It seems to be a story straight out of Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book. Country’s modern Mowgli — Surajpal Gorelal Belkar — stepped out of the heart of the jungles of Melghat tiger reserve in Maharashtra for the first time on Thursday, to receive Sanctuary Asia award in Mumbai.
Belkar has worked as “Van Majdoor” in Maharashtra Forest department and got the award for his outstanding work in wildlife protection through relentless patrolling in one of the most difficult forest beats of Koktu.
From nabbing poachers, to controlling forest fires, and monitoring wildlife Belkar has done it all with elan. Once he nabbed poachers and locked them in his stable for two days till senior officers came to the site.
“I do not know how people survive amid pacing crowds and schedules”, said Belkar, adding he would never have reached the city had he not been assisted by his senior officer. He maked no qualms in admitting that city lights and glitter are blinding and that he wished to go back to his verdant surroundings at the earliest.
However, surviving there is no mean task. The place where he stays is bereft of even basic amenities as power and roads. But, he does not seem to mind the nearly 50 kms of forest trek to reach the nearest PDS for his monthly ration. During the monsoon months, his hutment is cut off from the rest of the world. So much so, it becomes difficult for forest personnel from outside to visit the area, which gets water logged by overflowing forest streams. And Belkar is left to himself in the company of flora and fauna — which has made him a living encyclopedia on them.
“Standing the tests of time, Belkar’s dedication towards the forests, has made him truly outstanding and well deserving of the award,” says Kishor Rithe, Former Member of National Board For Wildlife (NBWl), who has been working in the region for decades. Having served under many Field Directors, Belkar has only one wish — to retire from the Department from his second home of Koktu forest beat in Melghat tiger reserve.