A fantastic piece of writing Sunita ji. All of you a wonderful bunch of energetic Nature Enthus which we came across. Thank you all for visiting this edge of the world. I am looking forward to meet you again.
Warm Regards Arif Siddiqui www.amazingarunachal.com Contact Me [image: Orkut] <http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Home>[image: Facebook] <http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=573881958>[image: Flickr]<http://www.flickr.com/photos/siddiqui/> 91-9436057366 Coming Up : Solung Festival | Upper Siang, East Siang - 1st September --- @ WiseStamp Signature<http://my.wisestamp.com/link?u=8g6rppk6hprg2ht8&site=www.wisestamp.com/email-install>. Get it now<http://my.wisestamp.com/link?u=8g6rppk6hprg2ht8&site=www.wisestamp.com/email-install> On Thu, Jul 29, 2010 at 2:44 PM, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Thanks to Sunita-Raghu unique combo!!! > Meet was wonderfully organised by Arif ji, Phupla ji & Vijay ji. > My hats off to them!!! > I was wonderfully surprised to have captured around 250 to 300 species of > Flora & Fauna (including 130-140 species of butterflies with very-2 good > pictures for most of them). > > > > On 29 July 2010 11:40, Siddharth Edake <[email protected]> wrote: > >> >> >> Boy o Boy! It couldn't get better than this Sunita...........Its almost >> like you have described our lives describing our characters. Can't agree >> more on this!!! he he >> When you told me the first day that you were here for holidays I honestly >> expected you to laze off in the bed, have late morning tea and just stroll >> around in 50 meters circle. But boy! I was taken aback looking at your >> strength, stamina and enthu. You used to be the first one amongst the group >> to reach any "x" point and by the time we reached there you used to already >> finish with your rest, thoughts and the writing part. I tell you "this >> entire world is deceptive"....... I really admired the interest and efforts >> you took in starting a conversation with every individual of the group. >> Thats one good point which is 'a take-away for me".... >> >> What do i say about Raghu sir???? He is a walking encyclopedia when it >> comes to wildlife and other aspects....So much passion, so much knowledge >> and such varied interest in all forms of life- big and small (Not to forget >> his passion for dragonflies,damselflies,bumble bees, crickets, wasps, >> spiders, bugs, beetles, scorpions, frogs, moths, butterflies....ah! the list >> is endless) >> I sometimes feel that had there been a wildlife carrier option during his >> time he would have left everything and joined the wildlife force. >> I wish you two all the luck in this world and hoping to see you guys >> somewhere sometime. >> ADIOS >> >> >> ------------------------------ >> *From:* raghu ananth <[email protected]> >> *To:* butterflyindia <[email protected]> >> *Sent:* Wed, July 28, 2010 2:17:23 PM >> *Subject:* [ButterflyIndia] Miao Diary - Butterfly India Meet 2010, >> Namdapha, Arunachal >> >> >> >> *Miao Diary* >> >> July- 2010, >> >> Butterfly India Meet 2010, >> >> Namdapha, Arunachal >> >> >> >> >> >> A big hello to all the participants of The Butterfly Meet 2010, held at >> Miao in Arunachal Pradesh. As I write this, I cannot believe I actually >> managed to go to the last frontier (one of them for sure!) and am back safe >> and sound in sultry Chennai. This being one of my first visits to the >> north-east, left me spellbound. Everything was so different – the place, the >> people, the landscape, the culture (now I can relate to the unity in >> diversity theme!). And if that was not all, I got to interact with folks >> from all over India, who boasted diverse professions but with an unflinching >> passion for nature and wildlife and all united towards one aim – to conserve >> the beauty of nature. Naturally, my curiosity was piqued and I started to >> observe as well as interact with all the members of this group and just as >> the butterflies have been classified, I too came up with my own >> classification for us Homo sapiens. And so I begin but before I do, the >> words of Abraham Lincoln, comes to mind…”With malice towards none, charity >> towards all….” >> >> >> >> >> >> *1. **The Frogmen (Abhishek and Siddharth)* >> >> >> >> Clearly, these two depicted nocturnal characteristics for night was the >> time when they were at their active best. Not that they remained inactive >> during daytime but they kept their eyes peeled for frogs and snakes all the >> time Alas! They did not have much success although according to one of them, >> the habitat appeared very promising. In fact, on the day we were headed to >> M’Penn Nala, I saw Abhishek overturning every stone and Siddharth peering >> through every crevice in the hope of sighting something. As they say, both >> left no stone unturned….. Both shared an easy camaraderie and were not >> without trading insults, friendly as they might have been. PS: Siddharth >> kept us well-entertained with his singing. >> >> >> >> *2. **Beginner No. 1 (Dhananjay Rao)* >> >> >> >> Dhananjay was a novice unlike his very informed sibling but he too >> displayed a great passion towards not only butterflies but birds and >> dragonflies as well. Perhaps, the next time round, names like Dragontail, >> Jezebel, Monarch, Punchinello, etc will roll off easily from his tongue as >> he begins sighting them! >> >> >> >> >> >> *3. **Beginner No. 2 (Suresh)* >> >> * * >> >> Just as the Monarch during its migration traverses thousands of kilometers >> (from Canada to Mexico), similarly Suresh too was the one who traveled the >> maximum number of hours to get to Miao (close to around 83 hours). Looking >> after a family business which includes running a school, he felt that what >> he learned from this meet could be passed on to the students. Perhaps, this >> is what osmosis is all about! >> >> >> >> *4. **Busybee (Arjan)* >> >> * * >> >> Wonder how 'dada' started looking out for butterflies, thought he might be >> more interested in the birds and the bees – that's how industrious he is! >> Well check this – he has authored a book, started an NGO called Nature Mates >> Nature Club, has butterfly gardens to his credit with wanting to launch a >> chain of butterfly gardens in the future, looks after his printing business, >> while also managing to spend time with his wife in Japan. Whew! A truly >> wonderful person I have ever met! >> >> >> >> *5. **The mentor (Bikram) * >> >> * * >> >> When not actively participating in photographing butterflies, he was out >> looking for amphibians and reptiles. Many an animal in distress has he >> helped and his childhood stories about how he got attracted to nature and >> wildlife are worth listening to. (When his mom scolded him for instance, he >> would climb a tree and refuse to come down!) And of course as the days went >> by, we got a glimpse of his many other talents such as singing and >> song-writing. And of course, we wait with baited breath for his book – >> Backyard wildlife. Perhaps it will be as engaging as Gerald Durrell's. >> >> >> >> *6. **Our very own Angulimala (Sejal) * >> >> Well, what do you expect when this veterinarian killed any bird/amphibian/ >> mammal that crossed his path and probably ate it as well. And today the very >> same person cares for animals and even performs surgeries on them. That he >> conducts surgeries on himself too is another matter! And is he enlightened >> or what? Check the halo shining on his head – (the torch-like contraption >> that he sometimes affixes to his forehead). >> >> >> >> *7. **The mentor's wife (Mahua)* >> >> * * >> >> She stayed close to her husband and probably helped him discover some more >> butterflies and other creatures. Sweet and charming! >> >> >> >> *8. **Spiderwoman (Rakhi)* >> >> >> >> Sam Raimi, the director of Spiderman movies can now shift focus to >> Spiderwoman aka Rakhi. I saw her meticulously searching for these >> arthropods. And perhaps this is what she told them - “Will you walk into my >> parlour, it is the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy....” PS: I >> only heard snatches of her singing which was very good indeed. >> >> >> >> *9. **Der Herr (Kirti)* >> >> >> >> He was one of the most voluble persons in the group with a dedicated >> approach. His ability to laugh was matched only by a certain another >> individual. And his Hindi kept us grinning throughout. >> >> >> >> *10. **Knowledge bush (Minhas)* >> >> >> >> I was a little skeptical when he introduced himself as an environment >> educator or something to that effect. But the moment I saw him on stage >> interacting with the students, all my doubts disappeared. Here, I knew was a >> young man who was very passionate about what he did. May his tribe increase! >> >> >> >> 11. *Mr. Introspective (Varun) * >> >> >> >> The youngest of the lot and yet I felt as if he was blessed with an innate >> wisdom. Ummm, let’s see – the guy belongs to that hallowed institution >> called IIT, Madras and is now embarking on a PhD in Aeronautical >> Engineering. Seems totally at odds with his interest towards butterflies and >> nature! >> >> >> >> 1. *Knowledge Tree (Dr. Alfred)* >> >> * * >> >> The rather modest gentleman sitting next to me, I knew was a fount of >> knowledge. And what gems he did share with me – of seeing tigers on the >> banks of the Kodaikanal Lake. And what an inspiring speech he gave – his >> words still echo in my ears…..By an oversight, when I was talking to our >> group, I referred to him as Dr. Albert. Well, close to the truth was I! >> >> >> >> 13. *Mr. Dapper (Kalluri Srinivasan)* >> >> >> >> Well-dressed, smiling and a picture of fitness, Kalluriji always seemed to >> be quick on his toes. Photography was what got him interested in nature. >> Much as he liked butterflies, he loved the dragonflies as well. And when he >> asked me to identify a dragonfly for him, I all but laughed and then pointed >> him in the direction of Raghu. And through him, I was made aware that Andhra >> Pradesh boasted great forests as well. >> >> >> >> 14. *Footloose at 60 (Subramaniam) * >> >> * * >> >> The oldest of the group and one who could give anybody a run for their >> money when it came to fitness! I should definitely like to be able to >> emulate him when I get on in years. And what passion he displayed. Just like >> Kalluriji, it was photography that sparked his interest towards nature. Has >> advised me to trek in the Himalayas and I will do so, in due course. >> >> >> >> 15. *Mr. Taciturn (Suresh) * >> >> >> >> A very reticent kind of a person, I was flabbergasted when he told me he >> was a scientist working for ZSI. And his area of expertise: grasshoppers. >> >> >> >> >> 16. *The Kolkata Konnection! (Somnath and Anurag)* >> >> * * >> >> Both seemed quite content to mix with their own group. Until I spoke to >> Somnath and discovered he had many things to say and could be a jolly good >> sort. Although graphic designing is what they dabble in, I knew they too >> were very interested in nature when I heard they belonged to Nature Mates >> (venture started by Arjan). >> >> >> >> 17. *Mr. Zealous (J M Garg)* >> >> >> >> Don Quixote and Sancho Panza; Sherlock Homes and Dr. Watson; Phantom and >> Hero and Garg Sir and his tripod! Both were never seen without each other. >> Birds, butterflies, bees and trees – he captured whatever came in his line >> of vision. A very remarkable gentleman indeed! >> >> >> >> >> >> 18. *The High Priestess (Vidya Rao)* >> >> * * >> >> Never have I met such a cheery, happy, committed individual, although I >> seriously believed she had inhaled copious amounts of nitrous oxide >> (laughing gas). And boy was it infectious! Of course, her passion towards >> butterflies was no laughing matter. She could identify the fluttering >> beauties in a jiffy. And she proved she could hold her own when in the midst >> of another very excellent speaker, Minhas. >> >> >> >> 19. *Mr. Creator (with due apologies to God!) (Vijay Barve)* >> >> * * >> >> It if wasn’t for his vision and enterprising nature, perhaps we would all >> have never met. His interest towards these winged beauties came about when >> very young, started rearing butterflies as he was when still in the fifth >> standard. He shares his wealth of knowledge with all and sundry. A very >> unassuming, friendly and jovial personality, he is witty as ever and his >> one-liners are very entertaining. Like the Brits would say, “A smashing ole >> chap”…. >> >> >> >> 20. *The Organisers (Arif and Phupla)* >> >> * * >> >> Everything was shipshape thanks to our wonderful organisers. Both, I >> discovered were committed to the conservation of nature. And kudos to both >> of them for making Butterfly Meet 2010, the much talked about event in the >> land of the rising sun. >> >> >> >> >> >> PS: If you guys have anything to say about Raghu and me, you are most >> welcome! >> >> >> >> >> >> Regards >> >> >> >> - Sunita Raghu >> >> >> >> =========== >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > > -- > With regards, > J.M.Garg ([email protected]) > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 > 'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna' > Image Resource of more than a thousand species of Birds, Butterflies, > Plants etc. (arranged alphabetically & place-wise): > http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:J.M.Garg > For learning about Indian Flora, visit/ join Google e-group- Efloraofindia: > http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix > > > -- Enjoy
