When on the quest for an Indian version ofan Indiana Jones, Jim Corbett is the first name that comes to mind. Every incha hero to the people, he was an expert in the laws of the jungle, fearless inthe face of danger while pursuing man-eating big cats, and above all, an eyefor a target unlike any other.
Brought up in Naini Tal, a hill-station innorth-west India, he killed his first leopard before he was nine and went on toachieve a legendary reputation as a hunter.
Corbett was also greatly renowned as anauthor. Man-eating tigers that he once tracked are the main area he covers interms of narration. These are not only established classics, but have bythemselves created almost a separate literary genre. My Kumaon is the leastknown of Corbett's books, as it contains uncollected work, and is a newrelease. The book offers 15 fascinating and spine-tingling tales of pursuingand shooting tigers in the Indian Himalayas during the early years of theprevious century.
The stories also offer first-handinformation about the exotic vegetation, wildlife, and comprehensive village reportsin this obscure and treacherous part of the world. The information contained isenriching to say the least. For those with lesser little urban upbringing,there are many stories that are often considered as ‘myths’ to other side ofthe world. For those who have had obscure haunting jungle experiences thatdetail memories to last a while, the author’s in depth descriptions are enoughto send a shiver down your spine.
Now a meagre fraction of the forests whereCorbett once roamed with his gun hanging on shoulder, are left. Yet, he paintsan immortal mental picture through his penmanship. All in all, this book is bothan interesting travelogue, as well as a compelling look at a bygone era.
