3 views
Title: "The Haunted Himalayas: Tales from The Hunter Called ‘Carpet Sahib’ a Crusader for Animal Rights."
“It is of these people, who are admittedly poor, and who are often described as ‘India’s starving millions’, among whom I have lived and whom I love, that I shall endeavor to tell in the pages of this book, which I humbly dedicate to my friends, the poor of India.”- E.Jim. Corbett.
Introduction:
There is something about the mist-laden mountains, the crystal clear cold night skies, the shadows of the ancient deodars, the sprawling cemeteries that make it natural for ghosts to be around.Shrieking loud cries and dreadful activities in these mountains have always held people on their guard. It's advised to stay as far as possible to avoid any mishappening.
The Himalayas have always held an air of mystery and intrigue, with stories of gods, devils, and restless spirits echoing through the valleys. In the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, amidst the ancient Hindu temples and the remnants of the once-mighty kingdom of Kumaon, lies a tale that sends shivers down the spine.
Corbett the hunter and the supernatural
Jim Corbett. A Colonial shikaari. Environmentalist.And a Master storyteller. Generations of Indian children have grown up reading Corbett’s stories. In his long years in the jungles of Kumaon hills, Corbett experienced certain events which defied logic.
Join me in this write-up as we delve into the chilling facts & mysteries that surrounded this fearless hunter and storyteller.
The Ghost State:
They called it the Land of the Gods, devil's and ghosts. This is Himalayas northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.
The northern Indian state of Uttarakhand was known for its ancient Hindu temples, the ruins of a once-mighty kingdom called Kumaon, and sprawling wilderness dotted with villages mostly inhabited by farmers and craftsmen living in the shadows of the Himalaya mountains.Edward James Corbett or Jim Corbett as we know him was a hunter turned conservationist who was no less than a blessing for the then inhabitants of Nainital. It is the story of Jim Corbett, the legendary colonial shikaari, whose encounters with the supernatural in the treacherous wilderness of the Himalayas have become the stuff of legends.
But when Jim Corbett arrived in 1907, it was a ghost state. Doors were closed, windows were shuttered, village greens were abandoned. The fields lay dormant, their crops unharvested and ripening on the vine as farmers refused to leave their homes. When people had to venture out for fire wood they did so only in armed groups, with dozens of adult men wielding blades and repurposed farming tools, making a ruckus as they set out.
No one dared go out at night.
In 1907, when Jim Corbett first set foot in Uttarakhand, he found a land haunted by fear and despair. Villages stood abandoned, their doors never opened and windows always shuttered closed. Fields lay untended, as farmers refused to leave the safety of their homes. No school. The reason for this eerie scary silence was the notorious maneater Champawat Tiger, responsible for a staggering 436 deaths in Nepal and India. The relentless attacks had driven the people to believe that they were facing the wrath of the gods themselves.
During the late 19th century, a Nepalese region close to the Himalayas was terrorized by this most notorious and prolific man-eater of all times. This tiger forcibly attacked humans breaking down the entrance door too. Men, women, and children were ambushed in the jungle by the dozens. The attacks were so frequent and so bloody that people started talking about demons, and even punishment from the gods.
The responsible party was a Bengal tigress who had been shot by a hunter. She had escaped, but the bullet had broken two of her fangs. In constant pain, and rendered unable to hunt her usual prey, the tigress had become a man-eater.
Supernatural Encounters:
Corbett's adventures in the Himalayas were not confined to the physical realm. On one fateful night, as he pursued the Talla Des man-eater, he witnessed an inexplicable phenomenon. While resting by the river bank, he observed a series of lights on the far side of the Sarada gorge. Initially, he mistook them for a forest fire, but the lack of sound and the peculiar movements puzzled him. The next morning, he searched for any sign of human involvement but found none. Local legends spoke of a sadhu who had angered a goddess and was cast down the gorge, possibly explaining the eerie lights that haunted the area.
Corbett chronicled his experiences with spirits in his book, and his biographer, Martin Booth, described it as an eerie experience.
In his book Jungle Lore, Corbett also wrote about the superstitious belief in the churail in the villages along the Himalayan foothills.Jim Corbett couldn't have been more elusive when he wrote in Jungle Lore that only thrice in his lifetime did he hear the scream of the chudail and only once caught a glimpse of it.
The Tigress of Thak:
Corbett's most enigmatic encounter occurred during his pursuit of the tigress of Thak in 1938. The Thak man-eater was a female Bengal tiger who killed and ate four people between September and November 1938. She operated in Kumaon, near the Nepalese border, between the villages of Thak, Chuka, Kot Kindri, and Sem.This was the last man-eater killed by Corbett.
The details of this encounter remain shrouded in mystery, as Corbett himself refused to document it. He hinted at an experience that defied the laws of nature, suggesting a chilling encounter beyond human comprehension. Was it a panic attack induced by the tehsildar's strange behavior, or did Corbett come face to face with something otherworldly? The answer remains elusive, leaving us to contemplate the existence of forces that lie beyond our understanding.
The Champawat Tigress-
The Champawat Tiger was one of the most deadly man-eaters ever recorded. In the known history of man-eating beasts, no other animal has killed that many people. Villagers living in the shadow of the forests lived in constant fear, their livelihoods and lives at the mercy of the fearsome predator. As the death toll continued to rise, panic spread like wildfire, leading to widespread hysteria and the collapse of local economies. Nepali army was called and asked to kill the tigress, Nepali army personal are mostly hailed from hills and they know the forests and their denizens very well. They tried to kill her but every time she escape the bullets of even expert shikaris. Later army with support from villagers had pushed her towards the Sharda River which flows on India and Nepal Border, she crossed the River and landed in Indian Territory which she found a safe place to operate.
Legacy and Reflections:
Jim Corbett's extraordinary tales continue to captivate and intrigue generations of readers. His encounters with the supernatural serve as a reminder that there is more to the world than meets the eye. The haunted Himalayas, with their majestic peaks and hidden secrets, offer a glimpse into the unknown, challenging our perception of reality. As we navigate through life, it is essential to remain open to the mysteries that surround us, for there are realms yet to be explored and phenomena yet to be explained.
Jim Corbett & his weird supernatural experience.-
Corbett had a more paranormal sort of experience during the hunt of his last man eater, the tigress of Thak, in 1938.
Corbett and the supernatural
Jim Corbett. Colonial shikaari. Environmentalist.Also a Master storyteller. Generations of Indian children have grown up reading Corbett’s stories. In his long years in the jungles of Kumaon hills, Corbett experienced certain events which defied logic.
One of these experiences happened on the night of 5th April, 1929 when Corbett was on the hunt for the Talla Des man-eater. He and his men were trekking through the Sarada gorge en route to Kala Agar. Tired after a long day’s walk, Corbett was enjoying a cigarette along the river bank when he noticed something odd.
On the far side of the gorge (the Nepal side), three lights suddenly appeared together. Shortly after, two more lights appeared. Initially, Corbett considered them as the start of a forest fire. Soon, one of the new lights moved downwards and merged with one of the earlier lights.
A few more lights appeared within a few minutes and Corbett realised that he was looking at lights and not fire. He concluded that some shikari might have left something during the day and had probably sent back his men with lights to look for the same.
But the lack of any sound, human or otherwise, bothered him. Nor did any of his men hear anything. Next morning, when dawn broke, Corbett scanned the far side with his field glasses. He found no trace of any forest fire, nor anything suggestive of human involvement.
The area where he had seen the lights was, in Corbett’s words, “.. a perpendicular rock where no human, unless suspended from above, could have possibly gone.”
He did hear from his aide, Gangaram, the story of a sadhu from ancient times who had angered the goddess at Purnagiri and was hurled down the gorge. The locals believed the lights were the penance of the unfortunate saint and they were careful not to spend the night in the gorge ever.
Corbett had a more paranormal sort of experience during the hunt of his last man eater, the tigress of Thak, in 1938.
But probably the strangest experience Corbett had was the one he refused to write about.As the beyond ‘laws of nature’ do not consort well with such stories.” So, what happened to Corbett at Champawat bungalow?Did the tehsildar’s strange behaviour induce a panic attack in a body and mind fatigued by the constant chase of a deadly animal?After all, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy…”
Apart from all this Corbett was also a strong advocate for conservation. He played a key role in the establishment of the Jim Corbett National Park, which is named after him. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, elephants, and rhinos. Corbett's stories are full of suspense, adventure, and the supernatural. They are a reminder that there are still many things in the world that we do not understand.
Factors Contributing to Man-eating Behaviour in Tigers
When a tiger or leopard becomes a man-eater, it typically occurs due to a combination of factors, including:
Injury or Old Age:
Tigers that are injured or unable to hunt their natural prey due to old age may turn to easier targets, such as humans.
Lack of Natural Prey:
Deforestation, habitat loss, or depletion of natural prey can lead tigers to seek alternative sources of food, including humans.
Accidental Habituation:
Tigers may inadvertently associate humans with a potential food source if they come into contact with them frequently, such as near villages or settlements.
Behavioural Abnormalities: Some tigers may exhibit abnormal behaviour due to factors like territorial disputes, genetic predisposition, or social disruptions within their population, which could contribute to man-eating tendencies.
Conclusion:
The Land of the Gods, devil's, and ghosts holds within its folds the enigmatic tales of Jim Corbett's encounters with the supernatural. From the ghost state of Uttarakhand to the eerie lights of the Sarada gorge, and the undisclosed terrors of the Champawat bungalow, these stories remind us of the inexplicable wonders that lurk in the shadows. They beckon us to embrace the unknown, to contemplate the existence of forces beyond our comprehension. In the haunted Himalayas, where reality merges with the supernatural, the legacy of Jim Corbett lives on, forever immortalized in spine-chilling tales that continue to send a shiver down our spines.
No doubt, this took a lot of risks but until when he was alive, Corbett did what he had to – to protect the villagers he admired so much.
Rehabilitation:
These majestic man eating creatures, known for their grace and power, sometimes develop a taste for human flesh, turning into dreaded man-eaters. This alarming behaviour can be attributed to a variety of factors, including habitat loss, declining prey populations, injuries, and inadvertent habituation to humans. These conditions can cause tigers to seek alternative sustenance sources, resulting in attacks on humans.Such instances of human-tiger conflicts have been recorded throughout history, leaving communities vulnerable and conservationists grappling with complex challenges.
But success stories have shown that man-eating tigers eventually have switched to pursuing wild prey. In certain cases, tigers that have undergone rehabilitation have been able to effectively reintegrate into their native habitats and continue hunting. These accomplishments demonstrate how adaptable and resilient these apex predators are when given the chance.Younger tigers with less engrained man-eating appear to have a better chance of successfully making the switch back to species that they naturally feed on. The likelihood of rehabilitation is also impacted by the length of captivity. Tigers who have spent a lot of time eating humans may establish ingrained behavioural tendencies that are hard to break. Furthermore, a restored tiger’s long-term survival depends on the presence of adequate habitats and enough prey populations.
So dear friends do let me know your thoughts/takes on this blog post & Jim Corbett’s strange encounters.
© Aneemkp
Introduction:
There is something about the mist-laden mountains, the crystal clear cold night skies, the shadows of the ancient deodars, the sprawling cemeteries that make it natural for ghosts to be around.Shrieking loud cries and dreadful activities in these mountains have always held people on their guard. It's advised to stay as far as possible to avoid any mishappening.
The Himalayas have always held an air of mystery and intrigue, with stories of gods, devils, and restless spirits echoing through the valleys. In the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, amidst the ancient Hindu temples and the remnants of the once-mighty kingdom of Kumaon, lies a tale that sends shivers down the spine.
Corbett the hunter and the supernatural
Jim Corbett. A Colonial shikaari. Environmentalist.And a Master storyteller. Generations of Indian children have grown up reading Corbett’s stories. In his long years in the jungles of Kumaon hills, Corbett experienced certain events which defied logic.
Join me in this write-up as we delve into the chilling facts & mysteries that surrounded this fearless hunter and storyteller.
The Ghost State:
They called it the Land of the Gods, devil's and ghosts. This is Himalayas northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.
The northern Indian state of Uttarakhand was known for its ancient Hindu temples, the ruins of a once-mighty kingdom called Kumaon, and sprawling wilderness dotted with villages mostly inhabited by farmers and craftsmen living in the shadows of the Himalaya mountains.Edward James Corbett or Jim Corbett as we know him was a hunter turned conservationist who was no less than a blessing for the then inhabitants of Nainital. It is the story of Jim Corbett, the legendary colonial shikaari, whose encounters with the supernatural in the treacherous wilderness of the Himalayas have become the stuff of legends.
But when Jim Corbett arrived in 1907, it was a ghost state. Doors were closed, windows were shuttered, village greens were abandoned. The fields lay dormant, their crops unharvested and ripening on the vine as farmers refused to leave their homes. When people had to venture out for fire wood they did so only in armed groups, with dozens of adult men wielding blades and repurposed farming tools, making a ruckus as they set out.
No one dared go out at night.
In 1907, when Jim Corbett first set foot in Uttarakhand, he found a land haunted by fear and despair. Villages stood abandoned, their doors never opened and windows always shuttered closed. Fields lay untended, as farmers refused to leave the safety of their homes. No school. The reason for this eerie scary silence was the notorious maneater Champawat Tiger, responsible for a staggering 436 deaths in Nepal and India. The relentless attacks had driven the people to believe that they were facing the wrath of the gods themselves.
During the late 19th century, a Nepalese region close to the Himalayas was terrorized by this most notorious and prolific man-eater of all times. This tiger forcibly attacked humans breaking down the entrance door too. Men, women, and children were ambushed in the jungle by the dozens. The attacks were so frequent and so bloody that people started talking about demons, and even punishment from the gods.
The responsible party was a Bengal tigress who had been shot by a hunter. She had escaped, but the bullet had broken two of her fangs. In constant pain, and rendered unable to hunt her usual prey, the tigress had become a man-eater.
Supernatural Encounters:
Corbett's adventures in the Himalayas were not confined to the physical realm. On one fateful night, as he pursued the Talla Des man-eater, he witnessed an inexplicable phenomenon. While resting by the river bank, he observed a series of lights on the far side of the Sarada gorge. Initially, he mistook them for a forest fire, but the lack of sound and the peculiar movements puzzled him. The next morning, he searched for any sign of human involvement but found none. Local legends spoke of a sadhu who had angered a goddess and was cast down the gorge, possibly explaining the eerie lights that haunted the area.
Corbett chronicled his experiences with spirits in his book, and his biographer, Martin Booth, described it as an eerie experience.
In his book Jungle Lore, Corbett also wrote about the superstitious belief in the churail in the villages along the Himalayan foothills.Jim Corbett couldn't have been more elusive when he wrote in Jungle Lore that only thrice in his lifetime did he hear the scream of the chudail and only once caught a glimpse of it.
The Tigress of Thak:
Corbett's most enigmatic encounter occurred during his pursuit of the tigress of Thak in 1938. The Thak man-eater was a female Bengal tiger who killed and ate four people between September and November 1938. She operated in Kumaon, near the Nepalese border, between the villages of Thak, Chuka, Kot Kindri, and Sem.This was the last man-eater killed by Corbett.
The details of this encounter remain shrouded in mystery, as Corbett himself refused to document it. He hinted at an experience that defied the laws of nature, suggesting a chilling encounter beyond human comprehension. Was it a panic attack induced by the tehsildar's strange behavior, or did Corbett come face to face with something otherworldly? The answer remains elusive, leaving us to contemplate the existence of forces that lie beyond our understanding.
The Champawat Tigress-
The Champawat Tiger was one of the most deadly man-eaters ever recorded. In the known history of man-eating beasts, no other animal has killed that many people. Villagers living in the shadow of the forests lived in constant fear, their livelihoods and lives at the mercy of the fearsome predator. As the death toll continued to rise, panic spread like wildfire, leading to widespread hysteria and the collapse of local economies. Nepali army was called and asked to kill the tigress, Nepali army personal are mostly hailed from hills and they know the forests and their denizens very well. They tried to kill her but every time she escape the bullets of even expert shikaris. Later army with support from villagers had pushed her towards the Sharda River which flows on India and Nepal Border, she crossed the River and landed in Indian Territory which she found a safe place to operate.
Legacy and Reflections:
Jim Corbett's extraordinary tales continue to captivate and intrigue generations of readers. His encounters with the supernatural serve as a reminder that there is more to the world than meets the eye. The haunted Himalayas, with their majestic peaks and hidden secrets, offer a glimpse into the unknown, challenging our perception of reality. As we navigate through life, it is essential to remain open to the mysteries that surround us, for there are realms yet to be explored and phenomena yet to be explained.
Jim Corbett & his weird supernatural experience.-
Corbett had a more paranormal sort of experience during the hunt of his last man eater, the tigress of Thak, in 1938.
Corbett and the supernatural
Jim Corbett. Colonial shikaari. Environmentalist.Also a Master storyteller. Generations of Indian children have grown up reading Corbett’s stories. In his long years in the jungles of Kumaon hills, Corbett experienced certain events which defied logic.
One of these experiences happened on the night of 5th April, 1929 when Corbett was on the hunt for the Talla Des man-eater. He and his men were trekking through the Sarada gorge en route to Kala Agar. Tired after a long day’s walk, Corbett was enjoying a cigarette along the river bank when he noticed something odd.
On the far side of the gorge (the Nepal side), three lights suddenly appeared together. Shortly after, two more lights appeared. Initially, Corbett considered them as the start of a forest fire. Soon, one of the new lights moved downwards and merged with one of the earlier lights.
A few more lights appeared within a few minutes and Corbett realised that he was looking at lights and not fire. He concluded that some shikari might have left something during the day and had probably sent back his men with lights to look for the same.
But the lack of any sound, human or otherwise, bothered him. Nor did any of his men hear anything. Next morning, when dawn broke, Corbett scanned the far side with his field glasses. He found no trace of any forest fire, nor anything suggestive of human involvement.
The area where he had seen the lights was, in Corbett’s words, “.. a perpendicular rock where no human, unless suspended from above, could have possibly gone.”
He did hear from his aide, Gangaram, the story of a sadhu from ancient times who had angered the goddess at Purnagiri and was hurled down the gorge. The locals believed the lights were the penance of the unfortunate saint and they were careful not to spend the night in the gorge ever.
Corbett had a more paranormal sort of experience during the hunt of his last man eater, the tigress of Thak, in 1938.
But probably the strangest experience Corbett had was the one he refused to write about.As the beyond ‘laws of nature’ do not consort well with such stories.” So, what happened to Corbett at Champawat bungalow?Did the tehsildar’s strange behaviour induce a panic attack in a body and mind fatigued by the constant chase of a deadly animal?After all, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy…”
Apart from all this Corbett was also a strong advocate for conservation. He played a key role in the establishment of the Jim Corbett National Park, which is named after him. The park is home to a variety of wildlife, including tigers, leopards, elephants, and rhinos. Corbett's stories are full of suspense, adventure, and the supernatural. They are a reminder that there are still many things in the world that we do not understand.
Factors Contributing to Man-eating Behaviour in Tigers
When a tiger or leopard becomes a man-eater, it typically occurs due to a combination of factors, including:
Injury or Old Age:
Tigers that are injured or unable to hunt their natural prey due to old age may turn to easier targets, such as humans.
Lack of Natural Prey:
Deforestation, habitat loss, or depletion of natural prey can lead tigers to seek alternative sources of food, including humans.
Accidental Habituation:
Tigers may inadvertently associate humans with a potential food source if they come into contact with them frequently, such as near villages or settlements.
Behavioural Abnormalities: Some tigers may exhibit abnormal behaviour due to factors like territorial disputes, genetic predisposition, or social disruptions within their population, which could contribute to man-eating tendencies.
Conclusion:
The Land of the Gods, devil's, and ghosts holds within its folds the enigmatic tales of Jim Corbett's encounters with the supernatural. From the ghost state of Uttarakhand to the eerie lights of the Sarada gorge, and the undisclosed terrors of the Champawat bungalow, these stories remind us of the inexplicable wonders that lurk in the shadows. They beckon us to embrace the unknown, to contemplate the existence of forces beyond our comprehension. In the haunted Himalayas, where reality merges with the supernatural, the legacy of Jim Corbett lives on, forever immortalized in spine-chilling tales that continue to send a shiver down our spines.
No doubt, this took a lot of risks but until when he was alive, Corbett did what he had to – to protect the villagers he admired so much.
Rehabilitation:
These majestic man eating creatures, known for their grace and power, sometimes develop a taste for human flesh, turning into dreaded man-eaters. This alarming behaviour can be attributed to a variety of factors, including habitat loss, declining prey populations, injuries, and inadvertent habituation to humans. These conditions can cause tigers to seek alternative sustenance sources, resulting in attacks on humans.Such instances of human-tiger conflicts have been recorded throughout history, leaving communities vulnerable and conservationists grappling with complex challenges.
But success stories have shown that man-eating tigers eventually have switched to pursuing wild prey. In certain cases, tigers that have undergone rehabilitation have been able to effectively reintegrate into their native habitats and continue hunting. These accomplishments demonstrate how adaptable and resilient these apex predators are when given the chance.Younger tigers with less engrained man-eating appear to have a better chance of successfully making the switch back to species that they naturally feed on. The likelihood of rehabilitation is also impacted by the length of captivity. Tigers who have spent a lot of time eating humans may establish ingrained behavioural tendencies that are hard to break. Furthermore, a restored tiger’s long-term survival depends on the presence of adequate habitats and enough prey populations.
So dear friends do let me know your thoughts/takes on this blog post & Jim Corbett’s strange encounters.
© Aneemkp
