The Chandra Forest Story Part 3

 

"...This snake is a cobra which can spit venom but this one is 7 feet long which is quite rare...". The Chandra Story continues. Some snakes are disturbing us in our project in the Chandra Forest.

See Part 2 if you have not yet seen it : https://open.substack.com/pub/itell/p/my-tryst-with-nature-the-chandra-da5?r=c8bxy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Part 3 : The villagers were astonished to know that nothing had happened last night.

“None of the three animals greeted us last night.”…I replied.

“Look there is no relationship between our discussions about them and they being observant about us. They are animals. They do not know about your beliefs or whether we were discussing them or not. Even if we could have seen them last night then also your belief does not become a reality. It would have been a coincidence that we have seen them. “It’s OK”..the villagers with disbelief and discontent start to work again. They have to do their duty. So they start to prepare our food for breakfast. We got busy with our work. After a while, we were called for the breakfast.

The breakfast comprised four roti, potato fry, and paneer. The taste of the food was ultimate and we were merrily grasping the food along with a sip from the cup of tea provided to us. The tea cup was made of clay which is a very common way of having tea in rural Bengal.

After breakfast two of us start to roam the forest along with one of the villagers. The villager was extremely knowledgeable about the life of the jungles and their inhabitants.

“If you see a team of elephants then there is no need to panic but if you see a single elephant with sprouted incisors then immediately move away from that place as they are unpredictable. The frequency of their visits increases in the winter due to their affinity towards the Mahua juice.

This juice is a wine-like liquor that is popular in these areas."

“Where did the elephants stay during the other season?”

“They stay in the Dalma region of Jharkhand”..replied my friend.

The Chairman who lectured me yesterday gave us another visit. I promptly take my revenge by telling him that none of the three so-called dangers has till now visited us. In reply, he said, “Then you are very fortunate it seems.”. I took this banter sportingly and continued my chit-chats about the Wild Animals.

Suddenly along with the growling of the clouds, rain started to fall and we all had to run inside the tent for shelter. After 10 to 15 minutes of torrential rainfall, the sun comes out.

After the rainfall stopped our adda restarted. Two to three dogs were circling us from the day we started living in the tents. When we're all busy talking, one of the dogs starts barking nonstop. At first, no one cared as dogs could bark due to any silly reason. But when another strange sound was heard from the same direction in which the dog was constantly barking we became conscious.“It can not be another dog as I know how the dogs bark here”..explained the Chairman.

“Then what it is? I have heard the same sound on our first night.” Hearing this the Chairman gets agitated.

"Why have you not reported this before? Do you know who is making this sound? It's the Spitting Cobra, and from the sound of its grumbling, I'm guessing it's at least 7 feet long and is very angry with us for some reason.

"How can you be so sure?".

"My experience"

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"When you are in the Jungle don't think about its dangers or it will become a reality."

 

Part 1 : https://open.substack.com/pub/itell/p/my-tryst-with-nature-the-chandra?r=c8bxy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Summary of Part 2

As the rain finally receded and the floodwaters drained away, the villagers cautiously made their way to the jungle camp. Their faces bore the weight of worry—concerned by the relentless downpour and the rapidly rising water levels that had threatened their homes and livelihoods. Yet, despite the chaos, they had endured. Their resilience was evident in the quiet strength with which they moved, having survived nature’s fury.

A Visit from the Village Chairman

Later that afternoon, the village chairman arrived at the camp. His presence brought a sense of authority and calm. He spoke at length about the socio-economic potential of the ongoing project, emphasizing how it could uplift the community. His tone shifted as he addressed the wildlife in the surrounding jungle. Leopards, he said, once roamed freely here, their presence a common sight. But now, they had become rare—victims of excessive hunting and habitat loss. Of the famed "Big Five," only elephants remained, their majestic forms still seen wandering through the dense forest.

Warnings from the Wild

The villagers issued stern warnings about the dangers lurking in the jungle. Elephants, though revered, could be deadly if provoked—especially when agitated. Snakes and jackals, too, posed serious threats. The villagers spoke with particular caution about Kraits and Cobras, venomous snakes known for their unpredictable aggression. Even the slightest disturbance could trigger a fatal strike. These lessons were shared with urgency, not just as folklore, but as survival wisdom passed down through generations.

A Hearty Meal and Lingering Fear

After a hearty lunch of steaming rice and rich chicken kosha, the villagers gathered the group and urged them to leave before dusk. Their insistence was laced with fear—an almost superstitious belief that lingering too long could invite death. The group was taken aback by the intensity of their concern, but respected their wishes.

Dinner was simple yet satisfying, and the night passed peacefully. The comforting meal and the absence of jungle sounds allowed for uninterrupted sleep—a rare luxury in such a setting.

Morning Tension and Unspoken Worries

At dawn, the villagers returned, their expressions tense and eyes wide with concern. “Is everything all right?” they asked, almost breathless. Their anxiety was palpable. When reassured that the night had been quiet, they seemed both relieved and bewildered. “We didn’t disturb you, did we?” one asked, as if fearing they had unknowingly triggered some unseen danger.

Echoes of the Jungle

The experience was more than just a night in the wilderness—it was a glimpse into the delicate balance between human life and nature’s untamed spirit. The villagers’ stories, their fears, and their wisdom painted a vivid picture of coexistence, caution, and reverence for the wild.

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The Sal Chandra Forest Story Part I

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Excerpts from the main article :

....................But before leaving, the villagers were discussing with us the dangers they face from Elephants and Snakes. This jungle and adjacent ranges are used by the Elephants as their path toward the farmlands of the Bankura and Midnapur districts of West Bengal. The herds of elephants visit this place every year after puja to eat the fresh harvest of Ravi Crops. Besides eating their fresh harvest the herd of elephants does not disturb the villagers. They were saying that the problem arises when a tusker or single elephant with a tusk arrives. These elephants were either thrown away from their herd or they have left their herd as there were other leaders. Either way, these elephants popularly known as Tusker due to their teeth are highly dangerous and they can attack anyone even when not provoked at all.

So we were cautioned by them about this Tuskers.

“If you see them only one thing you must do”

“What”

“Run towards the road at full speed”

Another problem is the snakes. This area is full of Kraits and Spitting Cobras. Although Kraits will not disturb you and slowly slither away Spitting Cobra is not like them. They will throw poison if they feel threatened by you. So the moment you see then try to find a higher [ace where they can not reach or the poisons thrown at you can not reach.

“Where do the snakes take shelter ?”

“Kraits will take shelter wherever they find a warm moist place and Cobras can seep anywhere. So never go out without any shoes and also please don’t go out in the forest at night.”

“no..we will stay inside the tent only. Just ensure the tent is free of Snakes.”

“Yes..you can be assured of that”

After this conversation, they left the place. But we continued our chat. Suddenly with a cracking sound from the clouds above the rain started to fall torrentially.

The rain was so heavy that the entire area, including our camp, was flooded within minutes. Thankfully, the villagers raised the bed considerably, preventing flooding from reaching our bed even in knee-deep water.

“But what about snakes? They will now try to climb our bed to save themselves from the flood.”

One junior member of our team screamed at all of us.

"Yes. That is correct." "But what can be done?" I replied. We don't have alternatives to choose from, and the villagers can't come now because.....Read the full story

The Blue Rafflesia Part XV

 

Click here to read the complete story in Part XV.

Adventure Series Audio : The Blue Rafflesia Part 14

.....Now Rusa got really agitated. This person, Rohit, is really harassing her. But how can he know so much about the incidents of that unfortunate night? And who are they? Are they from the Police or CID? Are they reporters? Accomplices of Sankar or his rival gang? Rusa was really confused. She was under immense stress and at that very moment the other member of the trio, Raj, shouted at Rohit and instructed him to stop his interrogation of Rusa as the time for the Safari they had booked was nearby.

- Yes I am coming, Rohit obliged and moved away from Rusa with a quipping smile and ran towards Raj.

His friend Raj and Mr.Gomez were waiting for him.

They had booked a Private Jeep through the Hotel for the jungle safari. Two more tourists will join them along with a guide from the Forest Dept. and the Driver of the Jeep. In total seven people will travel through the jungles of Simplipal. This safari jeep has three rows of seats. The first row is reserved for the driver and the guide. The second and third rows can accommodate six guests. As there are five guests, all of them can travel comfortably.

The other five people were waiting for them in the Jeep. Once the trio embarked on the car their suffari started.

Covering an expansive area of around 2,750 square kilometers, Simplipal Reserve Forest is one of the largest protected wildlife regions in the country. Known for its diverse flora and fauna, Simlipal is home to several endangered species, including the Royal Bengal Tiger, Asian Elephant, and Indian Bison. This forest plays a vital role in preserving the region's biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance, making it an important area for conservation efforts and research.

In Simplipal Reserve Forest, the land cover types include dense forests, grasslands, wetlands, and agricultural patches. These different land cover types support a wide range of plant and animal species, contributing to the overall biodiversity of the area. Dense and semi-dense forests make up a significant portion of the land cover in the Simplipal Reserve Forest....The Story Continues

Find the complete story at: https://open.substack.com/pub/itell/p/the-blue-rafflesia-part-14?r=c8bxy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Previous Chapter :

https://open.substack.com/pub/itell/p/the-blue-rafflesia-part-13?r=c8bxy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

The Story of Dhauli Express

 

This is a very simple story. Although it is not a story but a real-life experience, It may be insignificant or innocuous to many. Some of you may ask why are you wasting our time. But to me, it is unexplained and thought-provoking that has taught me to be humble and thankful to god. So without lengthening the introduction let me begin my story.

I had boarded a train from Bhubaneswar(BBSR) to Kolkata. It was afternoon around 3 pm. The name of the train is Dhauli Express and this train journey took place nearly 20 years ago when I was doing my graduation.

With a long honking followed by two more short-duration honks the train starts its journey toward its destination: Howrah Station which is also my destination for this 7 to 8-hour long journey. My seat was at the left side window. I was traveling alone. However, the train was jampacked with passengers. But as per my experience of traveling on this train, most of them will depart once the train reaches Balasore.

Click here to read the complete story.

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The Blue Rafflesia Part 13

 

The Hubbulu Gangs, led by Chotu Miah, are arrested by the local police after attempting to extort money from a businessman in Shahidnagar. They were initially surprised by the promptness of the arrest and were unsure of their destination. Pandey Ji, the leader of the Gangs, is frightened and tries to find a CC TV recording to determine who threw the object at him. Pandey Ji is informed by the Cyber Cell that the recordings will be delivered within the next day.

Prof. Bhattacharjee is busy reminiscing about the events of the past few days and is searching for a link to establish the reason behind the holographic Tiger being released. He is concerned that the attacks on him and his children are warning him about something. The Simlipal Reserve Forest is experiencing a dark night due to rain and overcast conditions. Many staff members have been sacked due to the incident, and Rusha, the manager of the resort, is increasingly suspicious about the activities happening in the forest.

Rusha is trying to avoid questions about the incident where Ganesh and his acquaintances were killed in the presence of the Tiger. Police have said that they were killed not by the Tiger but by gunshots. Rusha is trying to avoid questions about the incident but is pertinacious. One of the guests, Rohit, asks Rusha about the food Ganesh had while staying at the resort. He is unable to reveal the details due to resort policy, leading to chaos.

The resort's manager intervenes to get the same breakfast that Ganesh ordered. The same guy approaches Rusha and apologizes for his behavior, saying she would understand why it was done.

Read the complete story (Part 13)