Mysore/Mysuru: Forest Department staff who died in the line of duty were remembered at the National Forest Martyrs’ Day observed yesterday in Mysuru and surrounding areas where reserve forests and tiger reserves  are located.

The main event in Mysuru was observed at Aranya Bhavan, Ashokapuram, at the late Venkataswamy Garden where floral tributes were paid to the 56 forest staff who laid their lives from 1966 till date. The event was held after an impressive march-past.

Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) Jagatram, Mysuru Circle Conservator of Forests Dr. Malathi Priya and Deputy Conservator of Forests (Territorial) Kamala Karikalan placed wreaths on the memorial as a mark of respect.

The dedication of the staff to prevent man-animal conflicts is praiseworthy. Jagatram appreciated the Department staff for protecting wildlife with available limited resources. The sacrifices of the Police and Forest Department in safeguarding the national property are invaluable, he added.

Jagatram recalled the sacrifice of S. Manikandan, Conservator of Forests and Director of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, who was trampled to death by a wild elephant when he was in the forest assessing fire damage.

Kamala Karikalan read out the names of 56 Forest Department martyrs, remembering their sacrifices in safeguarding the forest and wild animals. She stressed the need to conserve natural resources and wild animals for future generations.

Bust of slain IFS Officer at Gopinatham

At Gopinatham in Chamarajanagar District, Forest officials paid floral tributes to the bust of Andhra Pradesh-born IFS Officer Pandillapalle Srinivas, who was murdered by forest brigand Veerappan in the forests of Karnataka in November, 1991.

Srinivas was loved by villagers and in honour of the Officer, a temple was constructed by villagers and tribals at the place where he was murdered. Srinivas’ photograph adorns the walls of every house in Gopinatham and surrounding areas as he built many houses for the villagers and tribals there.

The 1979 batch Karnataka cadre IFS Officer had constructed Shakti Mariyamman Temple and the deity is strongly believed by villagers. In fact, even now, the first puja at the Temple is performed to Srinivas. As a mark of respect, the bust of Srinivas has been installed by the villagers at the entrance of Shakti Mariyamman Temple, giving the slain officer the stature of a deity.

Responding to the request of the villagers, the Forest Department officials collected funds and gifted the metal bust of Srinivas to the villagers. The Temple Trust will construct a mantap, for installing it.

 Srinivas was a ‘Keerthi Chakra’ (the second-highest peacetime gallantry award) recipient in 1992. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Vijay Kumar Gogi and Chief Conservator of Forests Manoj Kumar participated in the ceremony at Gopinatham yesterday and offered floral tributes to the brave officer.

It may be recalled here that in May this year, the Forest Department restored the jeep driven by Srinivas to running condition and turned it into a souvenir. This was the same jeep that Srinivas rode during anti-Veerappan operations in Kollegal and Chamarajanagar forests that extended into Tamil Nadu, the core area of the bandit.

The vehicle that was abandoned has been restored and has been kept in the museum at the office of the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) in Kollegal taluk. The museum consists of photographs, letters, documents and write-ups of Srinivas.

At Bandipur Tiger Reserve

At Bandipur Tiger Reserve, wreaths were placed on the memorial and floral tributes were paid after which the names of the staff, who have been martyred, were read out. Basavaraj H. Talwar, Judge, Senior JMFC, Gundlupet, spoke on the importance of forest conservation in the light of climate change and global warming.

P. Ravikumar, retired Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, who is the Chairman of Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC), addressed the Department employees who had taken part in a workshop on human-animal conflict and said that they should acquire technical training and implement the same in conflict resolution at the field level. Principal Civil and JMFC Judge Shivakumar, Bandipur Tiger Reserve Director Dr. P. Ramesh Kumar, ACF Naveen and other officers were present.

Significance of Martyrs’ Day

Sept. 11 marks National Forest Martyrs’ Day as it is the anniversary of the Khejarli Massacre (1730). The massacre took place in the Kingdom of Marwar when Maharaja Abhai Singh Rathore wanted to cut down trees near Bishnoi village of Khejarli. As one of the commandments of the Bishnois is not to cut down any green trees, the villagers pleaded the king’s representatives not to fell trees near the village.

After refusing to stand down to the king’s soldiers, the villagers led by a woman named Amrita Devi Bishnoi hugged the trees to shield them with their bodies. Announcing that they would rather die, the soldiers beheaded Devi along with her family and several villagers.

Other Bishnoi communities sent people to support the Khejarli struggle and 363 villagers were killed while protecting trees. Abhai Singh travelled to the village to offer his apology. He proclaimed an edict that prevented killing of animals and cutting trees near Bishnoi villages. The village came to be known as Khejarli after the Khejri trees that the villagers laid their lives down to protect.