Mubashir Bukhari
Srinagar (NVI): Many rare species of wild animals are preserved in a natural habitat at Dachigam National Park in Srinagar. What makes these animals breathe out without any eventuality is contribution of Nazir Ahmad.
Nazir, 55, popularly known as “the jungle man” of Kashmir works as a wildlife guard at Dachigam National Park from the last 30 years.
Nazir knows Dachigam as intimately as a lover and every time he sets his foot there, it is as though he has begun the affair a new.
His voice swells with pride as he speaks of the Hangul (Kashmiri Stag) – Dachigam is the only place in the world to offer sanctuary to this rare, exquisite red deer. He was a young boy when he dropped out of school and began spending most of his time in the forest.
Though his formal education didn’t move beyond class 10th, but the knowledge he now possesses about the flora and fauna of Dachigam is unmatchable. Malik has memorized the scientific names of all the trees and identifies birds and wild animals by their voices and plants by their smell.
Soon after completing his Class 10, Malik was offered a job in the Wildlife department and he accepted it wholeheartedly because it suited his love for wildlife. His father also worked as a forest guard in the same national park.
“When I was offered this job I was so excited because my dream to be among nature was fulfilled. Another big thing is that my seniors were also nature lovers and that boosted my morale,” says Nazir Malik.
In his 30-year-stint as a wildlife guard, he was posted in 12 national parks of India including Saraka and Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
“I was always very fond of animals and birds right from my childhood days. It was a passion to observe all kinds of creatures, and this passion continues even today. I love to live among trees and animals and it’s my real home,” says Malik.
Proudly calling himself “Jungli Man”, Nazir remembers how he used to visit forests from an early age with his maternal uncle and that changed his whole life. “I never feared forests and wild animals even in my childhood. If you have love for nature, then this nature is a greatest teacher for you,” he said.
Malik, who walks around 20 kilometres a day, knows the movement of wild animals and places where they breed. Pointing towards an area known as “Oak Patch”, Malik says this is the place where Hangul and Black Bear can be spotted. “At Oak patch you will feel the real essence of jungle. No pollution, silence and peace of mind are what you get here,” says Malik.
Though Malik was badly mauled by wild animals especially Himalayan/Asiatic Black Bear, it is still his favourite animal. “In the making of forests, a bear plays an important role. Whatever a bear eats and its droppings spread in theforests and that gets germinated and gives rises to forests. Bear cuts down the tree branches while eating fruits, that allows light to fall on the ground, that’s why this animal is important for the forests,” he said.
While praising the wild animal, Malik remembers the incident when he was attacked by a black bear and the lessons he learnt afterwards.
“In 2008, I was along with a British woman here in Dachigam and suddenly a black bear appeared in front of us. We tried to stay calm and walked towards the bushes. However, the bear was in no mood to relent and he attacked us. I felt we will not survive, but somehow I managed to grab a stick and whipped it on the ground and cried out I am Nazir Malik – the jungle lover,” he said.
Malik said after sometime a bear cub came out of the bushes and took her inside then I realized it was mother who was attacking us to protect her kids like any mother would have done.
“We later cried because we got a new life. That day, I realized how much a mother loves her kids,” he said. After spending his life in forests, Malik has developed a love for poetry and he connects it to nature. Sitting on one of thebroken branches of a pine tree, Malik recites his own couplet:
Besides poetry, Nazir has started writing a book “The Mystical Valley”.“In that book I want to give insights about the real development which our policy makers have not understood till now. Development doesn’t mean living in big bungalows, driving luxurious cars. When you don’t have peace of mind, a serene environment and fresh air, you are worse than an illiterate man. All these elements I am adding in my book besides explaining about the species of flora and fauna present in Kashmir, “he said.
Nazir Malik, a father of a son and a daughter, has forgotten how to live in an urban setting as he spends most of his time in the park, and goes home only once in a month. He says he doesn’t like to go to the city and even feels insecure to cross a road sometimes. “To be honest I don’t like to go into the city, I live, eat and sleep here and this is my real home. I want to be away from city hustle bustle. Like my kids and family, you too can call me jungle and I love it. At least I am connected to God’s nature,” he said.
Besides animals, Nazir says that he knows 252 species of birds which are found in Kashmir and out of them he can identify 110 species by their sounds. Malik can call these birds by their sounds. “Listen to this voice. This is the brownish-flanked Bush-warbler,” says Malik while trekking up into the upper reaches of Dachigam.
“To have a glimpse of this bird, one has to wait for hours. Such is the beauty of Kashmir and you can never see such a variety of birds, animals and plant species which you will find in Kashmir. We need to preserve it” says Malik.
Malik was honoured with Earth Hero award and, ands in 2011 he received an International Mountaineering award and is credited with climbing almost all the mountains in Kashmir. Malik calls serving nature as his religious duty.
