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A take on the tiger's tales

The Oxford University Press has brought out the second part of its collection of stories by Jim Corbett. But there is a twist to the saga

There are few who can't be ensnared by a good story. Put together danger and need on the one hand, a brave saviour on the other, lace it with descriptions of the jungle and a range of interesting characters, let it climb to a breathtaking climax and end happily, and there is isn't a tyrannical despot or a naughty child you wouldn't have in thrall.

One of India's best-loved storytellers is no doubt Jim Corbett, the legendary hunter whose adventures while saving various village communities from man-eating leopards have been devoured by readers down the generations. Oxford University Press has just come out with "The Second Oxford India Illustrated Corbett" - part of a series for young readers.

Between Corbett and OUP hangs a tale by itself. His adventures might have remained confined to the aural folklore of the Uttaranchal villages if it hadn't been for one special friend of the hunter. This was Roy E. Hawkins, who as General Managers of OUP, then headquartered in Bombay, placed his stamp on the organisation over a phenomenal 33 years.

A naturalist

Hawkins was an avid naturalist, relates OUP's current Managing Director Manzar Khan, and that was how he must have become acquainted with the intrepid hunter. "He (Hawkins) worked closely with the Natural History Society in Bombay. It was R.E. Hawkins who encouraged Corbett to put together his stories."

Initial discouragement

The OUP archives tell us that Corbett was initially discouraged by a friend who told him no publisher would be ready to bring out his work unless he indemnified the company against losses. Hawkins was the lucky exception.

"It was R. E. Hawkins' love for exploring nature that prompted him to publish Jim Corbett, and the rest as they say, is history," says Khan.

Hawkins' passion led him to make the final selection for "Man-Eaters of Kumaon" with great care.

When the book finally came out it old over five lakh copies across the world. Six decades on, it continues to sell briskly, but the relationship between Corbett and his publishers has become the stuff of legend too.

His subsequent five books were also published by OUP. Also, it is said, the author bequeathed his works in a sense to the company.

That was not all. He also bequeathed a carpet to Hawkins. This was to symbolise the name "Carpet Saheb" by which he was known in Kaladhungi, Kumaon.

Khan points out that the other great naturalist author Hawkins is credited with bringing to light is the ornithologist Salim Ali.

ANJANA RAJAN

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