Lit fest: How can tigers go on holiday?

You’d be forgiven for thinking that Day Two at the Jaipur Lit Fest is partial to tigers, real or imagined. Apart from Amy Chua, ‘Tiger Mom ‘, there is also taking place, at the Samvad Hall, reserved for discussion and debate,  an interaction between conservationist and Ttger expert Valmik Thapar and his audience.

Thapar sounds angry and perhaps he has every reason to be. “Of the 3,500 tigers left globally, around 1,500 are in India, and they aren’t being taken care of at all,” he rages. “There are tigers in 17 states, with 17 different CMs. The central government has no power…!”

“Wildlife units need to work with the state police, much more needs to be done…” He is rueing the fact that there is no singular body that can take up the cause of conservation and devote the time and effort, indeed passion required. “A completely reworked, reformed forest service is needed,” he thunders. “Ten years of my life has been totally wasted making people aware. Why can’t everyone work together in a team?”

His views are addressed not just to the eager young ones in the audience soaking in his words, but also a few stalwarts in conservation, who he is making a point for, as he talks. The names in the audience include a top cop and a leading conservationist, but he’s not done yet.

He regales us with this tale: “Two PMs dealt with the national board of wildlife. In the middle of the meeting they both went to sleep…!”

And more: “The problem lies in governance, not in poaching. Poaching has increased because governance is bad. I can show you documents about poaching in Sariska. They actually say Sariska’s tigers (are not missing), they’ve’ gone on holiday’. How can they have ‘gone on holiday’? But documents say they have, over the hills.”

“Where are the new Valmik Thapars?” an attendee dares to ask.

“This Valmik Thapar is now in his 60th year, a staid and gnarled tiger,” the question elicits a guffaw. “You don’t need Valmik Thapars, you need fresh blood. I will go on fighting though.”