Tiger Boy

by Mitali Perkins

  “High enough?” Neel asked. “High enough for what, sir?”

  “To win that scholarship, Neel!”

  “Dhanyabad, Bhogoban! ” Ma shouted, throwing her arms in the air to thank God. “Dhanyabad!”

  With a thud Neel plunked down on the chair Headmaster had vacated, the chair crafted so lovingly by Baba, the chair that had carried him through those long, long hours of studying.

  “I knew you would win, Neel!” Rupa crowed, joy spreading like honey across her face.

  Ma was wiping her tears away with the end of her sari. “Neel, hurry! Go meet your baba—he should be returning by now. And bring sweets, too. Rupa, bring Headmaster some tea. And then go tell the neighbors our good news!”

  Neel sprinted as fast as he could along the path. He was almost out of breath when he reached the dock, but there was Baba, mooring his nauka. “Baba, I won! I won the scholarship!”

  Baba dropped the rope and lifted both hands high. “I knew it! That’s my boy!”

  Neel grabbed the rope before the nauka could drift away and secured it to the dock. On the way home, Baba called the news to everybody they passed. He stopped at the shack to buy a big clay bowl of sweets. When they got home, Headmaster was still sitting in the shade, mopping his forehead and sipping a cup of tea.

  ”This is all your doing, sir.” Baba bent to give Headmaster a pranam of respect, but Headmaster stopped him.

  “Stand up, stand up, Jai. You raised this fine boy; all the credit goes to you.”

  Ma was still crying with happiness, the goats bleated, chickens crowed and clucked, and neighbors began gathering to share the joy. Baba, beaming with pride, handed out the rôshogolla treats to their visitors.

  Rupa was out in the garden gathering marigolds, the flowers of victory, to make Neel a garland. When it was done, she flung it over his head.

  “I’ll come home, Didi,” he told her in a low voice. “I’ll make sure you get to study, too.”

  “I know you will,” she said. “And then I’ll catch up to you before you know it.”

  “Maybe you’ll pass me,” he said, and she smiled.

  She placed a big basket of extra blooms nearby, so that others could use them to make garlands. As neighbors and family members clapped him on the back or tossed strings of flowers around his neck, Neel glanced at the sundari trees. They were standing still and silent in the heat, shading the crowd of happy people from the blaze of sunshine.

  He thought of the tiger cub growing stronger in her reserve, safe for now from poachers, playing with her brother and learning to hunt. Like his sister, like the trees, like all of the Sunderbans, she would wait for his return.

  I won’t let you down, Neel promised them all silently, and then ducked. Ajay and Viju had appeared out of nowhere, hooting, shouting, and pelting him with marigolds.

  Author’s Note

  Take a three-hour drive from the bustling Indian city of Kolkata—my birthplace—and you’ll arrive at an archipelago of islands called the Sunderbans (also spelled “Sundarbans”). It’s a mysterious, one-of-a-kind mangrove forest, home to trees that send roots up instead of down for oxygen, animals and plants that can survive on salty water, and the only wild tigers on the planet that eat people.

  This delta area of tidal rivers, mudflats, creeks, and islands spans two countries—India and Bangladesh. The Indian side in the state of West Bengal is made up of 102 islands, with people living on 54 of them. The rest of the islands are set apart as a mangrove forest preserve and are home to the last remaining wild Bengal tigers in the world.

  Everything in the Sunderbans is trying hard to survive— tigers, trees, people, and even the soil itself. The islands are shrinking thanks to deforestation, cyclones, and erosion. This causes suffering for both tigers and human beings and sometimes results in conflict between them.

  One problem is people attacking tigers. The Indian government has cracked down on poaching, but tiger body parts are still wanted on the black market to make medicine. In addition, people around the world desire tiger pelts for decoration. The demand for dead tigers creates a temptation to supply them.

  Another problem is tigers attacking people. One tiger needs about twenty-five thousand acres of habitat to survive. If animal prey isn’t available, human beings become a possible source of food. Some estimate that about fifty to sixty villagers are killed each year by tigers. Meanwhile, people living in the Sunderbans are hungry, too. Erosion means they don’t have as much land to farm. To make things worse, every year or two, cyclones rage up from the Bay of Bengal and devastate homes and crops. Men and women venture into the Sunderbans preserve to fish, catch crabs, and gather honey for their families, leaving them open to attacks by tigers.

  People. Animals. Land. Trees. Climate. Greed. Hunger. Need. All these elements converge to create a cyclone of struggle in the Sunderbans. The survival of the village communities, the majestic Bengal tiger, and other endangered species depend on a concerted global effort. This book is my way of inviting us to become part of a solution.

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to thank the staff of the US Consulate in Kolkata and our friends Dean and Jane Thompson. Dean was serving as the US Consul General during the research phase of this book, and his staff organized a trip to the Sunderbans. Thanks to them I was able to interview experts such as Biswajit Roy Chowdhury and Ajanta Dey of Nature Environment and Wildlife Society, Sunderbans Tiger Reserve Field Director Soumitra Dasgupta, and rangers at the Sajnekhali watchtower in the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve. We also enjoyed the hospitality of community members participating in a mangrove plantation project on Amtoli Island.

  This story would not be here if it hadn’t been for Yolanda Scott, who steered and nurtured the process (and me) via lunches, coffees, and gentle emails. Tiger Boy was conceived as a small idea and became a book only because of the expert midwifery of this brilliant, caring editor. Thanks also go to the whole Charlesbridge team, a dedicated group of literary cheerleaders.

  My husband, Rob, continues to be the patron of my art. He provides shelter and sustenance, encouragement when I get stuck, and steadfast faith in my vocation. He accompanied me to Bengal during my research because he loves my desh (home country) as much as I do. Thanks to him, we recently moved back to California so that I could continue to write while spending more time with my beloved parents, sisters, and sons, James and Timothy.

  My parents, Sailendra Nath and Madhusree Bose, told me stories about growing up in the villages of Bengal, and Dad, in particular, shared memories of tides, boats, and fishing. Last but certainly not least, many of my writing themes emerge from reflection on the parables of Jesus. This book is based on the story about the talents given to three stewards (Matthew 25:14–30).

  Organizations Working with BengalTigers

  Project Tiger is the branch of the Indian government responsible for safeguarding the tiger population.

  http://projecttiger.nic.in/

  Panthera is “devoted exclusively to the conservation of the world’s 37 species of wild cats and their ecosystems.”

  http://www.panthera.org/species/tiger

  Panthera and Save the Tiger Fund joined forces in 2011 to address the many challenges facing wild tigers.

  http://www.panthera.org/programs/tiger/save-tiger-fund

  World Wildlife Fund, an independent conservation organization, works in more than one hundred countries to “stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.”

  https://worldwildlife.org/species/bengal-tiger

  Organizations Working to Improve Life in the Sunderbans

  Nature Environment and Wildlife Society (NEWS) is committed to protecting and conserving wildlife, ecology, and the environment. NEWS seeks to engage people who are dependent on threatened ecosystems in alternative and sustainable livelihoods and to enhance their participation in the conservation process.

  http://www.naturewildlife.org
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br />   World Vision Asia's "Our Forest, Our Life: A Community-based Action Towards the Sustainability of the Sundarbans Reserve Forest (CBAS-SRF)" improves the biodiversity of the forest and reduces the risk of disaster.

  http://www.wvi.org/bangladesh/cbas-project

  Save the Children builds the preparedness, response capacity, and resilience of children, communities, and local governance in the Sunderbans.

  https://www.savethechildren.in/component/content/article/14-sample-data-articles/275-dipecho.html

  Partners International Canada is a Christian nonprofit specializing in holistic transformation and long-term sustainable international development.

  http://partnersinternational.ca/sponsor/adopt-an-island/

  Glossary

  Auntie: A term of respect used in India and Bangladesh to refer to or address any older woman.

  Baba: A name that children call their father in many languages including Bengali, Arabic, Chinese, and Greek.

  ban: The Bangla word for “tidal bore.”

  Bangla/Bengali: The language of Bengal, which includes Bangladesh and the Indian states of West Bengal, Tripura, and southern Assam. About 250 million people speak Bangla, making it the seventh most spoken language in the world.

  bangle: A traditional bracelet worn by women in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Girls begin wearing bangles when they are toddlers

  Bollywood: The Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai, India. This term is often used to refer to the whole of India’s film industry.

  Bon Bibi: The Hindu and Muslim guardian spirit of the residents of the Sunderbans. She is often called upon to protect against attacks from tigers.

  Chennai: The capital city of Tamil Nadu, a state in the southern part of India. It is located off the Bay of Bengal, about 1500 kilometers (900 miles) from the Sunderbans.

  chup: A sound used by an elder to warn a child that they should be quiet or watch what they say.

  cricket field: The field on which the popular game of cricket is played. The game was created in the United Kingdom, is enjoyed widely throughout South Asia, and involves a wide bat-like paddle, a ball, and two teams.

  “Dhanyabad, Bhogoban”: “Thank you, God” in Bangla.

  didi: “Older sister” in Bangla and Hindi.

  dowry: A payment of money or gifts from a bride’s family to a groom’s family. It may include cash, jewelry, appliances, furniture, bedding, dishes, or other household items to help the couple set up a home.

  dysentery: A treatable sickness that can involve diarrhea, fever, and stomach pains often caused by a virus, bacteria, or parasite in water or food. In extreme cases people suffer nausea, vomiting, rapid weight loss, and muscle aches. Left untreated, the sickness can also cause problems with the lungs, liver, or brain.

  estuary shore: The shoreline of an estuary—a coastal water connected to the open ocean with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it. Estuaries are zones between river and ocean environments and have tides, waves, and salt water as well as fresh water and sediment.

  fiddler crab: One of many species that make up the genus Uca. They are best known for their claws, because male fiddler crabs have one very large claw and one smaller one. (Female fiddler crabs’ claws are the same size.) They mostly live along mudflats, lagoons, and swamps— areas like the Sunderbans.

  frond: A large divided leaf, such as on a palm tree.

  golpata: A type of palm tree native to the coastlines of the Indian and Pacific Oceans with a short trunk that grows underground and leaves and stalks that grow above ground. Commonly called a “nipa palm” (scientific name: Nypa fruticans), the tree is known by various regional names. “Golpata” is used in Bangladesh and West Bengal, India.

  guava: A type of plant cultivated in many areas of the world that bears a fruit suitable for eating.

  ilish: The national fish of Bangladesh, popular for eating throughout South Asia.

  Kolkata: Also called Calcutta, the city is the capital of the state of West Bengal. It is the commercial, cultural, and educational center of eastern India and is India’s oldest port city. About 4.5 million people live in the city. Kolkata is only 130 kilmeters (80 miles) from the Sunderbans.

  Ma: A name that children call their mother in many languages.

  mangrove: A general term for a type of tree and shrub that grows on ocean coasts in the tropics and subtropics. The word can be traced back to Spanish.

  marigold garland: A string of bright orange-yellow marigold flowers worn around the neck during celebrations.

  nauka: The Bangla word for “boat.”

  neel or nila: The Bangla word for “blue.”

  pranam: Also called pran ma or charana-spar a, this show of respect in Indian culture involves one person touching the feet of another. Children touch the feet of their elders in greeting, and people of all ages touch the feet of statues of gods.

  proverb: A simple and well-known saying that expresses a commonsense or practical experience, often using a metaphor. Proverbs are borrowed across languages and cultures.

  pugmark: The footprint of an animal used for identification purposes. Pugmarks are also used to track rogue animals, like the cub in the story. “Pug” means “foot” in Hindi.

  reserve: A section of land set aside as a safe place for plants and animals to remain undisturbed by humans.

  rhesus monkey: Also known as rhesus macaque or Nazuri monkey (scientific name: Macaca mulatta), it lives in a broad range of habitats and is native to most of Asia. Rhesus monkeys often live near humans.

  rickshaw: Also spelled “ricksha,” this is a two- or three-wheeled passenger cart generally pulled by one man with one passenger. Cycle rickshaws are pedaled and can often carry two or even three passengers. The word comes from the Japanese word for “human-powered vehicle.”

  rôshogolla: A cheese-based syrupy dessert of round, white, spongy sweets popular in West Bengal and Bangladesh.

  rui: Also called rohu (scientific name: Labeo rohita), this carp fish is found in rivers and considered a delicacy in Bangladesh.

  rupee: The name of the money used in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mauritius, Seychelles, Maldives, and Indonesia.

  sacked: A word that means being fired from a job. The term is British and is still used in countries formerly colonized by England, such as India

  sari: Also spelled “saree,” this is a garment worn by girls and women in India and Bangladesh that consists of a long piece of fabric wrapped around the body with one end draped over one shoulder. A sari is usually worn over a fabric skirt and a fitted short-sleeve shirt. Saris are a symbol of Indian and Bangladeshi culture. In the story the long part of the sari is used to separate sections of the house.

  sundari stick: A stick carved from the wood of a sundari tree.

  sundari tree: The mangrove species (scientific name: Heritiera fomes) found in large numbers in the Sunderbans.

  Sunderbans (sometimes spelled Sundarbans): A geographical area in the delta of the Bay of Bengal on the border of Bangladesh and India. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to approximately four million people. Most of the land is for conservation, reserved to protect plants such as the mangrove and animals such as the Bengal tiger. “Sunderban” means “beautiful forest” in Bangla.

  tamarind: A type of tree (scientific name: Tamarindus indica) with a podlike fruit that is used around the world in cooking, as medicine, and as a metal polish. The wood of the tree can be used in carpentry. South Asia and Mexico are the largest producers and consumers of tamarind.

  thali: A plastic or metal plate with sections or compartments to keep food separate.

  tidal bore: A phenomenon in which an incoming tide forms a wave that travels up a river against its current.

  turmeric: A plant in the ginger family. Most often the roots are boiled and dried before being ground into a deep orange-yellow powder used as a spice, for dyeing clothes, and as coloring in mustard.

    Mitali Perkins, Tiger Boy