Such a simple life

Last weekend I had been to Munnar and visited the Chinnar wild life sanctuary on the way back to Bangalore. The forest department at Chinnar allows treks into the jungles to spot animals in their natural habitat. But the trek has to be guided by some 'adivasi' - the native people of the forest.

We were guided by an adivasi boy "Selvam". During the trek I was chatting with him asking about the kind of animals one can spot and the life style of the tribes. I was amazed at his simplicity and attitude towards life. This one sentence from him summarizes everything:

"Ungala maadhiri padichavinga sondha oora vittu veli ooruku poi pala makkala sandhichu avangala pathi therijukareenga. Enagalukku indha kaadu dhan ellam. Naanga inga kaata pathi therijukarom. Pala thara patta makkala pathi naan inga irundhe theinjukarom, yenna avanga inga varanga"

(Educated people like you leave the native place, go out where opportunity is and learn various cultures by visiting places. For us this jungle is everything. We study this jungle. We learn other's culture by sitting here because everyone comes here)





He may be illiterate but in my opinion he is "educated". Only thing is his domain is the jungle and the animals. He was quite knowledgeable about the behavior of animals and when they will cross a particular place.

When the trek finished we had just one word to say to him: Thanks !!!