When my pen started rolling on this paper, my
mind rolled back to the day when I first saw that alluring spectacle. I was
just drop dead, to put it on a piece of paper took me to the day when I started
learning French. It was just a mixture of both odds. Thinking of those moments shared
in Mundali, Cuttack with those beautiful creatures, their father and with the
nature will always amuse me.
It begun when, sir (Dr. Sanjeet Kumar) first
told me about the person who was reliving his fatherhood, it didn’t surprise
that time but later my imagination was unleashed. The talk started from Cuttack
CDA and gradually taking way to Naraj Bridge we were moving towards Tapala
village. And finally to the spot which is a police firing range. It was all our pep talk
came to end but I locked up my imagination n clinched myself meeting that
person some day. Days went by and so as
our parley. With these my flurry was unhandy. Once and for all the day came
when, to my surprise sir took me and Ajit to meet him. Yep I was pretty jumpy.
Between those hours, I again refreshed my memories. The ado
remained the same as I am feeling right now while writing this article. Minutes
along with kilometers were getting shortened. The jiff finally came where my
efforts didn’t went in vein. Felt so stupendous grazing 54 peacocks, few
flaunting their feathers with pride and roving all around. In the middle saw a grey
haired man serving gulgulla (Traditional
sweet of Odisha) to those fowl. The grey haired man is in his 60s, named Panu
Behera a former home guard from Odisha Police retired in 2013. He must have taken
oath to save guard the lives of people and fearlessly did his duty, but never
thought of the service he is serving to the fowls. While vocalizing with Panu,
he jog my memory of the dark horrific nights, when super cyclone bonk Odisha in
year 1999 October 29. The night was so furious, 3 peacocks, 2 Peafowls and 1
peahen battling with the hurricane came to this place. Panu nourished those 3
peacocks and raised their number to 54,, many more to get added. As the time passes its been 17 years, close
to 2 generations, panu tremendously well tend his fowls. Panu has won
many accolades for his relentless effort to safeguard the birds and their
habitat by Governmental and non Governmental Organizations. His major award
being “The President’s Medal”. In
year 2007 Panu Behera is appreciated by The president of India for his succor
to raise winsome fowls
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. Panu is known for his love for these birds and he goes
way out to nurture them. The journey of Panu Behera from a home guard to
a peacock man is winsome but at the same time hard won. Fatherhood is the only
punch that is well portrayed by Panu behera for conservation of peacocks.
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