Odisha State Board CHSE Odisha Class 11 Invitation to English 1 Solutions Chapter 2 The Legend behind a Legend Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.
CHSE Odisha 11th Class English Solutions Chapter 2 The Legend behind a Legend
CHSE Odisha Class 11 English The Legend behind a Legend Text Book Questions and Answers
UNIT – I
Gist with Glossary
Gist:
The writer walks down memory lane. Exactly 25 years ago, he had spent two days and two nights with Khairi, the tigress of Jashipur, and a collection of wild animals of Saroj and Nihar. A news item on the latest exploits of Khairi evoked his interest to visit the place. He came to know that Saroj Raj Chaudhury was taking care of Khairi. He wrote a letter to him and met with a prompt response. He was filled with great joy. Mr. Chaudhury invited him to Khairi-Jashipur, giving him particular directions on how to reach there. The writer apprised him of when and how he would visit him.
Glossary:
bandit queen : queen of the robbers (ଦସ୍ୟୁରାଣୀ)
menagerie : a collection of wild animals (ବଣ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ମାନ ଙ୍କ ସଂଗ୍ରହାଳୟ)
exploits : some unusual thing that someone does that you think is brave, exciting or entertaining
domesticated : an animal trained to live with or work for humans (ଗୃହପାଳିତ)
struck : occurred (ମନେପଡ଼ିଲା)
gruff : unfriendly and cruel (ନିଷ୍ଠୁର ସ୍ବଭାବସମ୍ପନ୍ନ)
tough : strict and severe (ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳିତ)
brooked no nonsense : tolerated only important and necessary things (ବାଜେ କଥା ସହ୍ୟ କରିପାରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ)
suffered no feels : did not tolerate stupidity in others (ନିର୍ବୋଧତାକୁ ପ୍ରଶ୍ରୟ ଦିଅନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ)
itnerant articles : articles published in different magazines (ବିଭିନ୍ନ ପତ୍ରିକାରେ ପ୍ରକାଶିତ ଅନେକ ଲେଖା )
shot in the dark : a hopeful attempt (ଏକ ଆଶାପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଉଦ୍ୟମ )
utter : great (ମାତ୍ରାତ୍ଵିକ)
delight : pleasure (ଆନନ୍ଦ)
precise : exact (ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦିଷ୍ଟ)
instructions : directions (ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ )
Think it out:
Question 1.
Who is Khairi?
Answer:
Khairi is a legendary tigress of Jashipur.
Question 2.
How did the writer come to know about Khairi?
Answer:
The writer came to know about Khairi when he had read a small news item in The Statesman that threw light on the latest exploits of the tigress in the Similipal forests of Odisha.
Question 3.
Who was the foster father of Khairi?
Answer:
Saroj Raj Chaudhury was the foster father of Khairi.
Question 4.
Which State does the writer belong to?
Answer:
The writer belongs to Odisha.
Question 5.
What did he learn about Saroj Raj Chaudhury as a person?
Answer:
He learnt that Saroj Raj Chaudhury tolerated only important and necessary things, but not stupidity in others.
Question 6.
How did he contact Mr. Chaudhury?
Answer:
He contacted Mr. Chaudhury by writing a letter to him after getting his address.
Question 7.
Why did he refer some of his articles to Mr. Chaudhury?
Answer:
He referred some of his articles to Mr. Chaudhury in the hope of getting his response.
Question 8.
Did Mr. Chaudhury reply to the author’s letter? What did he write?
Ans.
Yes, Mr. Chaudhury replied to the author’s letter. The former wanted the latter to inform him in advance of the manner and the time of his arrival.
UNIT-II
Gist with Glossary
Gist:
The writer reached Khairi-Jashipur by an overcrowded bus. It was 4 a.m. He was soon provided with food and shelter. In other words, he was accorded fabulous hospitality, thanks to Saroj Chaudhury. Terror seized him when he heard the clear voice of the Tiger just outside the door. It did not last long before the bearer met him to serve hot tea and biscuit and assured him of the presence of Khairi who was making loving inquiries about the new guest in the house. He met Saroj Chaudhury, ‘a frail man in his fifties, slightly balding on the top; the latter greeted the former in a polite manner after asking Jambu, the bear, to get down because the animal holding on to Chaudhury’s waist. They conversed with each other. In Mr. Chaudhury, the writer found a humble and careful man. One of the most caring persons he had ever met in his life was Mr.
Glossary:
semidarkness: half-darkness (ଅର୍ଥ ଅନ୍ଧକାର)
click : sound (ଶବ୍ଦ)
detailed : was given minute instructions (ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ସୂଚନା ପାଇଥିଲେ )
escort : guide (ପଥ ପ୍ରଦର୍ଶନକାରୀ)
with a start : in fear (ଭୟଚକିତ ହୋଇ)
terror struck : the writer was seized with fear (ଭୟ ବିହ୍ବଳିତ)
sloth : lazy behaviour (ଆଳସ୍ୟ ସ୍ବଭାବସମ୍ପନ୍ନ )
frail : weak (ଦୁର୍ବଳ)
slightly : a little (ଅତି ଅଳ୍ପ)
gruff : rude, unfriendly
no-nonsense : doing things quickly and effectively without worring too much about people’s fear (ଲୋକଙ୍କ ମନ୍ତବ୍ୟ ପ୍ରତି ଉଦାସୀନ)
humane : caring people and animals ( ମାନବ ପ୍ରତି ସମ୍ବେଦନଶୀଳ)
Think it out:
Question 1.
How did the writer come to Bhubaneswar?
Answer:
The writer came to Bhubaneswar by train.
Question 2.
How did he go to Jashipur from Bhubaneswar?
Answer:
He went to Jashipur from Bhubaneswar in an over-packed bus.
Question 3.
How did the forest guard receive him?
Answer:
The forest guard received him in a very cordial manner. He guided the writer, took him to the guest house, and made him stay in the guest house, assuring him that the water was in the jug.
Question 4.
Why was he terror-struck?
Answer:
He was terror-struck because he heard the clear voice of the Tiger just outside his door.
Question 5.
What did the bearer tell him about Khairi?
Answer:
The bearer told him that Khairi was trying to know about the new guest in the house. There was a ring of friendliness about Khairi.
Question 6.
What was Mr. Chaudhury doing when the writer met him?
Answer:
When the writer met Mr. Chaudhury, he was sitting on a large chair.
Question 7.
How did Mr. Chaudhury greet the author?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury warmly greeted the author.
Question 8.
What was the name of the bear?
Answer:
The name of the bear was Jambu.
Question 9.
What was the physical appearance of Mr. Chaudhury?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury was a weak man in his fifties with a little baldness on the top.
Question 10.
What kind of man did the author find Mr. Chaudhury to be?
Answer:
In the author’s estimation, Mr. Chaudhury was friendly and responsive. Besides, he was caring to the core.
UNIT – III
Gist with Glossary
Gist:
This part begins with Mr. Chaudhury narrating a wonderful story to the writer. His house turned into a habitat for different species of wild animals. He conducted an experiment to exaggerate that the animals could exist with each other if they were together from childhood. He brought Khairi and one of the most dangerous snakes, krait close to her. The writer marked Khairi’s reaction – it was one of fondness for the strange creature. Whenever the krait got too close to Khairi, he would pull it by its back.
Once he became inattentive and was bitten by a krait. Some of its poison entered his blood and therefore, he was now a permanent patient of low blood pressure. As soon as Mr. Chaudhury finished this wonderful story Jambu tried to give the writer his bear hug, but the former’s stem warning prevented him from doing so. Mr. Chaudhury has a well-knit joint family that was living inside the compound. It comprised a mongoose, a pangolin, wild cat twins, a country dog, and a blind Hyena, each having a name.
Glossary:
emerged : became known (ଜଣାପଡ଼ିଲା)
sips : drink (something) by taking small mouthfuls (ଅଳ୍ପ ଅଳ୍ପ ପିଇବା)
debunked : exaggerated
co-exist : live together (ଏକତ୍ର ବାସ କରିବା)
infancy : childhood (ପିଲାଦିନ)
unmindful : inattentive (ଅମନୋଯୋଗୀ)
tied : bound (ବାନ୍ଧିଥିଲେ )
tourniquet : a piece of cloth bound tightly on an arm or leg to stop bleeding
hypo-glycaemia : condition of having a very low blood pressure (ନିମ୍ନ ରକ୍ତଚାପ)
astonishing : wonderful (ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟଜନକ)
take a fancy : to start liking someone (ଜଣକୁ ଭଲ ପାଇବାକୁ ଆରମ୍ଭ କରିବା)
hug : to put ones arms around someone to show love (ଆଲିଙ୍ଗନ)
dissuade : prevent (ବାଧା ଦେବା)
fondness : affection (ସ୍ନେହ, ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧା)
progressed : advanced (ଆଗେଇ ଚାଲିଲା)
intennittent : occurring occasionally (ସାମୟିକଭାବେ ଘଟୁଥିବା)
crackle : making shout sharp sounds (ସ୍ଵଚ୍ଛ ଅବଶିଷ୍ଟ ଉଚ୍ଚ ଶବ୍ଦ)
veritable : real (ବାସ୍ତବ)
Think it out:
Question 1.
What theory did Mr. Chaudhury prove wrong?
Answer:
The theory that Mr. Chaudhury proved wrong was that the different species of wild animals cannot co-exist unless they are together from childhood.
Question 2.
What was his first story about?
Answer:
The first story was about how his house became the habitat of different species of wild animals who all come at different stages of their lives. It also dealt with their coexistence and the close relationship between Khairi and krait, a dangerous snake.
Question 3.
Why is it so unique and amazing?
Answer:
It is so unique and amazing because, during this experiment, Khairi showed her reaction to the presence of krait, the most poisonous snake. Khairi was curious to know more about the krait as it was a stranger to her.
Question 4.
Why did Mr. Chaudhury allow Khairi to come near the krait?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury allowed Khairi to come near a krait to know how they dealt with each other.
Question 5.
What was Khairi’s reaction to the presence of the krait?
Ans.
Khairi’s reaction to the presence of a krait was one of curiosity to know more about the latter.
Question 6.
How did the experiment affect him?
Answer:
The experiment made him a permanent patient of low blood pressure.
Question 7.
What did the bear try to do with the writer?
Answer:
The bear tried to put his arms around the writer to show his love.
Question 8.
What prevented the bear from doing so?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury’s strict ‘no’ prevented the bear from doing so.
Question 9.
What kind of family did Mr. Chaudhury have?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury had a genuine joint family that comprised a mongoose, a pangolin, wild cat twins, a country dog, and a blind Hyena, each having a name.
Question 10.
What was his relationship with different animals?
Answer:
His relationship with different animals was quite familiar. His act of naming each of them is a case in point.
UNIT – IV
Gist:
Khairi was brought to Saroj Raj Chaudhury as a two-month cub who was hungry and confused. Veteran forester and instinctive lover of wildlife as he was, Saroj imitated the sounds of a mother tigress. It worked wonderfully. The tiger cub’s confidence was restored. Saroj became nostalgic. He recollected his birthday when his mother had presented him with a gun, with which he, as a young man, shot wildlife in a carefree manner. But, soon he realized that it was a mistake and happiness lies in the conservation of these harmless beautiful animals. As the Director of Project Tiger, Saroj was the first to introduce the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census. For the night, both camped at a guest house deep in the jungle. Never before had the writer experienced one night in a magnificent wooden structure with rooms and a bath that stood 15 feet high from the ground.
Glossary:
cub : (here) a young tigress (ବାଘଛୁଆ, ଛୁଆ ବାଘୁଣୀ)
famished : very hungry (କ୍ଷୁଧାଉଁ)
confused : disturbed (ବିବ୍ରତ ହେଲା)
snarls: making angry sounds in one’s throat and showing teeth
veteran : experienced (ଅଭିଜ୍ଞ, ଦକ୍ଷ)
handle : deal with (ଆୟତ୍ତ କରିବା)
firmly : determindedly (ଦୃଢ଼ ଭାବରେ )
anchored : restored (ଶାନ୍ତ ହେଲା)
the legends : (here) Saroj Raj Chaudhury and Khairi (କିମ୍ବଦନ୍ତୀ )
tag along : accompanied someone (ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିବିଶେଷଙ୍କ ସହ ଯାତ୍ରା
snaked (v) : moved in or had a senes of long curves (ଅଙ୍କାବଙ୍କା ରାସ୍ତାରେ ଗଲା)
amidst: in the midst of (ମଝିରେ)
lush foliage: leaves of trees growing luxuriously
abandon : in an uncontrolled way (ଅବିଚାରିତ ଭାବେ)
conserving: preventing land, water, etc. from being damaged (ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ କରିବା)
wanton harm: reckless harm
authority : (here) Saroj Choudhury (କର୍ତ୍ତୃପକ୍ଷ )
pugmarks: the mark of the footprint of an animal (ପଶୁର ପାଦଚିହ୍ନ)
distinctive: very clear
meticulously: carefully attending to every detail
functional: practical and simple
build on stilts: build on one of a set of posts
a top: at the top of (ଉପରିଭାଗରେ )
magnificent : very beautiful (ଖୁବ୍ ସୁନ୍ଦର)
Think it out:
Question 1.
How and when did Mr. Chaudhury come across Khairi?
Answer:
Mr. Chaudhury came across Khairi when 12 Kharia tribals of Similipal brought her to him when she was a two-month cub. It was on October 5, 1974.
Question 2.
In what condition did he And it?
Answer:
He found it in a state of hunger and confusion.
Question 3.
How did he manage the hungry and confused cub?
Answer:
He managed the hungry and confused cub by copying the sounds of the mother tigress. Within minutes, she became firmly confident.
Question 4.
How did he treat wildlife in a young age?
Answer:
He treated wildlife uncontrollably in a young age.
Question 5.
What did he say about his change of attitude towards wildlife to the author?
Answer:
He said to the author that his change of attitude towards wildlife took place because of his realization that there was greater happiness in safeguarding the beautiful wild animals that do not cause reckless harm to man.
Question 6.
What was his contribution to the Tiger Project?
Answer:
His contribution to the Tiger Project was the introduction of the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census. As a result, one can measure the pugmarks of each animal distinctly and record their characteristics very carefully.
Question 7.
What was the guest house like?
Answer:
The guest house was a wooden structure with simple rooms and a bath. It was built on one of the set of posts and was at a height of 15 feet.
Question 8.
What new experience did the author have in the Tiger Reserve area?
Answer:
The author experienced for the first time, one night stay in the Tiger Reserve area that was unique, especially on a very beautiful ‘machan’.
UNIT – V
Gist with Glossary
Gist :
The writer revisited Khairi-Jashipur after three months. His interest to know more about Khairi gained momentum. Besides Mr. Chaudhury’s old acquaintances, he caught sight of a young python. He focused on Mr. Chaudhury whose quest and passion was amazing. Meanwhile, Mr. Chaudhury got a message from the World Wildlife Fund. He went to New Delhi by air for an urgent meeting. The writer saw him off at the Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta. It was his last meeting with Mr. Chaudhury, a legend behind a legend. Khairi and Mr. Chaudhury are no more.
Glossary:
gracious: kind
in addition to besides
python: a very large snake that kills animals for food by wrapping itself around them and crushing them (ଅଜଗର ସାପ )
quest : search (ଅନ୍ଵେଷଣ)
legend: someone who very many people know about and admire (କିମ୍ବଦନ୍ତୀ ପୁରୁଷ)
unique : extraordinary (ଅସାଧାରଣ)
due: worth (ଯୋଗ୍ୟ)
Think it out:
Question 1.
After what interval of time did the writer visit Mr. Chaudhury for the second time?
Answer:
After three months, the writer visited Mr. Chaudhury for the second time.
Question 2.
What new addition to the Chaudhury family did he find there?
Answer:
The new addition to Chaudhury’s family he found there was an eight-foot-long young python.
Question 3.
Why did he get less time to interact with Mr. Chaudhury this time?
Answer:
He got less time to interact with Mr. Chaudhury because at that moment Mr. Chaudhury got a wireless message from the World Wildlife Fund to attend an important meeting at New Delhi.
Question 4.
Who died first, Khairi or Mr. Chaudhury?
Answer:
Khairi died first.
Question 5.
Who are the two legends the writer talks about?
Answer:
The two legends the writer talks about are Khairi and Mr. Saroj Raj Chaudhury.
Question 6.
Is the text more about Mr. Chaudhury or Khairi?
Answer:
The text throws much light on Mr. Chaudhury, yet Khairi does not lag far behind.
Question 7.
Can you guess now why the title of the text is “The Legend behind the Legend”?
Answer:
The title is aptly justified because the legendary passionate and instinctive lover of wildlife has been instrumental in transforming a two-month-old tiger baby into a legend. She is Khairi.
Post-Reading Activities:
I. Arranging in Order
Provided below are some events from the lesson. These are not in order. Arrange them in order as they occur in the lesson by putting numbers within the brackets provided against the items. One is done for you.
(a) Khairi played with the krait. ( )
(b) Khairi was brought to Mr. Chaudhury. ( )
(c) The writer sees Mr. Chaudhury off at Dum Dum Airport. (8)
(d) The writer reads a news item about Khairi. ( )
(e) Chaudhury writes a letter to the writer. ( )
(f) The writer reaches Jashipur by bus. ( )
(g) He stays with Chaudhury in a camp guest house in the forest. ( )
(h) The writer saw a python as a pet of Chaudhury. ( )
Answer:
(a) Khairi played with the krait. (6)
(b) Khairi was brought to Mr. Chaudhury. (5)
(c) The writer sees Mr. Chaudhury off at Dum Dum Airport. (8)
(d) The writer reads a news item about Khairi. (1)
(e) Chaudhury writes a letter to the writer. (2)
(f) The writer reaches Jashipur by bus. (3)
(g) He stays with Chaudhury in a camp guest house in the forest. (4)
(h) The writer saw a python as a pet of Chaudhury. (7)
II. Note-making
Notes-making helps you to develop your reading and writing skills. This lesson has, you know, two major themes – Khairi and Mr. Chaudhury. You have to read the lesson, make notes (in words and phrases) on these two, and then use these points to write about them. One has been done below on Khairi as a model. Make notes on Mr. Chaudhury.
Notes on Khairi
Para 1
→ Tigress of Jashipur
→ Made the forest famously
→ Domesticated tigress in the Similipal forest of Odisha
→ Writer reads a news item about Khairi
Para 5
→ Khairi roared to welcome the writer
→ He was terror struck
Para 9
→ On October 5, 1974, Khairi was brought as a cub, hungry, confused
Para 15
→ Chaudhury manages her imitating the sounds of a mother tigress.
The death of Khairi was followed by the death of Chaudhury.
With the help of these notes, write a paragraph on Khairi.
Khairi:
Khairi was a domesticated tigress. She made the Simmilipal forest and Jashipur famous. The writer read about her from a news item. Then he visited Jashipur to see Khairi and Chaudhury who had kept Khairi as a pet. He came to know from Mr. Chaudhury that Khairi was brought to Chaudhury on October 5, \91A by twelve Kharia tribals. It was then a small cub, hungry and confused. Chaudhury handled the cub well by imitating the sounds of a tigress. She grew up as a domesticated tigress under the loving care of Chaudhury. But she did not live long. Chaudhury also died soon after the death of Khairi.
Now write notes (from the lesson) and develop the notes into a write-up on Mr. Chaudhury.
Notes on Mr. Chaudhury
Para 3
→ Mr. Chaudhury was a very responsible person.
Para 4
→ Hospitable to the core
Para 6
→ A weak man in his fifties, slightly balding on the top
→ Nice and down-to-earth
→ One of the most humane beings
Para 7
→ His experiment concerning the co-existence of wild animals in the presence of Khairi and the krait
→ The latter is a dangerous snake
→ Noticed Khairi’s reaction of fondness
→ A permanent patient with low blood pressure
Para 8
→ Strict
→ Possessed a joint family of animals in his house
Para 9
→ An officer of the Indian Forest Service
→ Veteran forester and instinctive lover of wildlife
→ Showed skill in handling hungry and confused two-month-old tiger cub
→ Imitated the sounds of a mother tigress
Para 11
→ An authority on the tiger and Director of Project Tiger in India
→ Introduced the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census
Para 13
→ Gracious
Para 14
→ Journey to New Delhi for an important meeting
Para 15
→ The writer’s last meeting with him in the Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta
→ A legend behind a legend
→ He is no more.
Mr. Chaudhury
Mr. Chaudhury, responsible, hospitable, and down-to-earth, was a weak person in his fifties. He was one of the most humane beings. He made an experiment by effecting contact between Khairi and the krait, one of the most dangerous snakes, to know about the co-existence of different wild animals. Khairi’s reaction, he noticed, was one of great love. Mr. Chaudhury, a veteran forester and an instinctive lover of wildlife possessed a joint family of different animals in his house. He was strict. He showed his skill in handling the hungry and confused two-month-old tiger cub by imitating the sounds of a mother tigress. Mr. Chaudhury, an authority on the tiger and Director of Project Tiger in India, was the first to introduce the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census. The writer saw such a graceful legend off in Dum Dum Airport on his way to New Delhi, for the last time. Mr. Chaudhury is no more.
III. Doing with words Collocation
(a) Collocation in expressions means which words go with which other words. Collocations are fixed expressions. For example sweet dreams, daydreams, bad dreams, pipe dreams, hard-earned money, public money, extra money, and tax-payers money.
Answer:
(b) Find out five collocations from the test. (Example: to take a fancy).
Answer:
brooked no nonsense
suffered no fools
terror-struck
no-nonsense
hypo-glycaemia
(c) Which word in each line does not collocate with the headword?
(i) a theory: come up with, do, debunk, build
(ii) a debate: open, listen to, join in, find
(iii) legend: fresh, famous, well-known, sports
(iv) veteran: soldier, idealist, activist, man
(v) gracious: welcome, hospitality, building, smile
Answer:
(i) do
(ii) find
(iii) fresh
(iv) man
(v) building
CHSE Odisha Class 11 English The Legend behind a Legend Important Questions and Answers
I. Short Answer Type Questions with Answers
1. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Khairi made the entire forest where she lived famously. She was not a bandit queen but Khairi, the tigress of Jashipur. It was exactly 25 years ago when I spent two days and two nights with Khairi and the menagerie of Saroj and Nihar, I had read a small news item in The Statesman about the latest exploits of a domesticated tigress in the Similipal forests of Odisha. Suddenly, it struck me that this was happening in my own State. I thought, “why not attempt to experience it myself ?” I spoke to N.S. Ayyangar, a senior journalist in Berhampur, and a few other elders.
I was told that Khairi was under the care of a rather gruff and tough man called Saroj Raj Chaudhury who brooked no nonsense and suffered no fools. I got his address and wrote asking if I could visit him. For good measure, I referred to a few itinerant articles I had written for Indian magazines. It was a shot in the dark and I did not really expect to hear from him. But, to my utter delight, I got a letter within a week inviting me to Khairi-Jashipur, giving precise instructions about how to reach there. Mr. Chaudhury also asked me to let him know in advance how and when I was reaching. I gave him a date and said I would be taking a bus from Bhubaneswar on a particular night.
Questions :
(i) Why was the forest made famous?
(ii) “Why not attempt to experience it myself ?” What does ‘It’ refer to?
(iii) Why did the writer contact N.S. Ayyanger and a few others? What was the result?
(iv) Explain the expression “It was a shot in the dark.”.
(v) Suggest a suitable title to the extract.
Answers :
(i) The forest was made famous by Khairi, the tigress of Jashipur because it was her abode.
(ii) ‘It’ refers to the writer’s curiosity to be aware of the latest exciting things carried by a tigress in the Similipal forests of Odisha. She had been to live with and work for humans.
(iii) The writer contacted N.S. Ayyanger and a few other seniors to know about Khairi. He learned that Saroj Raj Chaudhury, who was rather an unfriendly and severe man, took care of the tigress.
(iv) The writer’s reference to a few articles he had written for Indian magazines was a sort of hopeful attempt to see Khairi and Saroj Raj Chaudhury’s positive response to his letter.
(v) The Writer’s Quest of Khairi
2. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
I packed my bag, took the train, and boarded the overcrowded bus from Bhubaneswar. I arrived sometime before 4.00 a.m. wondering where to go in that semidarkness. To my utter surprise, within a minute there was the click of boots and a voice welcoming me to Khairi-Jashipur. The Forest Guard, detailed to escort me, took me to the guest house, put me in my room, and assured me that water was in the jug; I could sleep as long as I wanted and Saab would see me as soon as I was ready.
I think I had an hour of blissful sleep. I woke up with a start when I heard the unmistakable voice of the Tiger just outside my door. I was terror-struck. Within minutes, a bearer came to the room with hot tea and biscuits. He smiled at the expression on my face and assured me that it was only Khairi outside the door, making friendly inquiries about the new guest in the house. I finished my tea, had a quick shower and went to the main house.
Saroj Raj Chaudhury was sitting on a large chair. There was a sloth bear behind him, holding on to his waist and making gurgling sounds. He said, “Get down, Jambu, get down’’ and rose to greet me – a frail man in his fifties, slightly balding on the top. We got talking. I didn’t find a gruff and rough no-nonsense man. What I found was one of the most humane human beings I had ever met in my life.
Questions :
(i) Describe the bus the writer had boarded.
(ii) When did he reach Jashipur?
(iii) Describe the treatment according to the writer in Jashipur.
(iv) How did a bearer react to the writer’s terror-stricken face?
(v) Throw light on Jambu.
Answers :
(i) The bus the writer had boarded was packed with passengers beyond its capacity.
(ii) The writer reached Jashipur sometime before 4 a.m. It was half-dark.
(iii) As soon as the writer reached Jashipur, the Forest Guard led him to the guest house, and showed him his room. He assured the writer of the presence of a jug filled with water. Later a bearer provided him with hot tea and biscuits in his room.
(iv) A bearer reacted smilingly to the writer’s terror-stricken face.
(v) The bear Jambu was seen in a lazy mood, behind Saroj Raj Chaudhury, and holding on to his waist making gurgling sounds.
3. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Here is the first story that emerged from this very unusual man between sips of coffee: “As you will see, I have different species of wild animals in this house. They all came in at different stages of their lives. I have debunked the theory that they cannot co-exist unless they are together from infancy. One thing I wanted to experiment with was the reaction of a young tiger to a snake. One day, when Khairi was much younger, we found a baby krait in the house. As you know, the krait is one of the most poisonous snakes.
I was noting Khairi’s reaction to its presence. Khairi was curious to know more about this strange new creature. Every time the krait got too close to Khairi, I would pull it back by its tail. This went on for some time. At some point, I must have been a little unmindful. It turned around and bit me. I immediately tied a tourniquet above that and got the poison out. I saw the doctor as soon as possible. Luckily it was a baby. Still, some of the poison got into my bloodstream and as a result, I am now a permanent patient of hypo-glycemia.”
By the time he finished this astonishing story, Jambu took a fancy to me and climbed behind to give me his bear hug. A stern ‘no’ from Saroj was enough to dissuade him from this expression of fondness. As the day progressed, between our conversations and the intermittent crackle on the VHF wireless set by which he was giving instructions to his men in the forests, I got to know a veritable joint family that was living inside the compound – a mongoose, a pangolin, wild cat twins, a country dog, and a blind Hyena. Each had a name.
Questions :
(i) When did Saroj narrate the first story to the writer?
(ii) What is the theory that Mr. Chaudhury has exaggerated?
(iii) ‘It turned round and bit me.’ What does ‘It’ refer to?
(iv) How was Mr. Saroj Chaudhury’s story?
(v) Throw light on Jambu.
Answers :
(i) Between sipping coffee, Saroj narrated the first story to the writer.
(ii) The theory that Mr. Chaudhury has exaggerated is that different species of wild animals cannot co-exist unless they are together from childhood.
(iii) ‘It’ refers to a krait, one of the most poisonous snakes.
(iv) Mr. Chaudhury’s story was wonderful.
(v) The bear Jambu was a picture of fondness. He started liking the writer climbing behind. The creature was interested to give a bear hug, but in vain, because of Mr. Chaudhury’s strict ‘no’.
4. Read through the extract and answer the questions that follow.
Khairi’s story started on October 5, 1974, when 12 Kharia tribals of Similipal brought a two-month-old tiger cub to Saroj Raj Chaudhury, an officer of the Indian Forest Service. Saroj noticed that it was a female – famished and confused. His first experience of what was to become his passion in life was angry snarls and scratching claws. But, the veteran forester and instinctive lover of wildlife knew how to handle a hungry, angry cub. He imitated the sounds of a mother tigress.
“Within minutes, her confidence was firmly anchored in the fostering human,” is how he recalled those first few minutes between the legends. Early the next morning, Saroj started his inspection of the Tiger Reserve area. I tagged along in the jeep that snaked through a narrow road in the woods amidst lush foliage. “My mother gave me a gun for my eighth birthday. As a young man, I shot wildlife with abandon. But soon, I realized that there is greater happiness in conserving these beautiful animals that do no wanton harm to man” is one of the things he told me about his life during that long travel.
At that time, he was an authority on the tiger and Director of Project Tiger in India. Saroj introduced the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census where the pugmarks of each animal with distinctive measurements and characteristics are meticulously recorded. For the night, we camped at a guest house deep in the jungle. It was a wooden structure with functional rooms and a bath. It was built on stilts and stood a good 15 feet above the ground. I experienced for the first time, one night atop a magnificent machan.
Questions :
(i) What picture of Saroj Chaudhury do you get in the 1st para of the extract?
(ii) When did he go to inspect the Tiger Reserve area?
(iii) Describe his journey to this place.
(iv) When did Mr. Chaudury’s realization concerning the conservation of wildlife come?
(v) What was the writer’s experience of staying one night at the guest house a top?
Answers :
(i) In the first para of the extract, we learn that Saroj Chaudhury, an officer of the Indian Forest Service, was a veteran forester and instinctive lover of wildlife. The way he handled the two-year-old tiger cub is a case in point.
(ii) Early the next morning of his arrival, he went to visit the Tiger Reserve area.
(iii) In the course of his journey, Saroj Chaudhury in the jeep went through a narrow road in the woods amidst leaves of trees growing luxuriantly.
(iv) Mr. Chaudhury’s realization concerning the conservation of wildlife came when he, as a young man, had shot wildlife in a carefree life.
(v) The writer’s experience of staying one night at the guest house atop was very beautiful.
II. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers
Choose the correct option.
Unit – I
The text
Khairi made ………………. night.
Question 1.
Who was the tigress of Jashipur?
(a) Nhairi
(b) Khairi
(c) Bhairi
(d) Shairi
Answer:
(b) Khairi
Question 2.
Where did Khairi live?
(a) Bhitarkanika
(b) Similipal forests
(c) Kanchanjanga
(d) National Zoo, Kolkata
Answer:
(b) Similipal forests
Question 3.
Who was N. S. Ayyangar ?
(a) a politician
(b) a senior journalist
(c) a zoologist
(d) a veterinary doctor
Answer:
(b) a senior journalist
Question 4.
Khairi was under the care of:
(a) N. S. Ayyangar
(b) Hariharan
(c) Saroj Raj Chaudhury
(d) Nihar Raj Chaudhury
Answer:
(c) Saroj Raj Chaudhury
Question 5.
Khairi was a :
(a) domesticated tigress
(b) wild tigress
(c) zoo tigress
(d) tigress of a circus
Answer:
(a) domesticated tigress
Question 6.
Who had invited the author to Khairi- Jashipur?
(a) Nihar Raj Chaudhury
(b) Saroj Raj Chaudhury
(c) N. S. Ayyangar
(d) Forest ranger
Answer:
(b) Saroj Raj Chaudhury
Unit – II
The text
I packed my bag, ……………… met in my life.
Question 7.
Who escorted the author to the guest house from the bus stop at Khairi- Jashipur?
(a) Forest Ranger
(b) Forest Guard
(c) Forest Guide
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) Forest Guard
Question 8.
What was Khairi doing outside the guest house when the author was inside the room?
(a) making friendly enquiries
(b) making fun
(c) searching for enemies if any
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(a) making friendly enquiries
Question 9.
Who was Jambu?
(a) a monkey
(b) a bear
(c) a sloth bear
(d) a donkey
Answer:
(c) a sloth bear
Unit – III
The text
Here is the first story……………..had a name.
Question 10.
The name of the snake living in Mr. Chaudhury’s house was :
(a) cobra
(b) Python
(c) krait
(d) rattlesnake
Answer:
(c) krait
Question 11.
Mr. Chaudhury was bitten by a snake and as a result, he became a permanent patient of
(a) diabetics
(b) hypo-glycaemia
(c) leukaemica
(d) high blood pressure
Answer:
(b) hypo-glycaemia
Question 12.
How did Mr. Chaudhury instruct his men in the forests?
(a) on the computer internet
(b) on the VHF wireless
(c) on the T.V.
(d) by the mobile phone
Answer:
(b) on the VHF wireless
Question 13.
What did Mr. Saroj Chaudhury do when he was bitten by a krait, the poisonous snake?
(a) immediately cut the biting place
(b) immediately applied for medicine
(c) immediately tied a tourniquet
(d) met a doctor
Answer:
(c) immediately tied a tourniquet
Unit – IV
The text
Khairi’s story…….. magnificent machan.
Question 14.
When did Khairi come to Mr. Chaudhury’s hands?
(a) Nov. 5, 1974
(b) Dec. 5, 1974
(c) Oct. 5, 1974
(d) Sept. 5, 1974
Answer:
(c) Oct. 5, 1974
Question 15.
Who got the baby tiger and handed it over to Mr. Chaudhury?
(a) 12 Kharia tribals
(b) 12 Gonda tribals
(c) 12 Santhal tribals
(d) none of them
Answer:
(a) 12 Kharia tribals
Question 16.
Who was Saroj Raj Chaudhury?
(a) Indian Police Service officer
(b) Indian Foreign Service officer
(c) Indian Forest Service officer
(d) a low cadre forest official
Answer:
(c) Indian Forest Service officer
Question 17.
What do you mean by the word ‘famished’?
(a) very tired
(b) very smart
(c) very careful
(d) very hungry
Answer:
(d) very hungry
Question 18.
How did Mr. Choudhury handle and consoled the hungry and angry cub?
(a) by giving it milk to drink
(b) by showing her the picture of a mother tigress
(c) by making the sounds of a mother tigress
(d) by leaving it all alone
Answer:
(c) by making the sounds of a mother tigress
Question 19.
Where does lie the greater happiness of Mr. Chaudhury?
(a) in killing animals
(b) in conserving animals
(c) in destroying animals’ habitat
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) in conserving animals
Question 20.
What do you mean by the word ‘wanton harm’?
(a) no harm
(b) less harm
(c) reckless harm
(d) secret harm
Answer:
(c) reckless harm
Question 21.
Who was then an authority on the tiger and Director of Project Tiger in India?
(a) Nihar Raj Chaudhury
(b) Bhasker Raj Chrudhury
(c) Saroj Raj Chaudhury
(d) N. S. Ayyangar
Answer:
(c) Saroj Raj Chaudhury
Question 22.
Which parts of speech is the word ‘meticulously’?
(a) noun
(b) verb
(c) adverb
(d) adjective
Answer:
(c) adverb
Question 23.
Which according to the author was a magnificent machan?
(a) a guest house deep in the jungle
(b) the building where Saroj Chaudhury lived
(c) the house where Khairi and other animals lived
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(a) a guest house deep in the jungle
Unit – V
The text
I went to ……………… 25 years hence.
Question 24.
When did the author come to Khairi- Jashipur again?
(a) after six months
(b) after four months
(c) after three months
(d) after seven months
Answer:
(c) after three months
Question 25.
What was the purpose of the second visit of the author to Khairi-Jashipur?
(a) to know more about Mr. Chaudhury
(b) to know more about Khairi
(c) to see the place again
(d) to enjoy the nature
Answer:
(b) to know more about Khairi
Question 26.
Which new animal do he saw in his second visit?
(a) a pangolin
(b) a blind hyena
(c) a rattlesnake
(d) a young python
Answer:
(d) a young python
Question 27.
What did the author search about in his second visit?
(a) about Saroj Chaudhury and his passion
(b) about World Wildlife Fund
(c) about the animals
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(a) about Saroj Chaudhury and his passion
Question 28.
Where came a wireless message to the Chaudhury?
(a) Department of Forest
(b) World Wildlife Fund
(c) Central Government
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) World Wildlife Fund
Question 29.
To whom the author has described a legend behind a legend?
(a) Khairi
(b) Mr. Saroj Chaudhury.
(c) Nihar Raj Chaudhury
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(b) Mr. Saroj Chaudhury.
Question 30.
Where did the author meet Mr. Chaudhury last time?
(a) at New Delhi
(b) in Dum Dum Airport
(c) at Mumbai
(d) at Jashipur
Answer:
(b) in Dum Dum Airport
Question 31.
Who made the forest famous?
(a) Mr. Chaudhury
(b) Khairi
(c) author
(d) tourist
Answer:
(b) Khairi
Introducing the Author:
Hariharan Balakrishnan excels in the art of writing articles on wildlife. He is also a columnist.
About the Topic:
‘The Legend Behind A Legend’, as the title suggests, deals with two legends: Mr. Saroj Raj Chaudhury and Khairi; the former was an authority on tiger and Director of Project Tiger, and the latter a magnificent famous tigress. Mr. Chaudhury was a foster father of Khairi. The writer showers accolade on both legends.
Summary:
The writer takes us back to the Similipal forests of Odisha, which served as the habitat of Khairi, the tigress of Jashipur. The place carved out a name for itself, thanks to this tigress. She was not a queen of the robbers. She was the queen of Jashipur. The writer goes down memory lane. 25 years have elapsed since he had spent two days and two nights with Khairi and other wild animals of Saroj and Nihar. A news item on the latest exploits of Khairi evoked his interest to visit the place. He came to know that Saroj Raj Chaudhury was taking care of Khairi.
He wrote a letter to him and met with a prompt response. He was filled with great joy. Mr. Chaudhury invited him to Khairi – Jashipur, giving him particular directions on how to reach there. The writer apprised him of when and how he would visit him. This was his meeting. The writer left Berhampur by train. He reached in Jashipur before 4 a.m. by an overpacked bus. The Forest Guard was present there to cordially welcome him. He made all comfortable arrangements for the writer. He spent an hour of sound sleep.
Terror gripped him when he heard the clear voice of the Tiger just outside the door. Within minutes, the bearer came to his room and served him with hot tea and biscuits. He smiled at the panic-stricken expression of his face. He assured the writer of the presence of Khairi who was making loving enquiries about the new guest in the house. He met Saroj Chaudhury, a frail man in his fifties, slightly balding on the top; the latter greeted the former in a polite manner after asking Jambu, the bear, to get down, because the animal holding on to Chaudhury’s waist.
They conversed with each other. In Mr. Chaudhury, the writer found a humble and careful man. One of the most caring persons he had ever met in his life was Mr. Chaudhury. While sipping tea, Mr. Chaudhury narrated a story to the writer. He drew the latter’s attention to the presence of different species of wild animals in his house. They all had not come at the same time. He exaggerated the theory that they could not exist with each other unless they were together from childhood. He conducted an experiment to ascertain the truth.
He brought Khairi and one of the most dangerous snakes, krait. The writer marked Khairi’s reaction – it was one of fondness for the strange creature. Whenever the krait goes too close to Khairi, Mr. Chaudhury would pull it by back by its tail. Once he became inattentive and was bitten by the krait. Some of its poison entered his blood and therefore, he was now a permanent patient with low blood pressure. As soon as Mr. Chaudhury finished this wonderful story, Jambu tried to give the writer his bear hug, but the former’s stern warning prevented him from doing so.
Mr. Chaudhury has a well-knit joint family that was living inside the compound. It comprised a mongoose, a pangolin, wild cat twins, a country dog, and a blind Hyena, each having a name. Khairi’s story dates back to October 5, 1974, when twelve Khaira tribals of Similipal brought a two-month-old tiger cub to Saroj Raj Chaudhury who was an IFS officer. He found the female cub in a state of hunger and confusion. He managed it by imitating the sounds of a mother tigress. Her anger and disturbance vanished at once.
She was in her element. Saroj became nostalgic. He recollected his birthday when his mother had presented him with a gun, with which he, as a young man, shot wildlife in a carefree manner. But, soon he realized that it was a mistake and happiness lies in the conservation of these harmless beautiful animals. As the Director of Project Tiger, Saroj was the first to introduce the Tiger Tracing Method of tiger census. For the night, both camped at a guest house deep in the jungle. Never before had the writer experienced spending one night in a magnificent Wooden structure with rooms and baths that stood 15 feet high from the ground.
It is three months since the writer last visited Khairi-Jashipur. Then he went there again for the second time to know more about Khairi. Saroj welcomed him in his characteristic gracious manner. This time the writer saw a python as a pet of Chaudhury. His passion for wildlife knew no end. In a response to a message from the World Wildlife Fund, he went to New Delhi by plane with a view to attending an important meeting. In just over three months, Khairi passed away. Saroj Raj Chaudhury did not survive for long. The topic comes to a close with the writer saluting Saroj Chaudhury. He is worthy of it.
ସାରାଂଶ:
“The Legend Behind A Legend’ ବିଷୟଟି ଦୁଇଟି କିମ୍ବଦନ୍ତୀକୁ ଆଧାର କରି ରଚିତ । ବାଘମାନଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ନିଜର ଦକ୍ଷତା ହାସଲ କରିପାରିଥିବା Project Tigerର ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ Mr. Saroj Raj Chaudhury ଏବଂ ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ମହାବଳ ବାଘୁଣୀ ‘ଖଇରୀ’ର ଜୀବନୀ ଉପରେ ଏହା ପର୍ଯ୍ୟବସିତ । ସରୋଜ ରାଜ ଚୌଧୁରୀ ଖଇରୀର ପାଳିତ ପିତା ଭଳି ଥିଲେ । ଶିମିଳିପାଳ ଜଙ୍ଗଲର ପ୍ରସିଦ୍ଧ ବାଘୁଣୀ ଥିଲା ଖଇରୀ । ସେ ଥୁଲା ଯଶିପୁରର ମହାବଳ ବାଘୁଣୀ । ଲେଖକ ସ୍ମୃତିଚାରଣ କରି କହନ୍ତି ଯେ ୨୫ ବର୍ଷ ପୂର୍ବେ ସେ ଦୁଇ ଦିନ ଓ ଦୁଇ ରାତି ଖଇରୀ ସହିତ ସରୋଜ ଓ ନିହାରଙ୍କ ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ସଂଗ୍ରହାଳୟରେ ସମୟ ଅତିବାହିତ କରିଥିଲେ । ଲେଖକ ଖଇରୀର ଅଦ୍ଭୁତ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟକଳାପ ବିଷୟରେ ‘The Statesman’ର ଏକ ଖବରରୁ ଜାଣିପାରିଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ସେଇ ସ୍ଥାନକୁ ବୁଲିଯିବା ପାଇଁ ଆଗ୍ରହ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିଥିଲେ ।
ସେ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ପାଇଲେ ଯେ, ଖଇରୀ ସରୋଜ ରାଜ ଚୌଧୁରୀଙ୍କ ତତ୍ତ୍ଵାବଧାନରେ ପାଳିତ ହେଉଛି । ସେଥିପାଇଁ ଲେଖକ ସେଠାକୁ ଯିବାର ଅନୁମତି ମାଗି ସରୋଜଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ପତ୍ର ଲେଖିଲେ । ସରୋଜ ଅତି ଖୁସିରେ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ନିମନ୍ତ୍ରଣ ପତ୍ର ଲେଖୁଲେ ଏବଂ ଯିବାପାଇଁ ସମସ୍ତ ତଥ୍ୟ ସହିତ ତାରିଖ ମଧ୍ୟ ଜଣାଇଲେ । ଭୋର ୪ଟା ସମୟରେ ଲେଖକ ଏକ ଜନଗହଳିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବସ୍ରେ ବସି ଖଇରୀ-ଯଶିପୁରରେ ପହଞ୍ଚିଲେ । ତାଙ୍କୁ ଉତ୍ତମ ଆତିଥ୍ୟ ସତ୍କାର କରାଗଲା । ଖାଦ୍ୟ ଓ ବିଶ୍ରାମ ପାଇଁ ସବୁପ୍ରକାରର ବ୍ୟବସ୍ଥା କରାଯାଇଥିଲା । ଲେଖକ ବିଶ୍ରାମ ନେଉଥିବାବେଳେ ଦ୍ଵାରଦେଶର ବାହାରେ ବାଘୁଣୀର ଗର୍ଜନ ଶୁଣି ଭୟଭୀତ ହୋଇଯାଆନ୍ତି । ଏହାର ଅଳ୍ପ ସମୟ ପରେ ଜଣେ ବ୍ୟକ୍ତି ଚା’ ଓ ବିସ୍କୁଟ ଧରି ଆସିଲେ ଏବଂ କହିଲେ ଖଇରୀ ବାଘୁଣୀ ବାହାରେ ଥାଇ ଆନନ୍ଦରେ ଗର୍ଜନ କରି ନୂତନ ଅତିଥିଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ଵାଗତ କରୁଛି ।
ତା’ପରେ ଲେଖକ ସରୋଜଙ୍କୁ ସାକ୍ଷାତ କଲେ । ଦୁର୍ବଳ ଶରୀରଧାରୀ ପଚାଶ ବର୍ଷୀୟ ଏହି ବ୍ୟକ୍ତିଜଣକ ଟିକେ ଚନ୍ଦା ଥିଲେ । ସେ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ଅତି ଭାବରେ ସ୍ଵାଗତ କଲେ ଏବଂ ତାଙ୍କ ଅଣ୍ଟାକୁ ଧରି ଠିଆ ହୋଇଥିବା ଭାଲୁକୁ ବସିବାକୁ କହିଲେ । ପରସ୍ପର କଥାବାର୍ତ୍ତା ହେଲେ । ଲେଖକ ସରୋଜ ରାଜ ଚୌଧୁରୀଙ୍କଠାରେ ଭଦ୍ର ଯେଉଁ ବିନମ୍ର ସ୍ଵଭାବ ଦେଖିଥିଲେ, ସେ ତାଙ୍କ ଜୀବନରେ ଅନ୍ୟ କାହାଠାରେ ଦେଖିନଥିଲେ । କଥାବାର୍ଭା ସମୟରେ ଶ୍ରୀଯୁକ୍ତ ଚୌଧୁରୀ ମହାଶୟେ କହିଲେ ତାଙ୍କ ଘର କିଭଳି ଭାବେ ବିଭିନ୍ନ ଜୀବଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କର ଏକ ଆଶ୍ରୟସ୍ଥଳୀ ହୋଇଯାଇଛି । ଜୀବଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ଯଦି ଶୈଶବାବସ୍ଥାରୁ ଏକାଠି ରଖାଯାଏ, ସେମାନେ ପରସ୍ପର ସହିତ ମିଳିମିଶି ରହିପାରିବେ ବୋଲି ସେ କହିଥିଲେ । ଏହାର ପରୀକ୍ଷଣ ନିମନ୍ତେ ସେ ଖଇରୀ ନିକଟରୁ ତାଙ୍କ ଅଗଣାରୁ ଧରା ଯାଇଥିବା
ଏକ ବିଷଧର ନାଗସାପକୁ ଆଣିଥିଲେ । ସେତେବେଳେ ଖଇରୀ ଖୁବ୍ ଛୋଟ ଥିଲା । ଖଇରୀର ସେହି ସାପ ପ୍ରତି ପ୍ରତିକ୍ରିୟାକୁ ଲେଖକ ଲକ୍ଷ୍ୟ କରିଥିଲେ । ଏଇ ବିଷଧର ସାପ ପ୍ରତି ଖଇରୀର ଆଗ୍ରହ ପ୍ରକାଶ ପାଇଥିଲା । ଯେତେବେଳେ ଏହି ସାପଟି ଖଇରୀ ଆଡ଼କୁ ଆଗ୍ରସର ହେବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଥିଲା, ଲେଖକ ତାକୁ ଲାଞ୍ଜ ଧରି ପଛକୁ ଟାଣି ଦେଉଥିଲେ । ଥରେ ସେ ଅନ୍ୟମନସ୍କ ହୋଇ ଏହି ବିଷଧର ନାଗସାପକୁ ଟାଣିଦେବା ସମୟରେ, ସେ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ କାମୁଡ଼ି ଦେଇଥିଲା । ତାଙ୍କ ରକ୍ତରେ କିଛି ବିଷ ପ୍ରବାହିତ ହୋଇଯାଇଥିଲା । ତା’ପରଠାରୁ ସେ ନିମ୍ନ ରକ୍ତଚାପ ରୋଗରେ ପୀଡ଼ିତ ହୋଇଥିଲେ । ଏହି ସମୟରେ ଭାଲୁ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ କୁଣ୍ଢାଇବାକୁ ଆସୁଥିଲା । କିନ୍ତୁ ସରୋଜଙ୍କ କଡ଼ା ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶ ହେତୁ ସେ ସେଥୁରୁ ନିବୃତ୍ତ ରହିଲା ।
ସରୋଜଙ୍କର ଏହି ଯୌଥ ପରିବାରରେ ସମସ୍ତେ ଯଥା ନେଉଳ, ଗୋଧ, ପକ୍ଷୀ, ସାପ, ଦେଶୀ କୁକୁର, ବାଘ, ଭାଲୁ ସମସ୍ତେ ଉତ୍ତମ ବୁଝାମଣାରେ ଏକ ଶୃଙ୍ଖଳିତ ଜୀବନଯାପନ କରୁଥିଲେ । ଖଇରୀ ଯେତେବେଳ ଏକ ୨ ମାସର ବାଘଛୁଆ ଥିଲା, ସେତେବେଳେ ଶିମିଳିପାଳର ୧୨ ଜଣ ଖରିଆ ଆଦିବାସୀ ତାକୁ ସରୋଜଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଆଣିଥିଲେ । ସେ ଥିଲେ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ବିଭାଗର ଜଣେ ଅଧିକାରୀ ଥିଲେ । ଏହି ବାଘଛୁଆଟି ଥୁଲା ଭୋକିଲା ଓ ବିବ୍ରତ । ସେ ରାଗି ଗର୍ଜନ କରୁଥିଲା ଓ ତା’ର ପଞ୍ଝାକୁ ଘୋଷାରୁଥିଲା । ସରୋଜ ଏକ ମା’ ବାଘର ସ୍ଵରକୁ ଅନୁକରଣ କରିଥିଲେ ଯାହାକି ଖଇରୀକୁ ପୋଷା ମନେଇବା ପାଇଁ ଚମତ୍କାର ଭାବେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିଥିଲା । ସେଥିରେ ସେ ସଫଳ ହୋଇଥିଲେ ଏବଂ ଖୁସିରେ ବିଭୋର ହୋଇଯାଇଥିଲେ । ତା’ ପରଦିନ ସକାଳୁ ସରୋଜ ଲେଖକଙ୍କୁ ନେଇ ଏକ ଜିପ୍ରେ ବ୍ୟାଘ୍ର ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ ଅଞ୍ଚଳ ବୁଲିବାକୁ ଗଲେ ।
ତାହା ଥିଲା ଏକ ସରୁ ଅଣଓସାରିଆ ରାସ୍ତା । ବାଟରେ ସରୋଜ ଅତୀତର ସ୍ମୃତିଚାରଣ କରି କହିଲେ, ତାଙ୍କୁ ଜନ୍ମଦିନରେ ତାଙ୍କ ମା’ ଏକ ବନ୍ଧୁକ ଉପହାର ଦେଇଥିଲେ ଯାହାଦ୍ଵାରା ଜଣେ ଯୁବକଭାବେ ସେ ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ମୁକ୍ତଭାବେ ଶିକାର କରିଥିଲେ । ତା’ପରେ ସେ ଅନୁଭବ କଲେ ଯେ ପଶୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ମାରିବା ଏକ ଅପରାଧ। ଆନନ୍ଦ ଥାଏ ଏହି ନିରୀହ ସୁନ୍ଦର ଜୀବଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ କରିବାରେ । ବ୍ୟାଘ୍ର ପ୍ରକଳ୍ପର ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକ ଭାବେ ସେ ପ୍ରଥମେ ବ୍ୟାଘ୍ର ଗଣନା ପ୍ରଣାଳୀ ପ୍ରଚଳନ କରିଥିଲେ । ସେହି ରାତ୍ରିରେ ଉଭୟେ ଘଞ୍ଚ ଜଙ୍ଗଲ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଥିବା ଏକ ଅତିଥୁ ଗୃହରେ ରାତ୍ରିଯାପନ କରିଥିଲେ । ଏହା ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଲେଖକ ଭୂମିଠାରୁ ୧୫ ଫୁଟ ଉଚ୍ଚରେ କାଠରେ ନିର୍ମିତ ଏକ ଘରେ ରହିବାର ଆନନ୍ଦ କେବେ ଅନୁଭବ କରିନଥିଲେ । ସେହିଘରେ କେତେଗୁଡ଼ିଏ କୋଠରୀ ସହ ଏକ ଗାଧୁଆଘର ଥିଲା। ତିନିମାସ ପରେ ଲେଖକ ପୁନର୍ବାର ସେହି ଖଇରୀ ଓ ଯଶିପୁରକୁ ବୁଲିବାକୁ ଗଲେ ।
ଖଇରୀ ବିଷୟରେ ଅଧିକ ଜାଣିବାର ଇଚ୍ଛା ତାଙ୍କୁ ସେଠାକୁ ପୁନର୍ବାର ଟାଣି ନେଇଥିଲା । ଶ୍ରୀ ଚୌଧୁରୀ ତାଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ଵାଗତ କଲେ ଏବଂ ଭାରି ଖୁସି ହେଲେ । ସେ ସେଠାରେ ଅନ୍ୟ ଜୀବମାନଙ୍କ ସହିତ ଏକ ଆଠ ଫୁଟ ଲମ୍ବର ଏକ ଅଜଗର ସାପ ଦେଖିଲେ । ତା’ପରେ ସେ ଚୌଧୁରୀ ଜୀବଜନ୍ତୁମାନଙ୍କୁ ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ କରିବାର ନିଶା ବିଷୟରେ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ଆଗ୍ରହ ପ୍ରକାଶ କଲେ । ଏହି ସମୟରେ ଏକ ଜରୁରୀ ସଭାରେ ଯୋଗ ଦେବାପାଇଁ ବିଶ୍ବ ବନ୍ୟଜନ୍ତୁ ପାଣ୍ଠି ତରଫରୁ ଏକ ତାରବାର୍ତ୍ତା ଆସି ପହଞ୍ଚିଲା। ସେ କଲିକତାର ଦମ୍ଦମ୍ ଉଡ଼ାଜାହାଜ ପଡ଼ିଆରୁ ବିମାନ ଯୋଗେ ଦିଲ୍ଲୀ ଯାତ୍ରା କଲେ । ଏହା ଥିଲା ଚୌଧୁରୀଙ୍କ ସହିତ ଲେଖକଙ୍କର ଶେଷ ସାକ୍ଷାତ । ଏହାର ତିନି ମାସ ପରେ ଖଇରୀର ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ଘଟିଥିଲା । ତା’ପରେ ଖଇରୀ ବିନା ଚୌଧୁରୀ ମଧ୍ୟ ବେଶି ଦିନ ବଞ୍ଚୁରି ନ ଥିଲେ ।