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Bonphool: Chapter 5 – M. V. Rao, the Mentor

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Every successful hive begins with one bee finding the right direction. In my search for that direction, I found the much-needed sunshine during one of my morning walks with Deviprasad. As we discussed my idea of developing a sustainable honey value chain for the Maulis, I sought his advice on creating an institutional structure that could bring them together. Devi smiled and said, “There is one wonderful senior officer whose passion is mentoring youth for enterprises. He is deeply committed to the empowerment of SHGs. Main tumhe usse milwata hoon.” The next day morning Devi said, “Sir, Subah at 10.30 milne ke liye time diya hai. Chalo we go together”. Devi and I reached the office of the Additional Chief Secretary, Panchayats and Rural Development Department, on time and waited outside his chamber. A tall gentleman in a crisp white shirt tucked neatly into dark trousers, with neatly side-parted hair gently brushing his forehead and rectangular spectacles, walked towards his chamber...
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Bonphool: Chapter 4 – A Safer Future for Bees and Maulis

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  Pranab Mondal first suggested the idea of promoting apiaries as an adaptable and practical livelihood option for the people of the Sundarbans. Soshan complemented the idea with valuable business advice, helping us plan every stage of the enterprise—from training honey collectors in beekeeping and nurturing bee colonies to harvesting and marketing honey. My next task was to identify suitable beneficiaries and launch a sustainable beekeeping programme that would improve the livelihoods of local communities while contributing to the conservation of the Sundarbans ecosystem. My vision was to create a true win-win model, where people prospered while wildlife and forests benefited. Why Sustainable Beekeeping? Since time immemorial, the people of the Sundarbans have ventured deep into the mangrove forests to collect wild honey. These traditional honey collectors are known as Maulis. For generations, honey collection has been more than a livelihood; it has been a way of life. Yet it is o...
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Bonphool: Chapter 3 - Soshan, the Business Advisor

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In the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, nature creates one of its sweetest gifts—Sundarban honey. Harvested amidst crocodiles, tigers, and challenging conditions, every drop tells a story of courage and tradition. Yet, the story of our honey initiative began not in the forest, but with an unlikely guide whose practical wisdom shaped our journey. The idea of promoting honey-based livelihoods in the Sundarbans came from Pranab Mondal. Inspired by his vision, I started conducting meetings with my departmental staff and villagers to explore the possibilities. WWF-India, along with Shri Prabir Garain of Ramkrishna Nimpith Krishi Vigyan Kendra, had earlier experimented with sustainable apiary practices in the Sundarbans. Their experience offered a valuable starting point. To begin with, we organized a meeting with honey gatherers in Jharkhali. Prabir Garain, an excellent scientist with extensive knowledge of apiary, patiently explained the benefits of scientific beekeeping. Avoiding s...
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Bonphool: Chapter 2 – Genesis of an Idea

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After serving in different regions of West Bengal, I was posted as the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), South 24 Parganas. Soon after taking charge on 14th August 2018, I began touring the division extensively. Unlike any other place I had worked before, the field of work in this division extended across both on land and water. Reaching many forest-fringe villages in Sundarbans required hours of travel by road followed by long journeys through rivers and creeks by boat. Life here revolved around the tides, and so did the work of the Forest Department. The Sundarbans attracts tourists from across the world who come to experience its unique mangrove forests and catch a glimpse of the Royal Bengal Tiger. During one of my field visits, I discovered that tourist boats were entering a restricted area where tourism was not permitted. Local groups were collecting entry fees from tourists without any authorization from the Forest Department. When I stopped the activity, the reaction was immedia...
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Bonphool: Chapter 1 - The long incubation of an idea

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  [Today Bonphool is very popular honey brand at the national level. It was created six years back in 2020. I never spoke openly claiming on its success. The entire journey of success has been long and result of contribution from many individuals. I will be sharing the entire journey in series.] (This Picture was taken on my office desk)                                 I grew up in a rural environment where financial struggles were part of everyday life. Watching my parents and the people around me work hard just to sustain their livelihoods, shaped my perspective early on and instilled in me a strong desire to work on improving the lives of the most vulnerable. My keen interest in wildlife led me to pursue a degree in forestry, followed by a Master’s from the College of Forestry in Kodagu, Karnataka—a region known for its coffee plantations with abundant forest full of elephant all around it. ...
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Life deep inside the creeks of Sundarbans

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(This is one story etched in my memory from a field day in Sundarbans on 17th December, 2019).  It was a winter day in the Sundarbans. A quiet chill from the sea drifted through the whispering mangrove forest, carrying the scent of salt, mud, and stillness. Murali Sir (Senior IFS officer) and I were returning to Jharkhali from Bonnie Camp. Leaving the wide expanse of the Bidya River, our boat turned left into the narrow embrace of the Suryamukhi Creek—one of those creeks that holds life in abundance and danger in equal measure. The tide was low. Vast stretches of muddy creek bed lay exposed, glistening under the pale winter sun. This brief window of retreating water invited life to emerge. Spotted deers were stepping cautiously along the banks, wild boars rummaged through the mud, whistling ducks dotted the shallows, and countless birds and animals revealed themselves, as if the forest had momentarily lifted its veil. Midway through the creek, we spotted a small wooden boat—humble ...
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