2026 Checklist of the birds of Karnataka with standardised Kannada names

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1usexrIYtLz7J8tde_bSMdHz9rv9DNJNR/view?usp=drivesdk

WILDLIFE MESSAGES 2025

Behold the drama on the cosmic stage                                                                                                                                Infinite actors weaving their roles                                                                                                                                        A drama with no script no beginning nor end                                                                                                                    Every spectator an actor and part of the play                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       - D. V. Gundappa's 'Mankuthimmana Kagga'

Friday, 26 September 2025

Dear friend,

 The world is a grand canvas and life is an epic drama unfolding upon it. Not only humans are participating in this drama, but all the lifeforms of creation are playing their roles. The characters are not one or two; billions of actors, each a unique entity, don vibrant, diverse roles, playing their parts with instinctual precision. Every role is of equal esteem and no role is inferior. The curtain rose on this cosmic spectacle eons ago and its finale remains a mystery shrouded in the mists of time. Every being inherits its script from the legacy of its predecessors, performing its role with authenticity and flair. When one act concludes, the transition begins and actors re-emerge, reborn, in new guises, ready to play their next part in the eternal dance if existence.

According to scientists, the concept of this theatrical began 13.8 billion years ago! On this platform called the Earth, the stage design, lighting system, decoration, selection of various characters, screenplay, stage rehearsal, etc. have taken billions of years to formulate. They say that the play that we see on Earth today, began about four billion years ago, when the first lifefom was born on the Earth.

Another perplexing thing about this narrative is that there is no specific storyline or theme for the play. No one knows whether it has happy ending or tragic finale! However, every moment of the play is thrilling with a wonderful scenario that constantly arouses curiosity about what will happen next!

The unique thing about this drama is that each character does not have a specific period for its role. For some creatures, it is just a few minutes; for the others, it may go on for hundred years! Each character begins as an innocent character and receives further training on this stage; learns what was taught, develops, and evolves to become a mature character. Having learned and understood its role, it displays it on the stage and becomes the target of the world's admiration, indifference, scorn, slander or accusation. It teaches what it has learned to the next generation, sifts through all that it has learned, carries the essence and prepares for another performance, and enters the stage again.

With great excitement and curiosity, we are watching the wonderful drama being performed on the earth, wondering what will happen next and how this story will continue tomorrow! We are totally captivated by the sequence of events and are lost in thought while watching. The irony is that we have forgotten that we too are part of this story and actors in this drama!

If we call this is a drama, shouldn't there be a director for this theatrical? Shouldn't there be a regisseur for this stageshow? Most of us believe that there is a divine force that pervades and governs the entire universe and is responsible this drama. We call him God. He selects the roles. He decides, who should continue and for how long. Those roles which are not contributing, those which are irrilavent, move permanently to backstage. And there are also those who think, if this eternal stageplay has a director remotely, or does it need one? And there are millions of living beings on this earth who think like them or cannot think at all!

There are people who try to disturb the fragile equilibrium of nature; spoilsports who kindle wrath in the society; who spoil its health. No wonder such people have been on earth since time immemorial. After all, a drama of this magnitude should comprise of all kinds of characters! We should always remember that the sole intention of the whole creation is to move from chaos to order, from darkness to light, from death to immortality, and ultimately towards excellence!

Let us join hands to make our only Earth, a place where all elements of life can live in health, happiness and harmony.

SPECIAL WILDLIFE MESSENGER OF THIS YEAR

Pheasant-tailed Jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus), found in tropical Asia, is an eye-catching waterbird found on lakes and ponds with extensive floating vegetation. They have elongated toes and nails that enable them to walk on floating vegetation.  Long-tailed breeding adults are striking: the large white wing patch and head contrast sharply with its black body and bright yellow neck patch. It forages on floating plants for insects, molluscs and seeds.  The bird is polyandrous, with females courting multiple males.  Its song, seldom heard, is a repeated, ringing ‘ku-woo’.

Hand-painted cards, Acrylic on Paper. Total: this year 1875; in 41 years 83,470. Total recipients: this year 1236; in 41 years 16,640.

WILDLIFE MESSGES 2024

 

THE PLASTIC MENACE

uÉeÉëÉSÌmÉ MüPûÉãUÉÍhÉ MÑüxÉÑqÉÉSÌmÉ qÉ×SÕÌlÉ |

sÉÉãMüÉã¨ÉUÉhÉÉÇ cÉãiÉÉÇÍxÉ MüÉã ÌWû ÌuÉ¥ÉÉÇiÉqÉWïûÍxÉ ||

 

 (It is indeed difficult to comprehend the mind of virtuous men.

As hard as diamond and at the same time as soft as delicate petals)

- Bhavabhooti’s  Uttara Ramacharita, 1,14

;;Thursday, 26 September 2024

Dear friend,

 Today, the perils of plastic is haunting the whole world. Various plastic waste are lying everywhere in heaps. Why are plastic materials used all over the world? Where are these plastic factories? Can't they be shut altogether? Time and again, these questions may arise in your mind.

 Let me first explain what plastic is and where it comes from. Oils like coconut, sunflower, groundnut, mustard etc. which we use daily are extracted from coconut and various oil seeds. After extracting the oil from the oil seeds, the residue that remains are called oil cakes. We reuse these oil cakes in various ways.

 Similarly, the residue that remains after extricating oils like petrol, diesel, CNG, LPG, kerosene, etc. from the naturally available crude petroleum ores, is the basic material of all plastics! Various oils of petroleum were introduced in the 1950s and since then the world is using these products as fuel in vehicles and industries. This means, as long as the world continues to use the numerous petrolium products, the plastic scourge cannot be stopped.

 The unique and the most distinguished quality of plastic is that we can make things that are as strong as steel and those that are as soft as silk! And due to its air and waterproof properties, various things like plastic bags, covering sheets, clothes, paints, and bottle-boxes are made from plastic. This makes plastics, the most widely used material in the world. Plastic has become an integral part of human life today. Man is at the mercy of plastic for everything, due to low cost of its manufacturing and wide availability at affordable prices.

 But once these plastic products are used and thrown away, they take hundreds of years to decompose in the soil, air or water. Hence, plastic waste has become a huge challenge in all countries. More over, plastics have many adverse effects on the animals and plants living on land and in the sea and the whole environment. The hydrocarbon chemicals in plastic are not only harmful to human bones, nervous system, skin and eyes, but also cause infertility and many dreadful lung diseases and fatal diseases like cancer. Plastic waste management almost impossible!

 So what is the solution to this piled up plastic waste? The most acceptable solution to this bane lies in the plastic itself! Anyhow we know that plastic products do not quickly disintegrate into the environment. So we can put them to use where we want things that last. Can’t we process plastic waste and use them to make bricks, flooring, walls, windows-doors, etc. for houses and such constructions? Similarly, let us process plastic waste and put them on the roads!

 So do not blame the plastics without reason. Let us appreciate their exquisite qualities and continue to use everything that are made from them properly. But, after using the plastic products, definitely let us not throw them hither and thither. But collect them; reprocess and recycle the plastics systematically.

 Let us join hands to make our only Earth, a place where all elements of life can live in health, happiness and harmony.

SPECIAL WILDLIFE MESSENGER OF THIS YEAR

 Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) A resident bird of the Himalayan foothills of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland states of India, these birds belong to the most beautiful family of pheasants. Males about 70 cms, have a rich mix of colours on their feathers. They are found in the tropical forests of sub Himalayan states of Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya. They are found near human settlements and have been domesticated since 7400 years, forming the primary species of all the domesticated chicken all over the world. Omnivorous. Feed on fallen fruits, seeds, roots and tubers along with arthropods, larvae and earthworms, lizards and insects foraged with its toes.

Hand-painted cards, Acrylic on Paper. Total: this year 2180; in 40 years 81,595. Total recipients: this year 1236; in 40 years 16,220.

WILDLIFE MESSAGES 2023

 

THE GRAND DESIGN

mÉ×ÍjÉuÉÏ uÉÉrÉÑUÉMüÉzÉqÉÉmÉÉã erÉÉãÌiÉ¶É UÉbÉuÉ |

xuÉpÉÉuÉã xÉÉæqrÉ ÌiɸÇÌiÉ zÉɵÉiÉÇ qÉÉaÉïqÉÉÍ´ÉiÉÉÈ ||

(Oh, Raghava! The five physical cosmic elements i.e., earth, air, sky, water and fire, remain fixed in their own nature.                                               They never depart from their eternal dharma, resorting to their timeless path.)

- Srimadvalmiki Ramayan, Yuddhakanda, 2-26

Tuesday, 26 September 2023

Dear friend,

 We observe that every single substance in this universe behaves and follows its own natural properties and laws. For example, an atom has a unique structure consisting of protons, neutrons and electrons. The electrons revolve around their nucleus in an elliptic orbit, without expending any energy.

 All atoms are different from each other: Hydrogen has different properties than Oxygen; Gold is different from Mercury. Atoms form elements and elements form different chemicals. Here too, if you compare water and common salt, they have different physical and chemical properties; a piece of stone is distinct in its behaviour from that of an iron bar.

  A cursory outlook tells us that all substances are quite unrelated to each other because each one behaves differently. But all of them work together in unison as if they are closely connected to one another in nature!

 We observe a similar pattern of arrangement in the Solar system. The planets eternally revolve around the Sun in fixed orbits, very similar to that of an electron. In turn, the satellites revolve around their respective planets. They follow the same, consistent and disciplined path, with no mistakes done! While Earth’s rotation on its axis gives us day and night, its revolution around the Sun gives us the year. The same revolution also contributes to the seasons like monsoons, winter and summer on our Earth.  

 When there are so many rules and laws for inanimate things, shouldn’t there be rules for living creatures on Earth? The innumerable species of animals and plants also systematically follow their life cycles, each different from the other. Each animal or plant has a distinct size and shape, divergent food patterns and dissimilar lifestyles. Whereas, one depends on the other for its living; one becomes the food for the next! With all the diversities, contradictions and hostilities between them, there is a profound interdependence, coexistence and harmony among the various life forms. This is a silent lesson taught by them to all of us!

 The life of every living being revolves around its own lifecycle, in tune with the perfect rhythms of nature. This wonderful process of evolution, with the trilogy of creation-sustenance-dissolution is by itself an extremely satisfying experience. It is an entity of seamlessly marvellous beauty and a great symphonic melody!

 It is only we, humans, who have the perverse tendency to interfere with the unique and immaculate lifecycles of living beings and disturb the harmony of nature. Knowing fully well that it is disastrous to his very existence, and despite hearing the alarm bells of nature, man has continued his atrocious tendency. Homo sapiens have no future if he does not mend himself. The entire universe runs on the six principles - completeness, perpetuity, honesty, stability, precision and integrity. The only way to our future is to appreciate, bow down and follow these principles, which are in tune with the intention of creation.

 Let us join hands to make our only Earth, a place where all elements of life can live in health, happiness, and harmony.

SPECIAL WILDLIFE MESSENGER OF THIS YEAR

Southern Hill Myna: (Gracula indica) A resident bird of the western ghats and measuring 30 cms, the Southern Hill Myna has a shiny black plumage with an yellow tipped orange beak and bright naked yellow wattles on the head. It has white spots on the primaries and the legs are yellow. Male and female birds look alike. It is omnivorous, eating fruits, nectar and insects. Perched on tree tops, in a group, they have a high pitched, shrill whistle. The hill myna is a good mimic of other birds and considered to be one of the best in imitating human voice. It builds a nest in a hole in a tree. Hill Mynas live for about 30 years.

Total of hand-painted cards made: this year 2270; in 39 years 79,415. Total recipients: this year 1264; in 39 years 15,726.

WILDLIFE MESSAGES 2022

 EVOLUTION: WHAT, WHY AND HOW ?

Monday, 26 September 2022

Dear friend,

The beautiful Earth that we inhabit is about 4.5 billion years old and the earliest undisputed evidence of life dates back to 3.5 billion years! So far, we are unaware of any other planet that can sustain life.

Scientists say that the existence of life on Earth rests on three main pillars. 1. Our distance from the Sun – with a congenial temperature for all life forms. 2. The atmosphere surrounding the Earth that provides abundant amounts of life giving Oxygen, Nitrogen and Hydrogen, along with the essential Carbon that is present in soil. 3. The Earth’s axial tilt of 23.5 degrees, that is responsible for the different annual seasonal cycles.

Life forms have been constantly evolving ever since their inception on Earth. The single celled micro-organisms, to begin with, not only learnt to live in their surrounding environs, but also adapted themselves to the changing ecosystem. And those changes that occurred in their body and behavior were promptly transferred to their next generation through the genes.

This process of evolutionary changes should have occurred too fast. The genetic changes often gave rise to mutations and this was seen as a burst of hundreds of thousands of new species of life forms on the Earth, each in turn lived as a separate entity. Life on Earth evolved on two distinct branches i.e., plants and animals. With the advent of innumerable species, the eco-system of the whole Earth became more and more intricate and complex.

To maintain the balance in the eco-system, every life form had to lead a congenial life, with mutual understanding and symbiosis. Coexistence thus becoming the life mantra of everybody, the process of evolution continued relentlessly.

Each and every life form throughout its life uses materials from the air, water and soil, available in nature for its growth and sustenance. These exhaustible materials have to be quickly replenished back to nature. This is accomplished, directly or indirectly, by all life forms during their life or after death.

This evolutionary process that is occurring in the magnificent and magnanimous laboratory of our Earth has given rise to multitudinous species of organisms and it appears that most of them failed to be a part of this grand machinery of give and take lifestyle. Those that failed naturally exited the Earth. Scientists say that about 99 percent of such organisms are extinct and only one percent of all the living beings who succeeded, exist on Earth today!

Nature always tries to be perfect. This process of achieving absolute excellence, is seen naturally throughout the lifetime of a living being. In its endeavour of striving for perfection, it acquires qualities that take it one step forward in the evolutionary process. Depending on its karmas, its values are written promptly on its genes. These vise and virtuous character traits are carried on to the subsequent generation through their genetic assemblage.

Thus, we see two types of evolutionary process that is occurring on Earth. Primarily, where one species continues to evolve and transfer its genetic material to subsequent progenies of the same species. Secondly, a new species that is born out of already evolved species that enjoys the fruits of evolution. We, humans belong to the second type of evolutionary process.

There are questions that we have to ask ourselves: Do we respect and live in concordance with the nature’s instincts and grand designs? Are we living in harmony with our cohabitants on the Earth? While using up all the luxuries that are available in nature, extensively and exuberantly, are we returning anything back to our environment? Today, we have reached a time in the evolutionary process that we have to introspect.

Let us join hands to make our only Earth, a place where all elements of life can live in health, happiness, and harmony.

SPECIAL WILDLIFE MESSENGER OF THIS YEAR

HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) is strongly associated with human habitation and found all over the world. Whereas the female and young ones have a pale brown and grey coloured body, males are brighter brown, black and white. Mostly feed on seeds of grains and weeds. They are predated by domestic cats and other predatory birds and mammals. Concrete buildings, extensive use of pesticides, packed food grains in the markets, obnoxious vehicular exhausts and air-water-sound pollution are reasons for its decline in population.

WILDLIFE MESSAGE CARDS 2021

COVID-19: FINAL WARNING TO HUMAN RACE?

Sunday, 26 September 2021

Dear friend,

As the Corona Virus Disease-2019 pandemic cripples the entire world, it is time that we looked the whole situation from a different perspective. As you are aware, COVID-19 is an infection caused by SARS COV-2 virus that belongs to the family of Corona viruses. We may consider that viruses are the very first creatures that appeared on the Earth about four billion years ago. For nearly 400 crore years, they have withstood and survived all the catastrophes that have occurred on this planet. This has been possible because of the two notorious qualities that all viruses possess.

 Firstly, viruses cannot naturally synthesise the nuclear proteins needed for their duplication. They solely depend on plant or animal cells for this. They attack, destroy, and grow inside a particular cell of a living body, where they find the essential ingredients for their growth. Thus, in viral diseases, from common cold to poliomyelitis, from herpes to AIDS, each virus attacks and destroys a particular cell in our body. COVID-19 virus has found our lungs as their haven.

Secondly, viruses have the capacity to mutate i.e., alter the protein structure in their nucleus or on their body surface. Thus, when the same virus attacks us with a subtle change of its body surface, our body defense system fails to recognise the virus!

Scientists say that with the rapidly growing human population, with our unscrupulous exploitation and polluting the nature, every day at least one species of plant or animal go extinct on the Earth. If an animal or plant becomes extinct, the virus that depended on a particular cell of that lifeform is forced to find a new host.

 I feel that human beings are the most vulnerable targets for these vagabond viruses. Because, we inhabit and populate all corners of the globe. We travel rapidly from one place to the other, spreading the virus. Moreover, most of all, our body is not ready to accept a new virus. Thus, new viruses and new diseases are heard in the medical world, with increasing frequency. And without doubt, it is our own callous making. 

 It appears that viruses have waged a war against human beings. Ironically, this is a global war between the most primitive and the most evolved organisms that inhabit the Earth!

 Let us join hands to make our only Earth, a place where all elements of life can live in health, happiness, and harmony.

Thank you.

 SPECIAL WILDLIFE MESSENGER OF THIS YEAR

 Rufous Woodpecker (Micropternus brachyurus) This is a medium sized, brown coloured bird, with short beak and a short strong tail. Male birds have a red patch under the eyes. They feed on insects, ants and flower nectar. Their call is a sharp nasal, three-note, knk-knk-knk. The most surprising fact is that they make their nest within the carton nests of Crematogaster ants and the young, also feed on the eggs and larvae of the ants!

 Total of hand-painted cards made: this year 2630; in 37 years 75,285. Total recipients: this year 1395; in 37 years 13,564

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ಕಿಷ್ಕಿಂಧೆಯ ಕಪಿಸೈನ್ಯ

ಆಗ ನಾನಿನ್ನೂ ಹೈಸ್ಕೂಲಿನ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿ. ಮೈಸೂರಿನ CFTRIನ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಗಳು ಚಿತ್ರದುರ್ಗಕ್ಕೆ ಟ್ರಿಪ್ ಹಾಕಿದ್ದರು. ನನ್ನ ಚಿಕ್ಕಪ್ಪ ಆ ವಿಭಾಗದ ಉನ್ನತ ವಿಜ್ಞಾನಿಯಾದ್ದರಿಂದ ಅವರೂ ಟಿಕೆಟ್ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಂಡಿದ್ದರು. ಆದರೆ, ಕೆಲಸದ ಒತ್ತಡದಿಂದ ಅವರು ಹೋಗಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನನ್ನ ಜೊತೆಗಾರ ವಿಜಯರಂಗನೂ ತಯಾರಿರಲಿಲ್ಲವಾದ್ದರಿಂದ ನಾನು ಹೋಗಿಬಂದೆ.

ಚಿತ್ರದುರ್ಗದ ಚರಿತ್ರೆ, ಅಲ್ಲಿನ ಏಳು ಸುತ್ತಿನ ಕೋಟೆ, ವಾಸ್ತುಶಿಲ್ಪ, ತಾಂತ್ರಿಕ ಕೌಶಲ್ಯ, ನೀರಿನ ಜಲಾಶಯಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಕಾಲುವೆಗಳು, ಓಬವ್ವನ ಕಿಂಡಿ, ಇವೆಲ್ಲವನ್ನೂ ನಡೆದು, ಸುತ್ತಿ ನೋಡಿದ್ದು ಇನ್ನೂ ನೆನಪಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹಸುರಾಗಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ, ಚಿತ್ರದುರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವೆಲ್ಲಕ್ಕಿಂತ ನನ್ನ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಅಚ್ಚಳಿಯದೇ ಉಳಿದ ಒಂದು ಅನುಭವದ ಘಟನೆಯನ್ನು ನಾನು ನಿಮ್ಮೊಂದಿಗೆ ಹಂಚಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತೇನೆ.

ಚಿತ್ರದುರ್ಗದ ಕೋಟೆ-ಕೊತ್ತಳಗಳನ್ನು ಸುತ್ತಿ ನೋಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾಗ, ಒಂದು ಕಡೆ, ಸುಮಾರು ಮೂವತ್ತು ಅಡಿ ಎತ್ತರವಿದ್ದ ಒಂದು ಭಾರಿ ಗಾತ್ರದ ಬಂಡೆಯೊಂದು ಕಾಣಿಸಿತು. ಅದರ ಕೆಳಗಡೆ ಆಂಜನೇಯನ ಗುಡಿ ಎಂದು ಬೋರ್ಡ್ ಹಾಕಿದ್ದರು. ಮೇಲೆ ಯಾವ ಗುಡಿಯೂ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಬಹುಶಃ ಆ ಬಂಡೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ, ಆಚೆಗೆಲ್ಲಿಯೋ ಗುಡಿ ಇದ್ದಿರಬೇಕು. ಮುಂದುಗಡೆ ನಮ್ಮೊಂದಿಗಿದ್ದ ಗೈಡ್ ಹೇಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ವಿವರಣೆಗಳು ಅರ್ಧಂಬರ್ಧ ಕೇಳುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಇದ್ದಕಿದ್ದಂತೆ ಎಲ್ಲ ಹುಡುಗರೂ ‘ಹೋ’ ಎಂದು ಕೂಗುತ್ತಾ ಆ ಬಂಡೆಯನ್ನು ಹತ್ತಲು ಶುರು ಮಾಡಿದರು. ನಾನೂ ಹಿಂದೆ-ಮುಂದೆ ನೋಡದೆ ಅವರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಬಂಡೆಯನ್ನು ಹತ್ತತೊಡಗಿದೆ.

ಮೇಲಕ್ಕೆ ಹತ್ತಲು ಏಣಿಯೇನೂ ಇರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆ ಬಂಡೆಯಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಸಾಲಾಗಿ ಒಂದೊಂದಡಿಗೆ, ಅಕ್ಕ-ಪಕ್ಕ, ಸಣ್ಣ ಸಣ್ಣ ಗೂಡುಗಳನ್ನು ಕೊರೆದು ಕೆತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಅದರಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಕೈಕಾಲುಗಳನ್ನಿಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡು ಒಬ್ಬರ ಹಿಂದೆ ಒಬ್ಬರು ಹತ್ತಬೇಕಿತ್ತು. ಮೇಲಿನವ ಗೂಡಿನಿಂದ ತನ್ನ ಕಾಲನ್ನೆತ್ತಿದರೆ, ಕೆಳಗಿನವ ತನ್ನ ಕೈಯನ್ನು ಅದರಲ್ಲಿಟ್ಟು ಮುಂದಕ್ಕೆ ಹತ್ತಬೇಕು. 

ನಾಲ್ಕೈದು ಅಡಿ ಹತ್ತಿದ ಮೇಲೆ ತಲೆಯೆತ್ತಿ ನೋಡಿದೆ. ನನ್ನ ಮುಂದೆ ಹತ್ತಾರು ಹುಡುಗರು ನಿಧಾನವಾಗಿ ಹತ್ತುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಬಂಡೆಯ ತುದಿಯೇ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ; ಬದಲಿಗೆ ವಿಶಾಲವಾದ ಆಕಾಶ ಕಾಣುತ್ತಿತ್ತು! ಮೆತ್ತಗೆ ಕೆಳಗೆ ನೋಡಿದೆ. ಮೂರು ಮಂದಿ ನನ್ನ ಹಿಂದೆ ಹತ್ತುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಇಳಿದುಬಿಡಲೆ ಎಂಬ ಯೋಚನೆ ತಲೆಗೆ ಬಂತು; ಮರುಕ್ಷಣ ಏನಾದರಾಗಲಿ, ಎಂದು ಭಂಡ ಧೈರ್ಯದಿಂದ ಮುಂದುವರಿದೆ.

ಹತ್ತು ಅಡಿ ಮೇಲಕ್ಕೆ ಹತ್ತಿರಬಹುದು. ಮನಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಒಂದು ರೀತಿಯ ದಿಗಿಲಾಗತೊಡಗಿತು. ಆ ಗೂಡುಗಳನ್ನು ನೂರಾರು (ಅಥವಾ ಸಾವಿರಾರು?) ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಂದ ಜನ ಹತ್ತಿ ಹತ್ತಿ ಒಳಬದಿಯೆಲ್ಲ ನಯವಾಗಿ ಹೋಗಿತ್ತು. ಸಾಲದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಅವುಗಳೆಲ್ಲ ಕೆಳಮುಖವಾಗಿ ಕೊರೆಯಲಾಗಿದ್ದವು. ಗೂಡುಗಳೊಳಗೆ ಕೈಕಾಲು ಬೆರಳುಗಳಿಗೆ ಸರಿಯಾದ ಹಿಡಿತ ಸಿಗುತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆ ರಣ ಬಿಸಿಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಸುತ್ತಾಡಿ, ಮೊದಲೇ ಮೈಯೆಲ್ಲ ಬೆವೆತು ಹೋಗಿತ್ತು. ಅದರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಈಗ ಅಂಗೈ ಮತ್ತು ಅಂಗಾಲುಗಳು ಕೂಡ ಬೆವರತೊಡಗಿದವು. 

  ಕೈಕಾಲು ಅಕಸ್ಮಾತ್ತಾಗಿ ಜಾರಿಬಿಟ್ಟರೆ! ಧಪ್ಪನೆ ಕೆಳಕ್ಕೆ ಬಿದ್ದರೆ, ನನ್ನ ಹಿಂದೆ ಹತ್ತುತ್ತಿರುವವರ ಗತಿಯೇನು? ಆ ವಿಚಾರವನ್ನು ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನೆನೆಸಿಕೊಂಡೇ ಗಾಬರಿಯಾಯಿತು. ಅದೇ ರೀತಿ, ಅಥವಾ ಅದಕ್ಕಿಂತಲೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಾಗಿ, ಅಪ್ಪಿತಪ್ಪಿ ಮೇಲಿನವರು ಯಾರಾದರೂ ಜಾರಿದರೆ ನನ್ನ ಗತಿಯೇನು? ಅಯ್ಯೋ ದೇವರೆ, ನನಗೆ ಬೇಕಿತ್ತೆ ಈ ಉಸಾಬರಿ? ಒಳ್ಳೇ ಕಪಿಯ ಹಾಗೆ ಈ ಸಾಹಸಕ್ಕೆ ಕೈಹಾಕಿದೆನಲ್ಲ! ಈಗ ಕೆಳಗೆ ನೋಡಲೂ ಭಯ, ಮೇಲೆ ನೋಡಲೂ ಭಯವಾಯಿತು! ಮಾರುತೀ, ಒಂದು ಸಾರಿ ಮೇಲಕ್ಕೆ ಹತ್ತಿಬಿಟ್ಟರೆ ಸಾಕಪ್ಪಾ ಎಂದುಕೊಂಡೆ!

ನಮ್ಮೊಂದಿಗೆ ಬಂದಿದ್ದ ಗೈಡ್ ಬುದ್ಧಿವಂತ! ಆತ ನಮ್ಮ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಹತ್ತಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಆ ಆಂಜನೇಯನ ಗುಡಿ ಮೇಲೆ ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆಯೋ? ಹಿಂದಿರುಗಲು ಕೂಡ, ಇದೇ ರೀತಿ ಬಂಡೆಯ ಗೂಡುಗಳೊಳಗೆ ಕೈಕಾಲಿಟ್ಟು ಇಳಿಯಬೇಕೆ? ಅಬ್ಬಾ! ಏನಾದರಾಗಲಿ, ಮೇಲಕ್ಕೆ ಹತ್ತಿದ ನಂತರ, ಆಚೆಯಿಂದ ಅದೆಷ್ಟೇ ದೂರವಿರಲಿ, ದಿನವಿಡೀ ಕಷ್ಟಪಟ್ಟು ನಡೆದರೂ ಪರವಾಗಿಲ್ಲ, ಈ ಬಂಡೆಯನ್ನು ಹಿಡಿದು ಮಾತ್ರ ಇಳಿಯುವುದಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದುಕೊಂಡೆ. 

ಕೊನೆಗೂ ಬಂಡೆಯ ತುದಿಯನ್ನು ತಲುಪಿದೆ. ಮೇಲಕ್ಕೆ ಹತ್ತಿ ನೋಡಿದರೆ, ಅಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಶಾಲವಾದ ಬಯಲಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹನುಮಂತನ ದೇವಸ್ಥಾನವಿತ್ತು. ಆ ಹೆಬ್ಬಂಡೆಯ ಬದಿಯಿಂದ ಗುಡಿಗೆ ಹತ್ತಿ-ಇಳಿಯಲು ಸರಾಗವಾದ ರಾಜಮಾರ್ಗ! ನಮ್ಮ ಜೊತೆಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದವರೆಲ್ಲ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ನಡೆದುಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದು ಆಂಜನೇಯನ ದರ್ಶನ ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು!

ನನ್ನ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಹರಸಾಹಸದಿಂದ ಬಂಡೆಯನ್ನು ಹತ್ತಿದ ವಾನರಸೈನ್ಯವು, ಮೌಂಟ್ ಎವರೆಸ್ಟ್ ಪರ್ವತವನ್ನು ಹತ್ತಿದ ತೇನಸಿಂಗ್‌ನಂತೆ ಬೀಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದರೆ, ನಾನು ಮಾತ್ರ ಇಂಗು ತಿಂದ ಮಂಗನಂತಾಗಿದ್ದೆ! 

- ಡಾ| ಎಸ್. ವಿ.ನರಸಿಂಹನ್, ವಿರಾಜಪೇಟೆ.