Last elephant hunters : a HT full page feature

[TC]

I sat on this ....

[TC]

The man who taught English and fought rouge giants all his life..

[Safarigent]

TC,
there is absolutely no occasion to thank me.
Instead i thank you for putting ink to paper and getting this story out.
One wishes to meet this gent in person someday.
Regards
A

[prashantsingh]

What a lovely article TC
Thanks for putting it up here.
Those tusks are massive. Making stools out of elephant foot was rather common. I once saw an umbrella stand made out of an elephant trunk. Have the snap somewhere. There is a story behind it.
Nice leopard on the wall.
Must have been a pleasure meeting the grand old man and listening to his stories.

[Safarigent]

Prashant sir,
Do post the pics!

[hellfire_m16]

Thanks for the pics TC. Throughly enjoyed viewing them...

Best.

[TC]

What a lovely article TC
Thanks for putting it up here.
Those tusks are massive. Making stools out of elephant foot was rather common. I once saw an umbrella stand made out of an elephant trunk. Have the snap somewhere. There is a story behind it.
Nice leopard on the wall.
Must have been a pleasure meeting the grand old man and listening to his stories.

Massive they are sir... The big ones stand on either side of his bedroom door forming an arch !!

There are many more trophies... I know Lahiri Chaudhury sir for ages.. He used to be president of our club.. South Calcutta Rifle Club till 15 years ago... His son is an old friend. But age is catching up with him fast.. I did not have the time to meet him this time so I sent a young reporter who takes keen interest in wildlife. The boy came back and told me that Mr Chaudhury is losing memory.. Sad. Will pay him a visit next week.

TC

[TC]

Safarigent and hellfire...

the pleasure is all mine...

Thanks again

TC

[shashankspectral]

india is not as wild as it used to be few decades ago, sad state of affair....

[Vikram]

I just went through this story,TC. Amazing insight into a little known part of our wildlife history. Thank you very much for writing this and sharing with us. Is it possible to get more photos,especially of their rifles?Thank you once again.


Best-
Vikram

[TC]

Thanks Vikram, will give it a try.

Cheers

TC

[prashantsingh]

O.T.
Finally dug it out Arjun.
Here is the story.
I visited the Officer's Mess of one of the oldest infantry battalions of the Indian Army which has now been converted to Mech. Infantry.
Amongst all the silver and and animal trophies I found this one the most interesting.
Asked a young officer to give me the details.
The battalion was part of the East India Company which fought in the Anglo-Mysore War. They were men from the North.
Interestingly this elephant trunk ,which is now an umbrella stand (for dry umbrellas), was taken form Tipu Sultan's own elephant. The animal had been killed in battle and the regiment kept it as a souvenir to remind them of the epic victory.

[TC]

This is wonderful... May I ask where was this. Asking because I have visited many bases. Just curious.

Thanks

TC

[prashantsingh]

This was almost 8 yrs ago. Babina.

The young officer jokingly told me "Don't call us traitors just because we fought for the British against Tipu. The paltan will fight for our country with the same passion today as they fought for the Company."

I told him not to feel so bad."Had Tipu won we would probably have been ruled by the French instead of the British."

[TC]

This was almost 8 yrs ago. Babina.

The young officer jokingly told me "Don't call us traitors just because we fought for the British against Tipu. The paltan will fight for our country with the same passion today as they fought for the Company."

I told him not to feel so bad."Had Tipu won we would probably have been ruled by the French instead of the British."

.... You are right I guess.

Never been to Babina. Must have been a great experience.

TC