We took a train that starts from Kolkata in the afternoon and reached the heart of India, Nagpur early morning the next day. Then it was a car ride till a town Chandrapur, and then another 30 km ride to reach Tadoba. In-between Sumit’s experience warmed (literally) us to the fact that we have to purchase (and eat) lots of water melons to keep the body cool. In the meanwhile we had come to know that the temperature touches mid forties easily and the effect could be felt at Nagpur or Chandrapur… everyone on bikes seemed to have hit the road after robbing the bank, that how they have their faces covered, revealing only the eyes. We managed to load our car with two jumbo water melons, lot of grapes, and of course our bottles of chilled bear and headed towards MTDC (Maharashtra Tourism Development Corp) resort

When we reached Tadoba, it was 2 PM and the first ride into the Mohrali Range set off at3 PM. We changed, had a light lunch and hit the open green Maruti Suzuki jeep that we had booked. We were told that only petrol jeeps are permitted to ply in the forest area, keeping in mind the pollution and probably the sound that the diesel engine creates. The driver Bandu was a confident, strong lad, for whom we developed a liking in an hour of conversation. Slightly late for the first trip in-between a sea of cars, we set into the core with lot of expectations and thrills. Add Stayed at MTDC Resort. The first animal we saw within the first km was a langoor busy shuttling between trees. Our fingers started clicking the camera shutters to savor the moment of the first capture. One thing we, the first timers observed that there were lots of pools of water, locally called Taka constructed by the side of the road which feeds the animals with much needed water during the hot days and gives us opportunity to take their pictures in the process. As we went a little deep, we saw few cars huddled by the side of such a pool, waiting in expectantly with their cameras outstretched. Their cameras wore huge lenses and our digicams looked like toddlers to those. Bandu was quick to understand the situation and parked the car instantly to join the rest. The forest rule does not permit us to get down from our cars, all we could do is wait patiently without making much of a fuss in the stinging sun.

Then came the moment when the tigress made a grand entry and became centrestage, the cameras went berserk in burst mode. Content with everything going around, we thought “And it is just the start”. From that trip onwards, once we became bored, we came back to that waterhole for a sure sighting of the royal family, and they barely disappointed us.

The Royal Family crossing over...

In-between, we saw various kinds of deer, the spotted ones were plenty, the barking ones (they actually bark and also the smallest  variety) and the sambars (the biggest and as legend goes, the stupidest). The sambars were never scared to have their profile been shot, and it was fun filling up our cameras with their pictures. Then there were huge bisons (Indian Gaur) sipping from some waterhole or the other. In a place called Katezari (a range), which is greener of all ranges in the forest and holds subsequent amount of water even in the oppressive summer heat, we found bear footmarks on trees laden with honey bees, but always remained short of coming across one of them.

Been through so much in so little time, the male tigers stole the show. There were two of them one of which fondly called teri-poonch, meaning slanted tail (nothing more than a demarcation). We reached that in a cinematic way when our car followed the trail of a male tiger in a narrow road. After almost 20 mins of search, finally got to check out the huge species. Our meeting with the second male happened when we were only 20 feet away from each other, almost ignorant of our presence, he walked the other way and into the forest.

A dam called Telia-dharan (dam)... sighting Green and plenty of deer for the first time

Going through this, we may feel Aal Is Well with the gorgeous beasts, but it is far from so. Poaching is still active is few reserves, villagers in-between the forest throw tantrums when asked to be shifted somewhere else, politics in taking up responsibilities, are all burning issues. So much so that our PM Manmohan Singh had to step up and comment on the conservation of tigers in India. Precious little are being done since while we keep our fingers crossed that the count of tigers surpasses all expectations and crosses the official figure of 1411 till now.

Many would argue, Switzerland is anyway a first world country, a big economy; while India is an emerging economy, a country still marred by violent terror attacks (26/11/2008, Mumbai, more recently Pune German bakery, anyone?). Well, it’s India… who has to go the distance, inspired by first world countries…

After the Mumbai aftermath, when the irresponsibility of politicians and bureaucrats are being held responsible for all the security lapse which cost us 170 plus innocent lives, the first thing that comes to mind is making situation of politics in India similar to Switzerland, where the ultimate power does not lie with the seven-member Swiss Federal Council (for more info, visit Politics in Switzerland… you can’t ask for more in English), but with the common people, who can change the law with majority voting, in the process, getting rid of corrupt politicians. Well, this is not possible with a huge population in India and with so many poor people who barely get heard. Hence progress of the poor is a necessity and going by the latest, Govt is doing something for the poor (the buzzword is the letter ‘I’ for Industrialization).

Normal Indian road.. never away from action

Serene road in Switzerland.. picturesque always

When will the infrastructure of India be like Switzerland? Never… because India has broader roads than Switzerland does… with such a miniscule population (population is less than any big metro in India! we really have a hearty laugh on it…), the small country barely needs wider roads; Jokes apart, it is true that India needs roads as wide as possible! However, I am speaking about the quality of the roads… barring a few recently made roads and highways, India barely has good roads even in the city, and which remains congested during the peak hours!! This brings me to the wonderful transport system Switzerland has… admitted to be best even by European standards. I am looking forward to the day when all transports in India will be driven by a single body with high on maintenance and low on politics, so that normal people ditch their cars for public transports.

The natural beauty in Switzerland is breathtaking which the Swiss are quite proud of. They are born with it and (other than wasting a lot of paper… as seen in office, and keeping the lights of the shops on in the name of advertisement) do a lot to maintain the green – abandon cars, bike to work being a few of the initiatives. India has a few regions proud of the greens, but normally the cities and the towns cut a sorry figure! We really need to buck up, as nature is already talking to us with the severe hurricanes, tsunamis, ails and many more names of devastation coming up every fortnight.

The aged in Switzerland probably have a sorry tale to tell… they expect their children to be out of their homes and independent at a tiny age, thus leaving them with no other option but to look after themselves when old. It’s sad looking at them out on the road all by themselves, sometimes barely being able to walk! India scores much higher here, if there is anything we strongly feel about and are proud of as Indians, it’s our culture…. We are respectful and responsible towards our parents and anyone aged and look to be with them throughout. Respect to old people comes naturally to us, and is something Switzerland and all first world countries need to look at and make positive laws on!

Initially, when I was here, I was surprised seeing fellow Indians greeting me, whether or not we had ever come across each other! This behavior, compared to the behavior shelled out at Indians by fellow countrymen in ‘layered’ Indian society, pleasantly shocked me. If only we can have an India where people show respect to each other, we will have problems half to what we have now.

No country is perfect. I have witnessed petty infractions on streets of Zürich, which probably will never happen in India. Why? Because the Swiss are so “peace loving”, they would never object! It’s different that in India, people are always objecting to something or the other. We are built that way, perhaps.

Looking forward to an India which would fulfill the positives discussed- no fights in the name of politics, world-class financial institutions (I am told, the Nazi money that Switzerland acquired was invested mainly in academics, which is the reason for the country’s roaring scientific success), love and faith among people and where all Indians greet each other Grüetzi (German for ‘Hello’), the Swiss way.