Jim Corbett is a wonderful story teller. His artistic skills mesmerizes you as you keep reading his memoirs. "Man-Eaters of Kumaon" is one of such wonderful creations of Jim Corbett amongst others. 10 Chapters' book would be enough to grasp the skill of this late 19th century and early 20th century hunter. The book takes you into late 19th century and early 20th century India, his area of living and work was confined to Shiwalik Himalayas. Throughout his life he was known more as a hunter and seldom as a conservationist. The book is thus his legacy that preserves his conservation inclined perspective, somewhere elusive yet somewhere more pronounced. Lets get in to setting..
"These stories are true account..." this is what you read as you start flipping pages. As you start reading at some point you MIGHT come to THINK of it being an imaginary creation, to which Jim too prepares himself to defend. He defends as if it was an imaginary piece of work, too many facts and detailing cannot fall in right places at right time, always. To which even reader might concur. His skill of detailing may leave you awestruck, for how can a human be so perfect in detailing a place, a setting or an event? This is what we call God's Gift. Jim has been blessed with this divine gift, which is what makes him a perfect story teller.
The narrator (Jim) sets a stage for audience (reader) by bringing in details from as minute as the color of breaking up of dawn to description of forests as seasons change in Indian subcontinent. This is useful to ensure reader is not alienated from narration as story proceeds. The writing is so subtle that it makes you feel as if you are under the shadow of Jim as he hunts in dense jungles. You can almost feel the chills that one might encounter if he/she walks in the territory of a man-eater that too on foot. The experience will become more alive if one reads it in a natural setting like, at night or when alone. To enliven the experience read it in a forest lodge, Himalayan forest lodge can be a better choice. In addition, Jim brings in emotional elements like compassion, love, loyalty, fear, etc which makes the stories even more interesting.
"Man-eaters of Kumaon" is all about Man-eating Tigers that roam in Himalayan foothills. He very nascently explains how an animal is never born a man-eater but over period of life, the animal is rather forced to become one out of circumstances created either by its own or Humans. This is where the reader comes in to acquaintance of "The Conservationist, Jim". The trauma that villagers face His love and compassion towards villagers (who are at the receiving end when tigers in their vicinity turns man-eaters) is thoroughly visible. Even villagers' respect towards an Englishman is plainly visible especially when Jim's repeated attempts fail to bring the culprit (Tiger) to terms (Punishment).
His Innocence and Honesty in writing true facts can be questionable but his creative story telling will remain unquestionable. A wildlife lover might feel hunting tigers was unjust and cruel however Jim manages to pacify the reader in a manner making the grudge vanish.
It is important to know that Independent India's first National park was named after Jim Corbett, only because his conservation efforts were foresighted than his time.
It is a must read for a nature lover, a wildlife enthusiast and especially those who loves stories!!
