Post
by shooter » Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:24 pm
I read a book containing the memoirs of the chief gamekeeper of the earstwhile Mewar state (udaipur).
In the first chapter, he lists the virtues of shikar.
I shall try to list them from memory.
Note these qualities have nothing to do with hunting for food/trophy.
1 self confidence.
2 "nirbhay" = fearless
3 "bhookh-proof, pyaas-proof, nindra-proof, garmi-proof, sardi-proof, barsaat proof"= one becomes immune/ learns to tolerate to hunger, thirst, rain, heat, cold, sleep.
4 travelling, seeing new places.
5 meet knowledgable sages meditating in the forest.
6 appreciate the beauty of the nature.
7 become a good rider.
8 think quickly
9 lern to talk to/ touch/ break bread with people of all castes/ class/ religion.
These are the points that i can recall at the moment although a whole chapter ws dedicated to this subject.
One can appreciate that this book was written in the early 1900's and esp point no. 9 is a great credit to shikaris.
there are loads of other qualities i have learnt from shikar/fishing.
patience
respect for quarry.
conservation.
keeping mum.
heightened sense of alertness.
cooking
discipline
respect for nature
early to bed; early to rise
overcoming greed
sharing
teamwork
keeping ones anger in check
realising that with greater (fire)power comes greater responsibilities
One a lighter note, the lessons served me well in my college years over the following common scenerios in a youngsters life:
1 how to pull:
first decide on the quarry.
then the habitat, then try to find out as much as possible about the quarry's habits, then observe the quarry in its habitat without being too concious, wait for the right moment, then try to bait/ attract the quarry, when the quarry gets used to the bait, then shoot.
2 getting over a nasty break up.
There are many fish in the lake. If one gets away, dont go back home sulking. Cast the bait, and wait for another one to bite.
3 not being disheartened when unable to 'pull' at a party.
Remember the thrill is in the chase, not the kill. Else everyone would be shooting caged animals. As long as the chase/ stalk is exiting, it doesnt matter if one is unable to bag the trophy.
4 never make your quarry suffer due to a badly aimed/timed shot. It hurts a lot. Only shoot when one is almost certain of a hit.
5 avoiding fights: sher doesnt to prove it is a sher by fighting. Lets the dogs bark.
other benefits:
being in the forest from an early age
bolsters ones immunity.
Tell me one 'sport' that teaches you all this at an early age.
In fact hunting is one hobby/sport which doesnt make you attached to money.
see any footballer/cricketer/golfer etc etc. The more they advance in their respective fields, the more richer they get ang they have more 'bling'/ flasier lifestyles.
Look at shikaris. the more serious they get about it, the more professional, the less flashier/ simpler lifestyles they have.
you have civilization today because man evolved in hunting.
speech developed due to fishing.
man became a social animal due to hunting.
Fire was used to cook game meat (not fruits).
Having said all this a shikari will still have enough humility to accept that animals are more noble, sincere, loyal, magnanimous than humans.
You want more gun control? Use both hands!
God made man and God made woman, but Samuel Colt made them equal.
One does not hunt in order to kill; on the contrary, one kills in order to have hunted. by Jose Gasset.
. Lets face it, there will always be two sides to a coin and folks will stick to their side come hell or high water. In this neck of the woods, you seem to be on a side that doesn't have many acolytes. So, let us be and we'll let you be. 
