತೂಹಲ, ಚಿರತೆಯ ಕುಟಿಲ ಜಟಿಲ ತಂತ್ರಗಳು, ಜಿಮ್ ಕಾರ್ಬಿಟ್ರಾ ಅನುಭವದ ಚಿತ್ರಣ, ಅದನ್ನು ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಹತ್ತಿರಗೊಳಿಸುವ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿಯವರ ಅನುವಾದ ಓದುಗರನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದಿಡುತ್ತದೆ.

ಈ ಸಲ ರುದ್ರಪ್ರಯಾಗದಲ್ಲೇ, ಅಲಕಾ ನದಿಯ ತೀರದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ಮರು ಓದು ನನಗೆ ಲಭಿಸಿತು. ಸುಮಾರು 120ಕ್ಕೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಮಂದಿಯನ್ನು ಕೊಂದು ಜಗತ್ತಿನಾದ್ಯಂತ ಕುಖ್ಯಾತವಾದ ನರಭಕ್ಷಕ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕದ ವಿಲ್ಲನ್. ಆದರೆ ಕೊನೆಗೆ ಜಿಮ್ ಕಾರ್ಬೆಟ್ ರ ಈ ಎರಡು ಸಾಲುಗಳು ಪ್ರತಿ ಸಲ ಓದಿದಾಗಲೂ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಕಾಡುತ್ತದೆ.

"ಇಡೀ ಭಾರತವೇ ತಲ್ಲಣಿಸುವಂತೆ ಮಾಡಿ ನೂರಾರು ಜನರನ್ನು ಕೊಂದು ತಿಂದ ಆ ಭಯಾನಕ ಚಿರತೆ ಸತ್ತಾಗ ನೋಡಿ ನನಗನಿಸಿದ್ದು ಅದು ಮಾಡಿದ ಒಂದೇ ತಪ್ಪೆಂದರೆ ತನ್ನ ಆಹಾರವನ್ನು ಪ್ರಾಣಿಗಳ ಮಾಂಸದಿಂದ ಮನುಷ್ಯರದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಬದಲಿಸಿಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದು ಮಾತ್ರ ಎನಿಸಿತು. ಅದು ಮನುಷ್ಯ ಸಮಾಜಕ್ಕೆ ವಿರುದ���ಧವಾದರೂ ಅದೇನು ದೈವ ನಿಯಮಕ್ಕೆ ವಿರುದ್ಧವಾದುದಲ್ಲ!"

ಇನ್ನು ಓದಿಲ್ಲವೆಂದರೆ ತಡ ಮಾಡಬೇಡಿ. ಓದಿದ್ದರೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಅನುಭವ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳಿ.

[musarboijatra · Rating 4 out of 5]

কখনো ভাবিনি শিকার-কাহিনী আমার পছন্দের বিষয় হয়ে উঠবে। আসলে কাহিনী তো শুধু পশুহত্যার না, নরখাদক জানোয়ার থেকে রেহাই পাবার আশায় থাকা হাজারো মানুষের নানা বর্ণের অসহায়ত্বের কাহিনী, স্থানীয় সংস্কৃতি আর মানুষের জীবনযাপনের অবলোকন, আর চতুর জানোয়ারকে পরাস্ত করার শ্বাসরুদ্ধকর লাগাতার প্রচেষ্টার দিনলিপি।

বাংলাদেশে জিম করবেটের নাম যেকোন দেশীয় লেখকের মতোই চেনা। যেসব বই বা লেখকদেরকে পঠিত হতে দেখে বড় হয়েছে কয়েক প্রজন্মের শিশুরা, তাদের মাঝে রকিব হাসান কিংবা কাজী আনোয়ার হোসেনের মতোই উচ্চারিত হয় জিম করবেটের নাম, সেই সাথে অনুবাদক খসরু চৌধুরী। করবেটের প্রথম বই পড়ি 'মাই ইন্ডিয়া'। ভারতের মানুষের সাথে মেশার চমৎকার কিছু টুকরো গল্প ছড়িয়ে ছিল বইটাতে। সাদা চামড়ার সাহেবের কথায় অন্তত জাত্যাভিমান ছিল না, নিজের প্রাণ বিপন্ন করার পেছনে মানুষকে বাঁচানোর উদ্দেশ্য ছিল, এটুকু ভালো লেগেছে। 'The Man Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag' আমার পড়া তাঁর প্রথম কোনো শিকার-অভিযানের কাহিনী। এবং বইটা ভালোভাবেই আরো এমন লেখা পড়ার খিদে জাগিয়ে তুলেছে আমার মাঝে।

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love these books.

Also, this was sooooo suspenseful, I'm not sure why it hasn't been made into a movie or something, it would be so scary onscreen.

[Бранимир Събев · Rating 4 out of 5]

Една чудесна книга, която обаче досега бях чел само в съкратен вариант, и то като дете. Най-накрая ми попадна пълния такъв и реших да допълня празнините. Не си падам по лова, но ловните разкази и романи определено са ми интересни, въпреки че не се намират често. Други ревюта на книгата можете да прочетете при Цонко и Петьо.

Както можете да се досетите, всичко случило се в книгата са действителни събития, реално случили се и описани от Джим Корбет - английски ловец, природозащитник, натуралист и писател. Прочува се като ловец на хищници-човекоядци и е автор на няколко книги за природата на Индия. Корбет имал чин полковник от британската армия в Индия и многократно е бил канен от правителството на Обединените провинции да преследва и унищожава тигри и леопарди човекоядци. От 1907 до 1938 г. той убива 33 човекоядеца, за които са твърди, че са причинили смъртта на общо над 1200 души. За тези си действия, често свързани с голям риск за живота му, Корбет заслужава огромното уважение на индийците, мнозина от които го смятат за садху (свят човек) и дори има кръстен природен парк на негово име в Индия. На доста моменти в книгата си личи, че човекът е повече ловец, отколкото писател, но това е бял кахър.

След като разказва играта на куп тигри-човекоядци, сега Джим Корбет има нова задача - да отиде в окръг Рудрапраяг (80 кв. км) и да убие леопарда-човекоядец, който в продължение на 8 години е убил и изял над 120 души. Местните са ужасени и въпреки че са също ловци и имат пушки смятат леопарда за зъл дух и не смеят да му се противопоставят. Звярът е стар, грамаден (само тялото му е над 2 метра), изключително умен, хитър и не на последно място - нагъл. Да издебне и да отмъкне човек, докато е излязъл през нощта извън къщата до едното място - това да. Да разбива паянтови врати и да копае под паянтови следи, за да влезе в къщата и да те изпапа - иди-дойди. Но да сте седнали двама приятели в сумрачна стая вътре в къщата, един до друг и да си подавате наргиле... Внезапно приятелят ти изтърва наргилето, ти го взимаш от пода и му правиш забележка да е по-внимателен. Обръщаш се и виждаш на прага как леопардът вече го е пречукал в рамките на 2-3 секунди и го изнася на гръб от стаята. Не просто зловещо и ужасяващо, ами и аз не знам какво.

Като цяло препоръчвам книгата - въпреки че се води четиво за юноши, спокойно се чете и от големи, нищо детско или младежко няма в нея. Леопардът избягва всички клопки и засади, залагани му от ловеца и помощниците му, освен че е много умен, хитър и опитен притежава и изключителен късмет. Стига се дотам след като намират разкъсаното и частично ядено тяло на една баба, вместо да я погребат ловецът пълни тялото с отрова и чака на пусия, надявайки се да го гръмне или поне животното да се върне да яде пак и да се натрови, но не би. Имаше и случаи, когато ловецът дебнеше звяра и на сутринта намирайки следите му разбираше, че всъщност той е бил следеният и дебнат. Накрая късметът му се усмихва, разбира се, но...

Пропуснали ли сте книжката, прочетете я. И да преваря природозащитниците, които може да изтърсят някоя глупост от типа на невинното животно, това е природен инстинкт, искал просто да се нахрани и прочее простотии, дето преди век не бяха така актуални като днес, само ще ви цитирам финала на книгата:

И при други случаи съм бил свидетел на признателността на хората, но нищо не може да се сравни с това, което се случи тогава в Рудрапраяг, най-напред в инспекторския пост, а сетне и при посрещането ми на пазара.
— Той уби нашия единствен син, сахиб, а ние сме вече стари и нашата къща сега е пуста.
— Той изяде майката на моите пет деца, а най-малкото е само на пет месеца. Няма кой да се грижи за децата и да им готви.
— Синът ми се разболя посред нощ, никой не посмя да отиде до болницата за лекарства и той умря.
Трагедия след трагедия и докато слушах с чувство на състрадание, земята в краката ми се покри с цветя.

[Neha Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*
RTC

[Saurabh Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag Jim Corbett is faced with one of his toughest opponents. The beast struck terror into the hearts of the inhabitants of the town for eight long years. He always managed to outsmart the hunter with his veritable cunning, which is a staple quality of beasts that obtain a taste for human flesh. As in all of Corbett's works, in this work too his love for the jungles and it's occupants is profound as is his love for the common populace of the region. The leopard is so hard for Corbett to take down that he requires the assistance of peer and government official - Ibbotson, who creates an efficient reporting system wherein whoever spots the terror or has any news as to it's whereabouts is to report to Corbett as as possible and by doing so he receives a reward of ten rupees. What strikes me the most about his encounters and the way he has described them is the great attention to detail and positioning. He describes the location of his quarry and the circumstances he is in so perfectly that one need not rely on imagination or conjecture to figure things out. With the completion of The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag, I have now read all of Corbett's works and I am saddened that there is no more to read, for no one has described the jungles of India and spoken of it's inhabitants in a more beautiful manner than Colonel Edward James 'Jim' Corbett.

[Rashik Reza Nahiyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

কী দুর্দান্ত!! শিকার নিয়ে লেখা আমার পড়া প্রথম বই। পুরো অমনিবাস শেষ করে একটা রিভিউ লেখার ইচ্ছা আছে, তাই আপাতত পাঁচটি তারা দিয়ে রাখলাম শুধু।

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Corbett's most recognized work. Elongated months of interminable hang around, indescribable endurance and unsurpassed daring in conclusion let him be triumphant against this tremendously shrewd and noxious elderly male leopard. It's a mesmerizing tome! This leopard slayed not less than one hundred and fifty hapless souls -- far less than the Panar leopard though! Nonetheless, this leopard received far greater media coverage and public mention as it had operated on the celebrated tracks of the Kedarnath - Badrinath shrines for two years short of a full decade.

[Arijit Ganguly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wading through forests haunted by a man eater which has claimed the lives of more than 200 locals, to hunt that very creature while being perfectly aware of the creature stalking you, Jim Corbett’s tale filled me with awe. His bravery often bordered on foolishness but his conviction, admirable. One of the most thrilling hunting stories ever. His meticulous strategising to track and bring down the prey was present as ever but interestingly his mental fatigue over failing again and again was captured in vivid detail. The word thrilling would be an understatement to the climax.

[Sagar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely captivating ,like the chilling tales our grandparents tell, but here, you truly feel the terror. For eight long years, a single leopard terrorized Rudraprayag, claiming over 120 lives. The stories are filled with the sheer bloodlust of the beast, the desperate attempts of villagers and hunters to kill it, and even the government’s intervention by offering rewards, licensing weapons, and pushing for its elimination. The writing makes you live through the fear, the frustration, and the thrill of the hunt.

[Abhiram's Book Olavu · Rating 5 out of 5]

ತೇಜಸ್ವಿ, ಅನುವಾದ ಮಾಡಲು ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡ ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನ ಗಮನಿಸಿದರೆ; ಕಾಡು, ಪ್ರಾಣಿಗಳು, ಪರಿಸರ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಹಸಗಾಥೆಗಳನ್ನ ಪ್ರಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಕಾಣಬಹುದು. ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ, ಎಲ್ಲವೂ ನೈಜ ಘಟನೆಗಳಾಧಾರಿತ ಕಥೆಗಳೇ! ಕೇವಲ ಅನುವಾದ ಮಾಡದೇ ತಮ್ಮ ವಿಚಾರಧಾರೆಯನ್ನೂ ಬೆರೆಸಿ ಜಾಣ್ಮೆಯಿಂದ ಭಾವಾನುವಾದ ಮಾಡಿರುವುದು ವಂದನಾರ್ಹ. ಓದುವಾಗ, ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿ ಅವರೇ ಕಥಾನಾಯಕರಾ? ಅಂತ ಭಾಸವಾಗುವಷ್ಟು ಪ್ರೌಢಿಮೆ ಅವರ ಅನುವಾದಗಳಲ್ಲಿದೆ.

ಇನ್ನೂ ಜಿಮ್ ಕಾರ್ಬೆಟ್ ರವರ ಜೀವನ ಒಂದು ಸಾಹಸಗಾಥೆಯೇ ಸರಿ.
ರುದ್ರಪ್ರಯಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಅದೆಷ್ಟೋ ಜನರ ಭೀತಿಗೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಾವುನೋವಿಗೆ ಕಾರಣವಾದ ನರಭಕ್ಷಕ ಚಿರತೆಯನ್ನು ಭೇಟೆಯಾಡಿದ ಅವರ ರೋಚಕ ಗಾಥೆಯನ್ನ ತೇಜಸ್ವಿಯವರು ಬಹಳ ಸೊಗಸಾಗಿ ಅನುವಾದ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಆರಂಭದಿಂದ ಅಂತ್ಯದವರೆಗೂ ಕುತೂಹಲ ಬದಲಾಗಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ಆ ಚಿರತೆಯ ಚಾತುರ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ ಕೆರಳುವ ಮನಸ್ಸು, ಒಂದೆಡೆಯಾದರೇ; ಈ ತಂಡದ ಜಾಡಿನಲ್ಲೇ ಅವರನ್ನು ಹಿಂಬಾಲಿಸಿ, ವೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ, ಮರೆಯಾಗುವ ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ರೋಮಾಂಚನವಾಗುವುದು. ಕೆಲವು ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶಗಳನ್ನು ಓದುವಾಗಲೇ ಇಷ್ಟು ಮೈ ನವಿರೇಳುವಾಗ ಇನ್ನೂ ಆ ಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತವಿದ್ದು ಅನುಭವಿಸಿದ ಅನುಭವಗಳು ಹೇಗಿರಬೇಕು, ಅಲ್ಲವೇ?!

ಅಂದಿನ ಕಾಲಕ್ಕೂ ಇಂದಿನ ಕಾಲಕ್ಕೂ ಎಷ್ಟು ಅಜಗಜಾಂತರ, ಅಲ್ಲವೇ? ಕೇವಲ ಒಂದು ಶತಮಾನದ ಹಿಂದೆಯಷ್ಟೇ ಕಾಡು ಎಷ್ಟು ದಟ್ಟೈಸಿತ್ತು, ಪ್ರಾಣಿಗಳ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ ಎಷ್ಟು ಬಹುವಾಗಿತ್ತು, ಅನ್ನೋ ಚಿಂತನೆ ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಕಾಡುತ್ತೆ. ಕೇವಲ ಒಂದೇ ಶತಮಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಅರಣ್ಯ ಸಂಪತ್ತಿನ ಮಾರಣಹೋಮ ಈ ಮಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಗಿರುವುದು ನಿಜಕ್ಕೂ ಆಘಾತಕರ! Decline of biodiversity, nature, culture ಒಂದೆಡೆಯಾದರೆ rise of population, pollution, adulteration ಇನ್ನೊಂದೆಡೆ! ನಮ್ಮದೇ ಸ್ವಾರ್ಥದಿಂದ ಇನ್ನು ಮುಂಬರುವ ವರ್ಷಗಳು ಎಷ್ಟು ಭೀಕರವಾಗಿರುವವೊ?!

"ನಾಳೆ ಬೆಳಗಾದರೆ ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾರು ಇರುತ್ತೇವೆಯೋ! ಯಾರು ಇರುವುದಿಲ್ಲವೋ! ಎನ್ನುವಂಥ ಸಂದಸಂದರ್ಭದಲ್ಲೂ ಜಿಮ್ ಕಾರ್ಬೆಟ್ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನಂಬಿಕೆ ಕಳೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳದೆ ಜೀವದ ಹಂಗು ತೊರೆದು ಕಾರ್ಬೆಟ್ ನ ಅಸದೃಶ ಸಾಹಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಲ್ಗಗೊಂಡ ಘರ್ವಾಲಿನ ಮುಗ್ಧ ರೈತರೂ ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರೂ ಈ ಕೃತಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅವಿಸ್ಮರಣೀಯವಾಗಿ ಚಿತ್ರಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದಾರೆ."
~ ಪುಸ್ತಕದಿಂದ

[Makarand · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review from Amazon.com:
My brother had borrowed this book from the local British Library, and I started reading it casually, without any real interest in reading it fully. As I write this now after just having put the book down, I can assert that this is one heck of a story, narrated in a manner that is hugely engaging -- This is simply among the best books to be found anywhere.
The book was first published in 1947, and you'd expect it to be a little "dated" in its content and style, but nothing could be farther from the truth. I have acquired a newfound respect for Jim Corbett the author, and believe that his legendary stature as the fearless slayer of man-eating tigers (and leopards) almost unfairly overshadows his other qualities evidenced in this book. In an era when being a trigger-happy jungle "sportsman" was probably fashionable, Corbett comes out as a brave but reluctant hunter with deep respect for the wild, whose primary motive is clearly to prevent further loss of innocent human lives.

Being from India, it was also very heartening for me to read how well he connected with the native populace of that period, and the genuine respect and admiration which he holds for many of the Indian characters in his story. This is especially remarkable considering that this was the time of British rule in India, and much (not all) British literature from that period is at best condescending in mentioning the native population.

[Tarun Bahuguna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book from Corbett and I would surely seek an opportunity to read the rest. The reason why I bought this book was Garhwal, where the story happened. My ancestors belonged to the place and my father grew up there.

I was amazed by the simplicity of the people. The natives had more than one opportunity to track or kill the leopard but they let him go because of their belief or superstition (howsoever you put it). Even Corbett mentioned that he knew men from this place to be bravest among all and yet the most courageous act came from a lady. But there were also others who were ready to put down their life in order to catch the leopard.

I was more than impressed by the intellect of the leopard, for eight years he outsmarted his hunters but he also killed more than hundred people and haunted the rest.

The book shows Corbett's immense respect towards animals, he never mentioned leopard as a beast and treated him with respect. The story is quite enthralling than any other fictional work.

[Neeraj Udhwani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating. Not only does corbett describe in absolute detail, the many nights he spent hunting the evasive leopard, but he also gives you a vivid description of life in the Tehri/Kumaon region in early nineteenth century. The book also taught me a great deal about wild life, why leopards or tigers become man eaters, how to track wild animals… Jim corbett makes you fall in love with nature.

[Dyuti · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was an amazing read! Primarily describing Corbett's personal experiences when he had been summoned to kill a leopard terrorizing the village folk of the Gharwals, India, it proved to be quite intriguing and informative!

A must read for those who love to feel a rush of their adrenaline!

[Kislay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. It was a short and sweet read. Engrossing till the end.

[WJEP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dracula, Cujo, and The Hound of the Baskerville will seem like breezy romps.