Tourists and admirers of famous hunter-turned wildlife conservator Edward James (Jim) Corbett would now be able to see the gun that Jim Corbett used to protect crops from wild animals in Kaldhungi Assembly constituency’s Chhoti Haldwani area during his stay there, only after the completion of the ongoing general elections as the same gun has presently been deposited in the local Kaladhungi police station following the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct.
It is worth mention here that Edward James Corbett gifted this gun to one of his friends of Chhoti Haldwani before leaving to Kenya in 1947. When he left for Kenya in 1947, Jim Corbett gifted this gun to Sher Singh, one of his friends of Kaladhungi’s Chhoti Haldwani. Sher Singh is no more. But his family members are still preserving this gun as a treasured value here at Chhoti Haldwani, says Rajesh Pandey, president of the Corbett Gram Vikas Samiti (CGVS) that runs community tourism promoting Jim Corbett’s legacy at the Chhoti Haldwai, while talking to The Pioneer.
Presently as the gun has been deposited in the local police station, Kaldhungi, so many tourists and visitors enquire about it. But the gun will now be returned only after the poll process is over, he expressed hope.It is to note that the Chhoti Haldwani is a small hamlet rehabilitated by Jim Corbett during pre-independence era. As this area is also known for its rich natural resources, flora and fauna and agricultural activities, so during his Kumaon stay Jim Corbett used to help these villagers protect their crops from the wild animals with the help of the same gun.
This gun is no longer functional. But it still remains centre of attraction for tourists and regular visitors. Thus this preserved gun also comes as an important economic component for us under our community tourism programme here, the villagers of the Chhoti Haldwani maintain.
Keeping in view the craze among his admirers about Jim Corbett, the villagers run here community tourism at Chhoti Haldwani, presenting legacy of Edward James Corbett -his contribution to the protection and conservation of wildlife and environment. So whereas the aforesaid gun remains in the possession of family members of Jim Corbett’s friend late Sher Singh, all his other belongings including books have presently been preserved in the form of Jim Corbett museum, at the Chhoti Haldwania, added Pandey.