Chirping of Gubbi (sparrow)

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...

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...