Our two tiger cubs!

         

Yes those two cubs were very very dear to us.

It all began, one day,when our father Kamal Kumar Deb called us downstairs.It was Sunday and our schools were closed.We, most of the time, stayed on the first floor while our father preferred the ground floor.We used to look from the veranda when somebody came to visit father.

There was a 'Pakhiwalla' (one who sell birds) who often brought beautiful birds to impress father.He was well aware of father's weakness over birds.His name was 'Gani' and he came from a Bird Market near New Market, 

Calcutta .Father often picked us from school and asked our driver Kesto to inform Gani , while the car stood opposite 'karco restaurant.'.Soon Gani would come running with folded hands and a big smile.

So, as I was saying - it was a Sunday and Gani was there.This time we noted a much bigger cage that was covered from all sides. Father nodded at Gani and without wasting any time, he immediately brought out two little cubs- sorry tiger cubs !

The cubs started mewing like cats. Gani explained that they were hungry and requested for some milk. Father ordered Bhortu (head servant) to serve the milk. From that very day it became the duty of Bhortu to look after the cubs.

He immediately began to build a big wooden cage with iron railings. It was father's strict order to release the cubs in the morning and put them back in the evening.

Hence the little ones were fed & freed exactly at 8 AM.Their cage was around 5 ft x 5 ft x 4 ft all sides wooden exept the front which was made of strong iron railings.They showed a lot of excitement while roaming, running and playing with each other near the Baburchi Khana.It is to be noted that our house has two iron gates-a front and a back one.The Baburchi Khana gate was considered as the back one and usually remains closed.The cook -as far as I could remember -came twice a week since he also worked for Calcutta's famous Grand Hotel .Often the cubs became adventures and proceeded towards my father's drawing room.Father, too, used to serve them with few titbits and proudly introduced them to his friends.

However, the every day setting them to their cage was a frustrating job.They already knew that hiding under the car was quite safe and comfortable.It was a harrassing task for Bhortu, driver & servants of the house.For us brothers, too, it called for a lot of excitement and fun. At some moments they would shoot out and come between our legs but finally they would be in their cage.

Now I will relate the most unwanted thing that happened.

Our grandfathers decided to stick with each other and hence they built their houses, approximately, side by side.On our Southern side was the house of our uncles Rupijetha & Astikkaka. They, too, were fond of birds, in fact big and long tailed ones. Every morning these big and beautiful birds were brought out in stands-probably to take some sunbath.Passerbys sometime stood near their gate and gazed at them.We too were no exceptions.

The distance from the cub's cage, to where these birds stood, was approximately about 25 Ft.Inbetween stood the Baburchi Khana which takes about 6" wide.What I want to say is that the cubs could easily smell and feel the bird's presence.

The tragedy occurred when they were five to five and a half months old. It was around 10 AM when we heard the birds shrieking. We have never heard such alarming sound from these birds.Next day we heard the same sound.

Later we knew that  Astikkaka,due to some reason, removed the birds from their regular spot.They have a room on ground floor just beside the stairs. It has large windows with grills. Probably the idea was to provide security and a bit of sunshine.

It was a Sunday and so we had no schools. I was very fond of my brother Kunal who was a year older. We two were so attached with each other that it was next to impossible to separate us.As far as I 

could remember he was telling me an interesting story (he was quite expert in that). Suddenly we heard the birds shrieking madly.It was a call for immediate attention! After few seconds the sound abruptly stopped and calmness prevailed...

This calmness was broken by many exited voices-all coming from the adjacent house-I mean from our uncle's house!!

Few minutes later the commotion was heard from our house. We ran towards the veranda and looked down. Father was patiently hearing out what our excited uncles were saying. We had never seen our uncles in such an exited mood.

Soon we came to know that our tigers attacked their big birds. We further came to know that one of them pounced upon the biggest bird, caught it's throat and killed it.

This was the beginning of a long standing fight between the two families.

Finally the police intervened and involved the Zoo officials. In the meantime one of the cubs fell from our terrace while targetting a crow and broke one of his legs.Later he saddened us and died painfully !

The other one got his place in the zoo. This saddened father since he always wanted to see the cubs free !

                            END

Please note: One was probably set free near Dumdum.During those days the place was like a forest.Later he was shot by an englishman.