Come summer and Rajasthan certainly doesn’t feature on the itinerary of most individuals! The sun is anything but merciful and the ground that you tread on seems as if it could melt you to the bone! The blow dried winds hit you hard on the face. The rocks radiate are baked enough to sink into the skin if touched accidentally. The whole area as such looks completely parched and devoid of moisture!
Yet the drier climes also imply shortage water and green covers. And just as the former ensures regular visits of animals to the shrinking reserves of water, the other enables better visibility.
It is also the season when the work for certain people working in tandem with nature gets the toughest.
In the blazing heat of the plains, set deep inside the jungles of ranthambore, Rajasthan a man dressed in green khaki typical of the forest guards of India forays through the wilderness. His path, has obstacles strewn all over it; right from thorny hedges, rough terrain and wild beasts...to more figurative implications like government apathy towards his condition, fear and concern over his family needs and personal disinterest and lack of motivation. Holding an insignia for namesake, all he has for his protection are usually very humble means of self defence or offence.
Considering all these disincentives, the task that he is expected to carry out is one that requires absolute vigour and zeal- protect the flora and fauna of the National Park.
On the other side of the story is a clan of primitive jungle people- The Moghiyas, who by their sheer ingenuities and skill are marked out as a separate community. Their knowledge of the wilderness is beyond comparison and their ability to track and stalk is second to none. For generations they have lived in the forests of central India and have sustained on them. But then time took the test and the government had to periphery certain areas as protected national reserves in a desperate bid to save the depleting forest covers in the country.
The Moghiyas found themselves at the receiving end of most of the governmental policies. Shifted out of the jungles which were their element, they lived a life of deprivation. With their unique skills, they should have been the favourites when it came to forest jobs; unfortunately this was not the case.
And so the oldest adage was once again played out...human or animal; modern or primitive; city or jungle..the attempt to survive and thrive is a part of life at all levels and environment
The moghiyas did make use of their abilities...only this time they went against the animals...and the law...and thus began a spate of wildlife crimes the news of which took the country by shock in 2005 when contradicting false government claims, political pressure and biased reports, it was eventually confirmed that the Sariska National park had INDEED NO TIGERS left...
Survival and more specifically aspirations to progress and have a better standard of living is the natural desire of every human being. In the cities people look forward to owning a vehicle from the next year’s pay; then they seek a house; then a ‘perfect’ bride and family; then luxurious holidays...and it never seems to end!...
Both the protagonists in the story could appear on flipsides of the same canvas...operating under inhospitable conditions...nothing glorious to look forward to..ill-equipped and dissatisfied...no means of encouragement...moderate or no education or literacy...and invariably putting their life at risks for the job.
What may be christened as ‘poaching’ or ‘culling’ is really a means of upheaval...just that it has come into direct conflict with the interest of preservation efforts that are now a nationwide endeavour....and therefore a community that was unknown prior to this came into spotlight.
Working on a premise based on these arguments, Tiger Watch aims at saving the national heritage of the country, with widespread intelligence systems, result oriented action backed by state of the art technology and scientific reasoning to identify problems; along with societal welfare initiatives taken for the betterment of endemic communities and forest guards thus ensuring a comprehensive solution that leaves no loose ends.
Started by the Late Revered Fateh Singh Rathore known as the Tiger man of India, Tiger Watch has been on the forefront of conservation since its inception. In 2002 it was joined by Dharmendra Khandal, a enthusiastic young man who had the same foresight and passion for wildlife as Fath ji.
With Sheer hard work and practicality, Tiger watch successfully nabbed gangs of poachers and corrupt forest officials in a very short period of time. It lived up to its claim as an organisation that functions systematically and delves into all problems of wildlife conservation and related issues. Since then there has virtually been no looking back.As the ideals of conservation and the need to be well informed rose to higher echelons of the society and seeped deeper into the masses that lived in the cities, there were some who owing to their holistic education and interest wanted to get up close with wildlife and its prerervation.
In 2007 thus, a program was initiated by Divya Srivastav Khandal, wife of Dharmendra, and Fateh Singh that on a yearly basis selected about 25participants from all over the country to come and get to know the intricacies of the tedious job. Coming from various walks of life, what essentially binds them together for this 6 day tenure is the most essential virtue needed to work at a ground level- passion for wildlife and its protection.
Apart from lectures that are imparted from various experts in the respective fields, there are regular field visits to understand various ecologies of animals in the semi-arid region of Rajasthan.
The ranthambore national park is best suited for this as conservation efforts had been initiated around this area for rehabilitation of families within the park and alternative employment for Moghiyas and other communities that were caught poaching 
The Kuno palpur sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh has been recently added to the itinerary. It hosts rich populations of prey, fresh water crocodiles and has recently been credited with one tiger that has found its way from ranthambore.
This is also an area identified for the re-introduction of the Asiatic lion.
A field visit to a hospital owned and operated by Govardhan Singh Rathore, son of Fath ji and to The Fateh public school both of which are collegiate to Tiger watch demonstrates to the participants how a holistic approach is mandatory to conservation strategies in a country like India.
Fath ji’s daughter, Advocate Padmini Rathore adds to the milieu with her credentials when it comes to judicial issues and implications. 
Then there are sources of alternative income for women to encourage them to earn a livelihood and complement the family income.
To take a step further, a yearly event is held during the time of the course to commemorate all those who through their cooperation and active participation have contributed to awareness and conservation efforts by Tiger watch.
It also gives a chance to participants to interact further adding to the realm of exchanging information, opinions and thoughts.
There could be no place better to conclude such an event other than a place where it was first conceived- Mr. Fateh Singh Rathore’s house where everyone got to see the tastefully done up interiors of his mansion and get treated to tradition music.
There truly must have been none other like him...a man who lived life like the king he sought to protect. Noble, vivacious, extravagant, humble...he is perhaps one of the few who managed to bridge two generations and be admired in the present as much as he was by his contemporaries. He understood the importance of involving the youth, many of which lived in far flung metropolitan cities and had no idea as to what life was like beyond their comfort level...he had a flare to talk and impress upon people literate and otherwise, and to deliver something that appeased everyone...poetic justice at its best!....
and 2 months after his demise, as i sit in his haveli and hear his name resonate amongst young and old alike, in the typical medival rajputana ambience, the whole situation seems hard to justify...his absence is indeed that strong!
the future?..there is a lot to it...with young able bodied people like Dharmendra, and well connected personas like Govardhan around, the torch has been passed into the right hands...
and as my thoughts go to and fro from nostalgia to realism, almost as if in consensus, an alarm call ensues in the distance...and then the tiger calls..
The Entabeni Private Game Reserve- the quintessential location of The Wildlife Academy- a perfect haven for wild animals; divinely fresh air and water; the food- more than sumptuous; guides and trainers who know every inch of the surroundings; heavy duty Land Cruisers to negotiate through the game trails; experienced, well-versed, competent and most importantly, cooperative lecturers and teachers; state of the art equipment for filming; lodging and 
