Rhyme of the rhino

Rajdeep Bains

This is a timely book. Given the worldwide focus on rhino poaching, the vast amounts of money and the number of people involved, there is no doubt that this is essential reading. However, there is much more to the book than rhino poaching, as anyone interested in nature conservation in all its aspects will agree.

Dileep Chandan has written a love story, a paean to the beautiful Kaziranga, beloved to all who come in contact with ‘her’. Chandan, a journalist who has worked in Assam for 30 years, has obviously been smitten and his love shines through in the elaborate descriptions of the forest, its people and their lives. The translation by veteran journalist Parbina Rashid more than does justice to the book, retaining the original flavor while making it accessible to a wider readership.

The book, despite featuring multiple characters, their little idiosyncrasies and cataloguing their simple lives, is far from simple itself. It’s a story of a crime that takes place in the heart of Kaziranga, but has far-reaching implications not only for the endangered animals, but also for the human victims of a surge in organised crime, corruption and violence.

Rishi, a city boy from Guwahati who was orphaned by poachers, finds love with Lakhimi, the daughter of the postmaster of the village of Pamua. Then there is Amal, a wealthy realtor, who is bored with life in the city. He seeks succour in the beauty of the forest by building a resort to run as a people’s cooperative. Forest Officer Hridyananda, journalist Arunabh, and blind musician Yashodhar — all form the backbone around which the disillusionment of the locals with conservation efforts, and the seething embers of the agitation for land allotment is woven.

The topic of rhino poaching, close to the hearts of all wildlife conservationists, is at the heart of the story. There are some harsh realities that are explained well in this book. It goes beyond the rhino issue, to the massive illegal wildlife trafficking industry, which is at par with drugs and weapons for profits, corruption and blind savagery.

Ballad of Kaziranga is a tale of greed and corruption, and of an increasingly desperate battle to save rhinos. It is a meticulous and rather terrifying account of the illegal trade in rhino horns as it exposes poachers, mercenaries, killers, gun-runners, government officials and nameless kingpins behind the carnage. It also shows the appalling inadequacy of the Forest Department which, despite good intentions, is unable to do much to stop the slaughter.

The book, like a good film, ends on a positive if not happy note. New laws have been put into place; the Forest Department has been given a special force trained in the use of modern technology as well as weapons; news reports state that rhino conservation in India is a success story. From a population of barely 75 in 1905, Indian rhinos numbered over 2,700 by 2012, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature-India. 

For conservationists, however, while there is cause to celebrate, the constant vigil must continue. The ballad of Kaziranga must be sung by more people so this beautiful land can be preserved for future generations.