Guijan (Dibrugarh), Feb. 3: Not long ago, Joinal Abedin roamed the dense forests of the Dibru-Saikhowa reserve, rifle in hand, to kill wildlife. The 39-year-old still roams the forest, but to protect the very animals he once stalked.
In a way, his story resembles that of the legendary forest brigand Ratnakar, who used to maim and kill people before metamorphosing into Valmiki and writing the Ramayan.
One incident changed Joinal?s life forever. A few years ago, he was virtually coerced by a ?high-ranked man in uniform? to escort him on a hunting trip to the Dibru-Saikhowa reserve, which is home to a large population of Asiatic water buffaloes. ?The officer shot dead a buffalo and took away its magnificent horns,? Joinal recalled.
Forest ranger Narayan Sarmah, who had built a reputation as a dedicated conservationist, was in charge of the forest reserve?s Guijan range at the time.
?Sarmah Sir (he was later killed by a rogue elephant while trying to tranquillise it) came to know about the incident and summoned the police officer and me for a hearing. But he did not utter a single harsh word. His only remark was, ?The buffalo you helped in killing was pregnant?,? Joinal said.
That was the turning point in Joinal?s life. He decided to stay with the range officer and join him in the campaign against poachers and timber smugglers.
Encouraged by the wildlife conservationists he came into contact with, Joinal became a member of a non-government organisation and even joined a bird conservation campaign at Chakiashila Wildlife Sanctuary in Dhubri district.
?That was my first experience of a nature conservation campaign. After returning, I played a part in the formation of the Dibru-Saikhowa Wildlife Conservation Society,? he recalled.
Joinal is now the general secretary of the society and his group organises awareness camps in the villages adjoining the park. There are two villages within the park and 38 on the fringes. Residents of these villages are dependent on the forest for firewood and cattle fodder.
The society now has a museum named after Narayan Sarmah. ?We have about 67 species of fish varieties, some birds and reptiles. We still have a lot of work to do,? Joinal said.
On the remarkable change in his attitude, he merely said: ?I am just trying to make amends for my earlier deeds.?