Faces of India – 158, Niranjan Raptan from Sundarbans
Niranjan Raptan – A face with name and story! Once a honey collector, then tiger attack survivor and finally now a tourist guide. His is a long interesting story.
Faces of India,
Faces of India is a series through which I intend to portray the various characters of my country whom I met during my travels. I bring back souvenirs, frozen moments from my travels, why not some memories of people I have met and interacted during the travels. Faces of India is a weekly series in my blog since MARCH 2011. See more here…
Niranjan Raptan – Tiger attack survivor
He is Niranjan Raptan of Sunderbans. He survived tiger attacks 3 times successfully and now works for “save the tiger” and “save Sunderbans” campaign. He was originally honey collector in these islands in his childhood but 42 years back because of tiger attacks he decided to give up that work.
He survived thrice but would he be lucky again! That thought made him look for new ventures and he took up the job of forest guide.
Very knowledgeable person, he was our tour guide when we were on a village tour of Sundarbans.
During one of the trip to interiors of the islands for collecting honey, his uncle and he was attacked by a ferocious tiger of Sunderbans. They both fought the tiger off bravely and survived tiger attack. Niranjan managed to bring his seriously injured uncle back home.
His uncle later succumbed to the injuries, probably due to lack of good hospital facilities then. If you google his name, all stories related to him can be read.
So? Have you met anybody who has survived a tiger’s attack?
I faced the tiger twice. Only once i could not see, it was a maneater leopard and we escaped death narrowly. All this happened in the forests of M.P, now Chhatisgarh.
Wow, what an interesting story and a great face.
Impressive story! You captured him so well. A handsome and kind face. 🙂
Saving tigers after being attacked by them….interesting.:)
Had just finished reading "The Hungry Tide", so can totally relate to it 🙂
What an incredible story to go with the face!
Wow! Great capture. That is some feat! Kudos to his bravery!
Your this series showcases not only your talent with the lens but also your vast traveling experience. You should think of an exhibition.
I remember reading about him in newspaper with a somewhat blur picture of his. Nice to see him here..good one Indrani.. 🙂
Ok… Wow.. Now that's a survival streak..!!!
Quite interesting people you meet.. 🙂
Hats off to this man, working for saving tigers being a 3 times survivor of tiger attack. 😀 Great!
Survived from 3 tiger attacks ! Surprising. Nice to read that he is working for such noble missions. 🙂 A very calm and happy face. Nice capture 🙂
gracious !
He's as handsome as he is brave.
Double wow, what an amazing thing to happened to them. You have a beautiful picture.
Great portrait on the man of brave!
OH! How amazing that he has survived three attacks by tigers!
Had read about him earlier. Truly a courageous man.
A brave man, and also a lucky man!
Nice portrait. Great post. Thanks for sharing.
Have a nice weekend.
Wow!!! Great story and a brave man
thanks for sharing
Wow.. what a claim to fame!
To survive a Sunderbans tiger attack is miraculous.Must be a brave and lucky man.
What a brave and amazing man!! This world could use many more like him!! A great choice for the day, Indrani! Thank you — I shall Google him and read more!!
oh, my! and what a story he has! a nice face.
Really he is a brave man.