Sherdil: The Pilibhit Saga 2022*
I didn't go to the jungle to kill a tiger. Neither to hunt one down. Rather, I wanted to be hunted by it. I am telling you the truth, sir. You see, we are a poor village, I am its Sarpanch. I've been roaming the government offices, scouting for a scheme that could help us, the poor. I was made to stand in lines, over and over. I was told, ***"Go to the internet. And, uh line up online" Sir, no one helped me out. And as I was leaving the government office, I spotted a notice. That read, **"If a tiger kills someone near the jungle, the family will get ten lakh rupees" I returned to the village. Lied to everyone, my wife and mother, I managed to convince them and went off to the jungle to get killed by the tiger. So that we could get the money. Sir, I did meet the hunter in the jungle. He wanted to kill the tiger. I met him and he said, "I'll help you find the tiger." Then, the forest officers came.
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Original title·····शेरदिल: द पीलीभीत सागा
Language······························Hindi
**
Inspired by the real life incidents reported near the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in 2017. The forest officials and the police accused certain villagers of leaving their elderly in the jungle to be killed by the Tiger, planting the remains in the field and then claiming government compensation. On their part, villagers defended themselves by saying that the elderly voluntarily went into the jungle to save their families from poverty.
I didn't go to the jungle to kill a tiger. Neither to hunt one down. Rather, I wanted to be hunted by it. I am telling you the truth, sir. You see, we are a poor village, I am its Sarpanch. I've been roaming the government offices, scouting for a scheme that could help us, the poor. I was made to stand in lines, over and over. I was told, ***"Go to the internet. And, uh line up online" Sir, no one helped me out. And as I was leaving the government office, I spotted a notice. That read, **"If a tiger kills someone near the jungle, the family will get ten lakh rupees" I returned to the village. Lied to everyone, my wife and mother, I managed to convince them and went off to the jungle to get killed by the tiger. So that we could get the money. Sir, I did meet the hunter in the jungle. He wanted to kill the tiger. I met him and he said, "I'll help you find the tiger." Then, the forest officers came.
Our village is right beside the jungle. Our ancestors have been living there for ages. So, our relationship with the jungle and its animals had always been peaceful. The problems began a few years ago. When wild animals enter our fields, kids think they are our enemies. All they think is, "Kill them!" I have spent a few days and nights in the jungle. Now I'm confused about who the real enemy is. Are the animals the trespassers? Or are we? Sir, something is going on the other side of the jungle, something we can't see. And due to it the animals are straying into the villages. The primary reason behind it all is poverty and starvation. Only the poor are dying in our village, not the poverty, sir. It remains as is. Sir, please do us a favor. The government has an entire team to look after the animals. Employed tonnes of people. Kindly have a team appointed to look after us as well. Otherwise, the poor villagers will become extinct as well. Like animals, the government must protect the poor villagers as well or else, in a few years, we'll be found in the museum. Our innards will be taken out, we'll be stuffed with straw, and stones will replace our eyes. And it will read, "Here! Look at a poor man from Jhundao, Gangaram. Circa previous century. India." That will be the caption. Do something for us. Maybe a separate reserve forest.We'll live there like animals. And just like they pay to see animals in a forest, they will come to see us! We'll live like animals. All nude. Won't wear clothes. Our children will play in the dust, our women will feed them milk. We'll live on the trees, jump around. We'll behave exactly like animals! Take photographs, if you will! But give us, the poor, a reserve forest as well! But make sure, sir, no hunter comes looking for us.
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Original title·····शेरदिल: द पीलीभीत सागा
Language······························Hindi
**
Inspired by the real life incidents reported near the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in 2017. The forest officials and the police accused certain villagers of leaving their elderly in the jungle to be killed by the Tiger, planting the remains in the field and then claiming government compensation. On their part, villagers defended themselves by saying that the elderly voluntarily went into the jungle to save their families from poverty.
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