Man-eating Leopard of Rudraprayag

by Jim Corbett

book, paperback, leopard

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

166 pages, Paperback

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.

[Theodore · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Beyond the hills were rugged rock cliffs, down which avalanches roar in winter and early spring, and beyond and above the cliffs were the eternal snows, showing up against the intense blue sky as clear as if cut out of white cardboard. No more beautiful or peaceful scene could be imagined, and yet when the sun, now shining on the back of my head, set on the far side of the snow mountains, terror—terror which it is not possible to imagine until experienced—would grip, as it had done for eight long years, the area I was now overlooking."

At times heartbreaking, at times horrifying, at times courageous and at times humorous, this hillside tale of hunting a man-eater (the most popular with press at that time) has everything. The account of sadness and desperation that Corbett felt after every failed attempt to kill the animal was much more present in this story than other ones. The way he writes and details the events, you can find yourself believing a simple leopard to be what the innocent, but superstitious local people believed him to be, an evil spirit, which with his intelligence and human-hunting instincts, reigned over an area of 500 sq. miles for almost 8 years.

[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 ���য়েকগুণ 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।

[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.

[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।

[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.

��ато 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 природоз��щитниците, 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.

[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.

[Neel Preet · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag" by Jim Corbett is a true-life adventure story that explores the themes of wilderness, hunting, and the human relationship with nature. The book is based on the author's experiences as a hunter and conservationist in the Indian subcontinent, and it tells the story of his efforts to track and hunt a notorious man-eating leopard that had terrorized the people of the Rudraprayag district for years!

The book is a thrilling account of Corbett's journey through the rugged wilderness of the Indian Himalayas, as he tracks the elusive leopard. The book is filled with vivid descriptions of the landscape and the wildlife that inhabits it, and it provides a fascinating insight into the hunting techniques used by Corbett and the people of the region.

One of the most striking aspect of the book is the way Corbett captures the beauty and wonder of the natural world. His descriptions of the Indian landscape and the animals that inhabit it are vivid and evocative, and they provide an in-depth understanding of the habitat, habits, and behavior of the animals.

The book also explores the themes of conservation and the human relationship with nature. Corbett is a passionate conservationist and his book not only tells the story of his hunting experiences but also about the importance of preserving the natural world and the animals that inhabit it. He also writes about the impact of modernization and industrialization on the natural world, and the need to balance human progress with the protection of the earth's resources.

The book is written in a simple and direct language that is easy to understand and it is filled with action and adventure. The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag is a must-read for anyone interested in hunting, conservation and natural history. The book not only entertains but also educates the reader about the importance of preserving the natural world for future generations.

Overall, "The Man-Eating Leopard of Rudraprayag" is a thrilling and engaging book that provides an insight into the natural world and the human impact on it. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in hunting, conservation, and the natural world. The book not only tells the story of one man's hunting experience but also about the impact of human actions on the environment and wildlife!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here was only an old leopard, who differed from others of his kind in that his muzzle was grey and his lips lacked whiskers; the best-hated and the most-feared animal in all India, whose only crime-not against the laws of nature, but against the laws of man was that he had shed human blood, with no object of terrorizing man, but only in order that he might live; and who now, with his chin resting on the rim of the hole, his eyes half closed, was peacefully sleeping his long last sleep...

That was sad...

When I read this book for the first time, the Sinhalese translation that is; I was nothing but a wee lass. The book made such an impression on me, my brother, my mother; simply put, the whole reading clan under my roof. 30 years later, when I picked up the original, I just couldn't put it down. if life wasn't in the way, it would've taken me hours to finish this.

Mr. Corbett wrote this in such a way, it never become just another hunt for a big cat who had to die according to the book of humans. He wrote about the villagers, he wrote about the countryside, he wrote about the day to day life of these simple people, how they lived, how they died and what they believed and how helpless they were against one Leopard who found humans tastier than the other animals.

Sometimes, it's hard to believe such times existed in this world. It feels like another planet, few lifetimes away. But when you see the photos, the maps with the very roads they travelled on, walking 13 miles a day and back, the existence of such a life becomes a distant reality. However, I'm glad Mr. Corbett didn't boast about taking the life of this remarkable leopard, instead, he gave all the credit the animal deserved whenever he could. After all, the leopard was a fascinating creature who deserves some admiration.

He was killed cos he had to go. Still, I believe he had a very successful career over the years he roamed the villages looking for some meat that tasted better.


Book #40 of 2024..
Jim Corbett #01

[Samir Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing could be better than buying this book from the very own bungalow of the James Jim Corbett in Chhoti Haldwani. As I began the journey of famous Jim Corbett National Park, I started reading this book about the man eating Leopard of Rudraprayag. For eight long years it terrorized the people and took so many lives. I wonder how must have been those nights with all darkness and without any trace of any human and all doors closed with a pin drop silence. The book is gripping and exciting to read about various encounters of the ''evil spirit.'' Big applaud to Corbett Saheb that he spent countless nights alone and some with his friend Mr. Ibbotson in such a harsh and risky situation for the sake of people. Also, it is great to know about geography of the area like how the Ganges is formed, some of the tactics to apply while hunting like warning signs of arrival of predator, etc. This also enhances knowledge regarding other local fauna like Masheer Fish, Albino Musk deer and more. I am sure after reading this book, readers will have a new perspective of that region and I would love to read more books of Jim Corbett now.

[Dr Kashmira Gohil · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1918-1926, there lurked a danger in Garhwal area of Radraprauag, Kedarnath, a famous place of pilgrimage in India. A man eater leopard became a man eater and took many people from surrounding villages. The tale is a narration of experience to hunt it down after many near misses by none other than Jim Corbett,a veteran, and I enjoyed it. I felt for author as well as leopard too, though :) I confess, I got this book on audible, so I ended up listening to it rather than reading it, which I would have preferred more. The narration was simple though and I had no problem giving an interested ear to the book. This was my first experience too, 'listening' to a full book and I am glad I selected this title. The author however was superb and his description of experiences is one of a kind. 4 stars.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The coolest thing about this is that Jim Corbett was a real guy whose thing was to hunt and kill man-eating big cats. He writes matter-of-factly, similar to Shackleton, where the most impressive feats get the same level of detail as descriptions of each individual hill in India. So many hills.... but he's definitely a bad-ass.

For a short book, it is definitely tedious at times. But there are also so many old timey gems like:

"But here I was faced with two difficulties- the absence of a suitable place in which to sit, and my aversion to sitting in an unsuitable place."

-or-

"I was wearing an article of clothing called shorts, which left my legs bare in the region of my knees."

Even though you know exactly what is going to happen, the folksy charm is pretty worthwhile.

[Peter Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

.One of my favourite books. Corbett recounts his long hunt - over years - of an oversized male, man-eating leopard that has killed hundreds of villagers - and holy pilgrims - in the low Himalaya. The local population were absolutely terrified come nightfall by this big male leopard that has the ability to take fully grown adults without anyone else in the room noticing. It has taken two twins from a cradle and was believed to be a shapeshifter. Corbett weaves the beauty of the countryside into the local beliefs and the fascinating terror of hunting this beast, which on more than one occasion hunts him. A true classic.