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as would be revealed by these Kannada sayings:”if you see a
tiger raise a commotion by shouting ;if you see a bear take to
your heels”.(
huliaday kandare hool madu;karadiyai kandathare kaal
echchu”).I also learned Koppa in Malnad was the most
unhealthy spot and so a punishment posting.(“thappidha
maaduthire Koppathalla aaku”). I used to write to my parents
regularly reporting my experience in the field including
instances of bears’ foot impressions,etc. My journey across the
Shankar gudda Reserve forest pitching camp on the way in

Inspection Bungalows of Forest Department was memorable.
The villages Sirigere,Hanagere, Mandagadde nestling in the
gentle slopes of hills with no civilization in sight except for
forest guards and rangers and the movement of trucks loaded
with wood auctioned in the coup conducted by the forest
department were picture perfect. The early morning scene of the
houses engulfed by mist allowing but hazy outline of the trees
and hills with almost other-worldly crowing of the cock was
eerie and unforgettable.

My mother when I took leave of her on the eve of my starting
independent field work gave me a palm sized note book in
which she had written in fountain pen in her handwriting
vanquishing for sheer beauty and elegance even pearl drops,
Sri Venkatesa Suprabatam.I was to recite it every morning after
bath and it remained my proud possession as if it were an
amulet which saved me from perils. This little hand written
book neatly bound by hard cover was an attraction to my senior
colleague who shared accommodation during laboratory season
in Bangalore.Sri.B.Yagnanarayanan my colleague and I used to
recite Suprabatham together. An interesting incident that
occurred in the first field season was my decision to return to
Bangalore for the recess season, premturely.Instead of closing
st
camp on 1st June I wound up my field work on 1 May itself.
The Officer in Charge in Bangalore Office Mr.Y.N.R.Rao was
aghast at seeing me back in the Head quarters .He promptly
ordered me to return to field and continue survey from where I

left.

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