We Went To Sakleshpur

Sakaleshpura is a hill station town and headquarter of Sakleshpur Taluk in Hassan District in Karnataka. The city is at an elevation of 3113 ft. The town lies in the Malnad region of the Western Ghats. Sakleshpur is listed as one of the 18 most diverse spots in the world in terms of flora and fauna. It has a temperate climate surrounded with lofty green hills full of Coffee, Cardamom, Pepper and Areca Plantations. These crops which contribute mainly to the economy of the Taluk are grown in the surrounding villages and entire taluk are brought to Sakleshpura city for sale. The town lies on National Highway 48 which connects port city of Mangalore with capital city Bangalore, of Karnataka state.

I have passed through Sakleshpur – also known as Munzerabad, many times on my way to Mangalore. I have always wanted to spend some time in this misty town which heralds the entry into the mighty Western Ghats. My brother passed away on 06 Oct 2012 and the event had taken a heavy toll on the family –especially on his wife Vishala and daughter Chitty. To provide a change of scene and for a bit of rest and recuperation I planned a trip to Munzerabad Club along with Jai Vishala and Chitty. The club is affiliated to WGC. A close friend of Chittu – Mithali, came along with us. We left Bangalore early at 0645AM and reached the club at 1030AM, with a halt in Kamath for breakfast.

Munzerabad Club is 118 years old having been established in 1894 by the British plantation owners for their families. The Brits had come to Sakleshpur to start Coffee Plantations in the area. The club takes you back in time – my childhood memories of visiting coffee plantations in Javali and Koppa in Chikkamagaluru District along with my grandparents, came back vividly. Huge bungalows guarded by ferocious dogs, incessant rains, mist, endless stretches of greenery – life ticking away at a slow pace – not to be dithered by the ordinary hum drum of life. 

Figure 1 - Entrance to the club

Figure 2 - Munzerabad Club

Figure 3 - Claim to history

Figure 4 - Wet view from our rooms

We spent three lazy days relaxing in the club and enjoying the ambiance and the facilities the club offered. As it was raining in the evenings all of us made use of the gym extensively – it was a must after all the heavy eating one does during holidays. Breakfast was at hotel Surabhi conveniently located just outside the club. After a sumptuous BF, we used to head out into the open with packed picnic lunches and return by 3PM to catch a spot of ZZZzzzz. The drive on NH 48 is very exhilarating especially in the ghat section near Sakleshpur. Upto the city, the roads are in excellent state. We did not venture out further on NH48, but I am told the road is in a very bad state. We however went on a local road in search of the elusive ‘Bisle Reserve Forest’ – a stage reached when there were no roads or any sign of people. After a bit of misplaced adventure we gave up the pursuit and returned to the club. 18^th Nov, TOI reported an incident wherein a taxi driver who was walking along a track near this area in search of a petrol station was trampled by an elephant and killed. Thank the Lord.

Figure 5 - Dense forest enroute to Bisle

Figure 6 - Picnic Spot

Figure 7 - Photo op

The evenings were well spent in the club. The sun sets early and darkness descends on the hills like a blanket.The stony silence suddenly envelopes the entire club only to be broken by chirping of birds returning home.The club has a very well appointed bar named ’Cock and Bull’ what an excellent name .The bar is well stocked and well appointed. The bar man Mr Poojari is always ready with a smile to dish out your elixir. 

Figure 8 - Only the Brits could have thought of a name like this – Cheers

Figure 9 - Inside of Cock and Bull

Figure 10 - In the club verandah – a wild boar with its tooth

One day we went across to Muzerabad Fort – derelict remains of Tippu Sultan’s fort. The fort was used mainly as a look-out post because of the clear view from the hills around. The fort is in a state of neglect and the ‘Archeological Society of India’ has done little to protect the place – a sorry state indeed.

Figure 11 - At the entrance

Figure 12 - View from top

Figure 13 - Looking refreshed

Figure 14- Equally refreshed

At the end of three days all were rested well and Sakleshpur had done its job. The stay gave an opportunity to all of us to relax and unwind. The food in the club was good and their akki roti (rice chapati) was excellent. Swamy the attendant looked after us well.We went to the local market and bought some spices - they are good. Sakleshpur offers a very good opportunity for a quick getaway from Bangalore. Take a break and travel away from your home and do exactly the same things that you would have done at home – it will still be very enjoyable and comforting. The very thought of going out, drive and the company will make the mood. There are many home stays in and around the Sakleshpur meeting the bill.

MV Sudheer in Memoriam, 1960 – 2012

In 1959 I was 10 years old. Three of us – Baba, Amma and self stayed in a house in Shankarpuram. My grandparents stayed close by in an adjacent locality – Gavipuram. Prior to shifting to Shankarpuram, my parents had stayed in Gavipuram for a long duration in a joint family. At one point of time, our family decided to move to an independent house and the three of us shifted to Shankarpuram in 1956.

One fine day in early 1960, my mother along with me shifted to Gavipuram. My father continued to stay at home. After some time I realized that my mother had shifted, to be close to her mother – she was pregnant.

While waiting for my mother to deliver, I had a ball in my grandparents’ place and elsewhere. The degree of supervision was generally low and the fort was not guarded well. As long as I did not attract the attention of my grandfather, all was well. Unknown to all the members of the family, I used to sneak out and learn swimming in a lake and a well. http://samundarbaba.blogspot.in/2010/06/bengaluru-days-1a-tribute-to-mr.html.

I was once lowered into a huge unused drain near the house by my GF, as I was pestering my mother to permit me to go to Nandi Hills with my elderly cousin and his friends.

While all this was happening, my mother was admitted to ‘Jai Hind Nursing Home’ in Vishveshpuram and she delivered a chubby boy under the supervision of Captain Dr. Sharada Devi INA 0n 03 apr 1960. Her husband was also a doctor and part of INA. Their only child Late Subash Chandra was my classmate in MSS. A few days later the boy was named ‘Sudheer’.

Why this gap of 11 years between me and my brother, I never understood, nor did it occur to ask my parents, as to why they waited so long, it may have been some unplanned event or a planned strategy – these were thoughts that crossed my mind as I grew older. Due to this rather large gap in age we grew up differently in almost all aspects of life. There was almost a generation gap between us .We had different friends, tastes, professions, likes and dislikes. Even to this day I have a touch of regret for not being sufficiently close to my brother – all due to disparity in age.   

When Sudheer was seven years old, I left home to join the NDA. Thereafter I visited Bangalore once a year during annual leave. Under these circumstances I did not watch my brother grow up. My memories are restricted to very few events that happened during my stay in Bangalore. If I were to add all my memories about him in one bag – the recollections would be…...

1970 - Sudheer at 11

Sudheer was a very healthy child and grew up to be a tall, strong boy. His physical attributes came from our maternal side. He played club cricket as a reasonably good ‘Medium Pace’ bowler. To maintain a good physique, he developed a more than ordinary interest in good food – which was in plenty and my mother ensured that all his cravings were met – she pampered him a lot – she also loved cooking and excelled in it. All this resulted in a number of gastronomical binges. Like my parents, he was a pure vegetarian. For some odd reason, he did not take up to curd - the food of the Gods - for all South Indian Brahmins. I remember concocting a story when his daughter ‘Chitty’ was four years old – I told her that when Sudheer was a baby he fell into a cauldron of curd – similar to ‘Obelix’. Our neighbor’s son ‘Ramu’ – though in the same age group, was very thin and looked pretty undernourished for his age. Once, their family doctor told Ramu’s mother to feed him exactly what was being given to Sudheer. Over the years he developed a penchant for good food and was very particular in what he ate, how it was prepared, ingredients and so on. He was fond of cooking too.

Sudheer 2nd from left with his childhood friends on a Guava tree - Shankarpuram - 1973

During his school and college days, he took active interest in the theatre. Under ‘Kappanna’s tutelage, he acted in plays such as ’Kakana Kote’ and 'Tughlaq'. He travelled to many cities with the troupe. I vividly remember attending the shows and later on hosting a dinner for all his friends in Delhi and Mumbai.

Nandi Hills - 1978 with Father, Aunt and cousins

His friends’ circle was small, but it was a very tight knit circle. Even after all these years they remained close and met regularly. Like him, all his friends were also non smokers, teetotalers and vegetarians, to boot. All his friends became my friends too and would visit me where ever I was posted. Even to this day when I meet them, we slide down memory lane and vividly recall the wonderful times we have had. I remember asking Sudheer and Tatappa to be the ‘Barmen’ for a ‘Scavenger Hunt’ in Wellington, during my Staff College days. During the course of the party, Carol, wife of my colleague, Cdr Rick Pharoah Royal Navy, breaking out into terrible rashes. Later, it came to light, that Tatappa was diluting dark rum with ‘Sikkim White Rum’ thinking it to be plain Aqua and dishing it out to Carol.

Close friends in Srinagar - 1986

My course mate Vijay Shankar landed up in our house one fine morning in Shankarpuram from his ‘Ganga Yatra’ way back in 1971. Sudheer and our cousin Madhu, both, all of eleven, were alone at home. Not knowing which hospitality route to take, they closeted themselves in the dining room for some time and came out and offered him ‘Rum’ at 9.00 in the morning!

Soon after his final B’com results were declared in April 1980, our cousin’s husband Mr Hemmady asked Sudheer to help him out in their new restaurant ‘Shanti Sagar’ in the Majestic area. This was the first of the Sagars in Bangalore. Sudhi took up the job with great enthusiasm and plunged himself into the work. Soon thereafter, he joined ‘Tata Tea’ and remained with them till 1986.Later on he joined‘Titan Industries Limited’.

He was very caring, reserved and simple in his ways. Barring his culinary fetish, he very rarely demanded anything else. He found a partner in Vishala, who would share his style of life and be a source of company and strength to him. She complemented him in many ways and filled up the little gaps that he may have had. They were married on 19 Feb 1988 .The apple of their eyes, Nivedita, was born on 14 may 1990. He doted on her. ‘Chitty’ as she was nicknamed, in return lived up to all his expectations and more. He was a caring husband and a dear father. As a brother, he admired me for the kind of person I was and loved me unconditionally. Though we had little in common, the strong bond of brotherhood we shared would last till the very end.

During their honeymoon in Kodai - 1988

Chitti with her doll - 1992

His commitment to his work was total. As the saying goes ‘Work is Worship’ – he practiced this form of religion to the very end. He had no vices – no distractions and his entire focus and attention were directed towards his work. Even whilst standing outside the sphere of his work, I could feel the intense loyalty he had towards ‘TITAN’. At work, he was a Titan, a larger than life figure, who would go out of his way to fight other’s battles be it someone’s well deserved promotion or someone else’s troubles and whose voice would resound all over the office when he got upset about delays that cost the firm. Above all, his strongest quality was integrity, which I am very sure was singularly responsible for his rise in Titan  He had a great future ahead of him in Titan.

With CMD TITAN Mr Bhaskar Bhat after receiving the award

He was extremely helpful to others. He went out of the way to help deserving people secure jobs, give advice, bailout people from difficult situations and so on. There are a number of people who have benefited from his benevolence. He brought in a very high standard of honesty in all his dealings in and out of his work place. He promoted fair play with zeal. In return he gained a very large measure of good will, which was amply evident when he was not well. A surge of volunteers to donate blood whenever it was needed, endless offers of help to the family, calls from places as far as China to find out his condition, constant support from the office, where some of the expressions of gratitude to him.   

    

During his period of sickness and after his demise 'Titan' has been a pillar of strength.The entire staff of Titan rallied around his family to provide support and solace.Sympathy and understanding shown by Titan has been exemplary.Titan is undoubtedly "A company with a soul".

Happy family- At Balehonnur - Apr 2006

      

Somewhere along the way God had made other plans for him. The last one year was extremely critical and he went through a series of medical complications. He fought bravely and was very keen to get back to work. Destiny had its say and he passed away very peacefully at 1515h on 06 Oct 2012.

His entire adult life has been summed up in a memoriam written by Mr Harish Bhat , former COO of Titan.

M.V. Sudheer - In Memoriam

Sudheer’s tragic demise yesterday, at such a young age, is a very big loss for all of us.  Titan ran in his blood, and was in his foremost thoughts at all times.  As his daughter Nivedita tells us, he was thinking of Titan all the time, even when he was seriously ill during the past few months.  Even his last evening alive was spent in a meeting with Lokesh, his deputy.  No wonder we admired him, even though, I admit, we sometimes took his presence for granted. 

Sudheer spared no efforts for the Company, and gave himself no quarter for slack, either.  During the many years I have worked with him, I do not ever recall him saying “No” or “This is not possible”.  He always said “Yes, Sir” or “I will make this happen”, and in virtually all cases, he delivered without fail.  He put in significant personal effort in making things happen in the procurement & materials area that he led, directly taking up challenging matters of price and delivery with hundreds of vendors across the world. 

His forceful negotiating skills – sometimes addressing vendors frankly on our cost challenges, at other times browbeating them into agreement – were complemented by his ability to reach out to them, and help build their businesses to viable and prosperous levels.  He was fiercely engaged with them, and the several superb vendor meets he organized over the past few years, which I had the privilege of participating in, were tribute to these high levels of engagement.  I am told that, throughout his long drives to Hosur and back, he was always on the phone, resolving one matter or another.

Not once during the years I worked with him did he ever represent to me a personal cause.  Not once did he dwell on his promotion, or remuneration, or some facility that he was not entirely happy with.  On the other hand, every conversation and discussion he had with me was about work, about addressing a specific issue, or expanding the vendor base, ideas for new sourcing or getting costs down.  That is rare, and I salute him for his unconditional commitment to Titan.

Of course, when he did get promoted to General Manager two years ago, he was over the Moon in joy.  HGR mentioned to me the next day that Sudheer received his promotion letter with tears in his eyes, and that his spontaneous reaction was – “Sir, I will do anything for Titan.”  That was always his philosophy.

HGR, as the Head of ISCM in those days, had absolute trust and complete reliance on him.  So did the heads of brands and businesses, who silently but surely relied on his capability to get things done.  Despite the tsunami that struck Japan two years ago, disrupting completely the production of Honda and Toyota cars in India, Sudheer ensured that he got us critical Japanese components, including batteries and movements, with little or no disruption in supplies.   

At Hosur, you could hear his loud, booming voice from a mile away; often shouting at some stubborn vendor who had incurred his wrath, sometimes calling his teammates into energetic action, at other times even singing a song or two with them.  His love of life and food was well known, including getting tasty home-cooked fare for his colleagues.  For our materials and procurement team, he was leader and friend, captain and colleague.  For all of us, he was the Materials Department of the Watches business.  We should be proud of all that he achieved, even as we mourn his untimely loss. 

Our thoughts go out to his family – in particular, his wife and daughter – whom he doted on.  We will remember him forever, as a totally committed professional, a man of impeccable integrity, a role model in his workplace, and a person whom all of us genuinely liked very much.  We pray to God to give his family the strength to cope with this impossible loss.  May His Soul rest in peace

Epitaph

"It's Not How Long You Live; It's How You Live" - Anon

Winged Residents of Jalvayu Vihar - "The birds in JVV sing Merrily"!!!

In my earlier blogs I had exalted the virtues of Jalvayu Vihar in (http://samundarbaba.blogspot.com/2010/06/bengaluru-days-jalvayu-vihar-in.html and http://samundarbaba.blogspot.com/2010/12/jal-vayu-vihar-turns-twenty.html .

I had written about the colony, how it is managed, its people, flora and fauna. I noted that, the essence of JVV is best captured in a poem written by poet and writer John McLeod, from a small fishing town near Edinburgh, Scotland which beautifully sums up what the it is all about; a colony where all of us live and spend our retirement in joy and happiness.

If home is where the heart is

Then may your home be blessed

A shelter from the storms of life

A place of rest,

And when each day is over

And toil put in its place

Your home's dear warmth

Will bring its smile

To light the saddest face!

Merrily Tobin, visited Jalvayu Vihar for the first time in 1993. JVV was then just three years old. She recalls “There were hardly any birds out here. The trees were just about picking up and the campus had a dry, barren look about it”.

Figure 1 -  1989 – Barren Main Road and water tower

Over the next few years, JVV grew greener; the birds began to take notice and slowly moved in and so did Merrily Tobin along with her mother, who is a proud owner of an apartment here.  Between her home and never ending demands at the work place, she still finds time to indulge in ‘Bird Watching’. Now a confirmed birder, she adds “My very first friends in the world were the birds and animals in our garden.  I used to spend hours with the squirrels, the sparrows, the bulbuls, the magpie robins and the numerous other birds that shared our garden with us. Birding to me wasn’t just a hobby but my very existence.  Wherever I  go , wherever I am, the first things I notice are birds!”

JVV over a period of time has become lush and green with more than 700 trees in an area of 22 acres. Today we boast of variety of trees such as Neem, Ashoka, Gulmohar, Jacaranda, Honge, Pepal, Sampige, Silver Oak, Bamboo, Teak, Tabebuia ,Akash Mallige, Spathodea,Mango, Basavana Pada,Nagalingam,Parkar Palm,Tecoma,Gasa Bela, Eucalyptus,Pine, Coconut, Jack Fruit, Pomegranate, Badami, Tamarind, Berry, Butter Fruit, Papaya, Banana etc.  A dedicated crew of 19 garden and conservancy staff ensure the trees are well looked after and nourished.

Today, JVV is lush, green and beautiful. It is no wonder that these tiny, noisy creatures we call “Birds” have found a home here.

Figure 3 – Tree lined main road

Figure 4 - The area in front of water tower

Armed with just a pair of binoculars, and a passionate desire to be one with nature she has diligently kept note of the “Winged Residents of JVV”

The number of birds that have made JVV their home is truly amazing.  Some are residents while others visit us regularly and a few make guest appearances. She recently posted a documentation of the birds that can be seen in Jal Vayu Vihar on the colony group E mail. I found her work not only interesting but an eye opener to most of us. Today we live in cocoons, enclosed in our own little make believe worlds – rushing to and fro, meeting the never ending demands of work and home. We have no time to reflect and ponder about life and nature. A hobby such as ‘Birding’ or for that matter any hobby, can be very therapeutic, especially in this day and age of high speed internet, instant communication, fast cars ,fast food and faster pace of life. I strongly feel one should seriously inculcate some hobby and set aside some time to pursue it. Being a part of the nature around us will certainly help keeping one’s body and soul together.

With a view to making her work reach wider audience, I have reproduced her effort in my blog. Hope this will enable JVVians in particular and Bangaloreans in general to become aware of our surroundings and help preserve the green cover of our city. May be one day we will be truly the “Garden City” once again. When I requested her to give me permission to publish her work - with all humility and grace she e mailed -  I went through this document... but would like to ask you to please tone down the "Merrily" bit... it's fine if you say "The birds in JVV sing merrily"!!!

Extracts from her E mail in -  jvvbangalore@googlegroups.com (Photographs are from net)

1.     Barbets

Our Gulmohar and African Tulip trees have little nest holes, cut out by the“Barbets”.

2.     The tiny “Tailor Bird”

They sew the leaves of the mango tree near the West Gate each year to create a tiny nest and manages to have quite a brood, a really noisy one at that; it also nests in the Ashoka.

3.     Our other residents are the “Sunbirds”

The Loten’s Sunbird.Like the Tailor Bird, the Sunbirds flit in and out of trees noisily and even visit our potted flowering plants in search of nectar. They are usually in company with “The White Eye”,

Figure 5 Loten’s Sunbird

Figure 6 Purple Rumped Sunbird

4.     White Eye

The sunbird is usually in company with the White Eye

5.     The Spider Hunter

6.     Thickbilled Flowerpecker

One of India’s tiniest birds, quaint in its ability to manipulate large berries in its tiny bill to extract pulp and juice.

7.     The Brown Flycatcher

A bird too shy and gentle to make too much of an impression

8.     The Grey Tit

9.     The Warblers

Particularly the Ashy wren-warbler, a noisy creature but gone missing from

JVV. Cats?

With cooperation from the residents and organizations such as CUPA we have been able to run a ‘Stray Dog’ free colony for the last 18 months. It has taken a lot of effort on our part to prevent ingress through gates, drains, broken fence etc. We also have a tough job convincing residents not to feed the strays. Consequently the population of cats in the colony has increased considerably with its own fallouts. Rodents and cockroaches are on the decline. We have once again appealed to all the cat lovers not feed the stray cats. Humans cannot balance nature.

10.            Koels

They are common sight

11.            Spotted Doves

12.            Barn Owls

The Barn Owls that cheer JVV through the night and help keep it rat free

13.            Jungle Myna

14.             Shikara

15.             Pariah Kite

16.             Brahminy Kite

17.             King Crow

17 A Grey Drongo

The Sunbirds, Tailor birds, Tits, Flycatchers, and Spider Hunters can be seen at almost all hours during the day flitting in and out of our Singapore Cherry trees and our other flowering trees. The two spotted doves near the school coo and coo all morning and then go about their business the rest of the day. The others you can see and hear off and on.

18.            Now for our visitors

The Rosy Pastors flock here in huge numbers and create quite a ruckus as they zoom in and out of our Silver Oak and Pepul trees in huge swarms every winter (incidentally, they come to visit us all the way from Eastern

Europe);

 Rosy Pastors

  

19.            Bulbuls

She notes the danger from cats and says, “ The majestic bulbuls would love to find a nesting place here and do come in regularly looking desperately for a roost, only to find grave danger in the form of the numerous cats that lurk around all our Singapore Cherry trees that attract these beauties. Their fluty calls are unmistakable and you know the bulbul has come a-calling the minute it enters our campus. Unless JVV is freed of its numerous cats, it is highly unlikely that these birds will take up residence here. They nest in shrubs and our shrubs are too close to the cats for their liking!”

20.            Golden Oriel

The Golden Oriel comes in once in a while and like the Bulbul gives its unmistakable flute in water call… don’t know how to describe it but for those of you who would like to hear it, here’s a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s21FgJKZSrc

21.            Crow Pheasant

The Crow Pheasant used to come in once or so in a month. It used to lurk around the bougainvillea creepers near the West gate and give its quaint call. I haven’t seen it in a while, especially after a fire ruined that canopy there. For those of you who would like to hear its call, here’s a link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep0VM8WEzBM

22.             Rose ringed Parakeet

23.            Alexandrine Parakeet

24.            Tree Pie

25.             House swifts

House Swifts and also Swallows may be seen in and around JVV. I have seen all these birds and many more in JVV, at some time or the other. Some stay on for a month or two and then disappear while others are content with giving us a weekly or an annual visit. Birds favour those trees that offer them food, nesting sites and roosting places.

26.            Swallows

The trees in JVV that fit this equation are the Peepul, a hot favorite of all birds; the African Tulip Tree and the Gulmohar are magnets for Barbets and Parakeets as the soft trunk of these trees can be burrowed into easily; The Singapore Cherry, for its juicy fruit; The Silver Oak for its flowers full oftasty nectar and for its height that keeps these birds safe from the dangerous ground dwellers

On a serious note Merrily adds, “But birds love all trees and so do we. To see even one chopped down is heart breaking! The myriad other creatures that dwell in these trees are sustenance for these birds. The first step to the extinction of a species is the destruction of its habitat. The once immortal sparrow is long gone, the others are soon to follow suit. JVV has thus far helped these birds and animals fight a losing battle, must we now withdraw our support?”

In closing she has a little advice to makers of the city.Bangalore has lost what it was once known for; JVV is a semblance of that old Bangalore; let’s try to keep it that way. A more practical option would be to trim the very large trees so that they cease to be dangerous and yet continue to support this huge life system they harbor!”

In the end she says, “This poem, I guess, would help express the sentiments of those who love trees and birds and animals and who are constantly charmed by Nature and feel utterly helpless at the eventual fate that awaits us… dry barren landscapes, concrete jungles, extinct species of birds, animals and trees!

 On Killing a Tree

~ Gieve Patel

It takes much time to kill a tree,

Not a simple jab of the knife

Will do it.

It has grown

Slowly consuming the earth,

Rising out if it, feeding

Upon its crust, absorbing

Years of sunlight, air, water,

And out of its leprous hide

Sprouting leaves.

So hack and chop

But this alone won't do it.

Not so much pain will do it.

The bleeding bark will heal

And from close to the ground

Will rise curled green twigs,

Miniature boughs

Which if unchecked will expand again

To former size.

No,

The root is to be pulled out

Out of the anchoring earth;

It is to be roped, tied,

And pulled out-snapped out

Or pulled out entirely,

Out from the earth-cave,

And the strength of the tree exposed,

The source, white and wet,

The most sensitive, hidden

For years inside the earth.

Then the matter

Of scorching and choking

In sun and air,

Browning, hardening,

Twisting, withering,

And then it is done.

  

Epilogue

No matter where you live, you probably have birds of some kind, where you can go bird watching. It is probably the cheapest hobby one can develop. It requires no money or investment, just a desire to watch God’s creation enjoying the bounties of nature in its own habitat. On our part we can help by being respectful to nature and provide an environment which supports bird life.

We in Jalvayu Vihar are extremely lucky to have nature lovers like Ms Merrily Tobin who have devoted some of their precious time in cataloging all the birds in JVV and in turn educating us, raising our knowledge levels and helping us to develop an interest in birds.

I for one have been impressed by her work and have started spending some time looking up at the trees, trying to get a glimpse of the“ Winged Residents of JVV”.

All is fine, as long as "The birds in JVV sing Merrily"!!!