There is a furious leopard down below…. SSSSH!!!
My hometown Chumukedima turns into ‘Safari Park’ at least for just one day
It’s a real one, am dead serious! Caught with severe cold so decided to be home, though conscience not willing to idle away this very fine weekend. Whispering to self ‘Kyiakarreh yaar?’ as I busily flip scan the remote control to check out if there is any interesting reality shows in the idiot box. Electricity in the usual manner went off and I got pissed, no doubt about it. Then, there comes a call from the Morung express inquiring whether it’s authentic about a Tiger that is roaming around our suburban town (saying received a text info from one unknown sender). And my response was a modest ‘no idea’ because I haven’t even walk out the door since the dawn broke today and moreover phone network remains poor as consistently as ever it is. I suspected this must be the reason why am not being enlightened by my friends, at least those few hard core avid shikari pundits (hope Maneka Gandhi doesn’t come across this humble and naïve article any by chance, oops!). Now I got a job anyway. Hurriedly I sent several texts to my few friends and about half a dozen of them wrote back with amusing reactions. Short and sweet one gentleman replied, “Even rats are rare sights today and TIGER? Waste no time with silly tittle-tattle”. Another one said, “Am not convinced but if it’s true let know I will rush in to get a glimpse as I haven’t witness a live tiger till date apart from zoo”. Well, well finally here it is, the search for Puccha information is over-“hell, hell, hell-o… Can you get me?? Come over buddy, it’s a real one, am dead serious, me on the very spot expecting the tranquilizer from Kohima soon” thus came a very struggling yet ardent tone of voice of Mr. Ado, a social worker and childhood friend of mine.
A date with Naga Steve Irwins… C’mon lets caged it! As I readies by checking out the bajaj rider’s fuel status, there again, wait a minute, lend your ears, moms got a word –‘Don’t take chances getting any closeness, mind you Mohrre (a tiger in Lotha dialect) is no domesticated cat!’ True I agreed. The soaring high temperature touching near about 40`C didn’t stop people flocking in (you bet the place actually appeared to be like a safari park where all this local cab commuters and numerous others making compulsory stopover, with all the rage summer outfits and of course shades on, truly seemed sightseer hotspot) .The Nagaland Forest spearheaded the seek out drive. All of a sudden there emerged a state of bewilderment and hullabaloo. Learnt that one amongst the think tank officials by a whisker got away with life. His neat pair of western jeans actually evaded intense hurt from the sharp-edged of the irate beast. Thank God. Meanwhile, again another team of young residents came forward to volunteer join the determined Forest squad. No exaggerations but on various occasions I’ve seen similar sacrifices being made by such ever willing young folks who part take as though they are specially appointed protection vigilant workforces whenever, wherever distress SOS calls, be it for –a. Frequent occurrence of Chathe river drowning b. High incidence ratio of N.H 39 road accidents c. Rapid environmental and wild life degradation alike. d. Jam-packed dwellings caught with inferno circumstances. Observing the entire episode with few likeminded knowledgeable fellow citizens, we kept discussing over similar interest issues of few such above-mentioned, the challenges that surround us today and various possible means how to deal with. It’s true that merely pointing accusing fingers at the government officials is not going to improve matters. Things are going to change in our surrounds only if people take an active interest in doing something effective and lasting. Do you agree folks?
What a weekend treat! Oh ya, the catch is over…it’s a lengthy one man, Bravo!! . Everyone (bystander, commuters, Steve Irwin squad etc) screamed aloud so we too did after all that’s how we keep kicking our suburb’s innocence alive. And its time we all headed back towards our own respective homes. You know those few sharp shooters
who brought along sheriff’s weapons with them intending to fill the poor Leo’s stomach with Lead were all carrying cheerful smiles, can’t help. Now, come sundown coz I’ve got a plan. Like to guess what plan? It’s Ole, Ole mania. My favourite Chelsea soccer team is under disastrous spell in the ongoing EPL but Jose Mourinho (the tactical fox yet adorable manager) thinks there is a hope to lift the third successive title. Let me try the mathematical trick to see if there’s any chance. Why not.
Ren James, Chumukedima
