Rifle shooting to hunting

Our member Mr. M.K.Rakshit had the privilege of learning rifle shooting. He shares with us his initial days of practicing shooting and the excitement of hunting.

Years ago, when I was still a teenager, my paternal uncle (kaku) was at that time working in the military. They were strict disciplinarians and were very brave and daring. As I was the next generation elder son in the family, my kaku wanted to make me courageous and valiant. Moreover, his interest was to enroll me into the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. People who passed from the Defense Academy usually achieved a higher post in the Military, that was basically what my uncle had in mind. To be a part of this prestigious Academy, my uncle pushed me to learn rifle shooting.

After I learnt rifle shooting, I had to practice that. It was then that my kaku started taking me for hunting. It developed my focus and improved my hunting skills. I hunted only small animals which were swift and would keep running around. That developed my target practice and shooting ability.

Near Santragachi there was a forest which wasn’t very dense but trees of medium height and shrubs were found in plenty. Berry trees were found in the Nal ban. In the long grassy areas, there used to be rabbits. There were many kinds of small animals but we used to shoot only what was required not others unnecessarily.

Pankouri or little cormorant and many other migratory birds as well as the Siberian birds used to come to Mayurakshi river. Till then the Tilpara barrage had not been constructed there. We used to cross the river to go for hunting. Wild cats also were visible there. They were really wild, but just because we carried rifles, they didn’t bother us. There were smaller ponds – Nalli pukur water body, beyond which Hyenas and Wolves were present. They were ferocious and killed any creature that came within their vicinity. All small children were warned against crossing the pool. We had even seen blood in that water many a times. We never used to shoot these animals, because if attacked, they used to become more violent and dangerous in nature.

I grew up in Suri or Siuri, the headquarters of the Birbhum district. It is 220 km from Kolkata but quite near to Bolpur – Shantiniketan. I was in love with the place for the opportunities I received for sports. It had a lot of empty spaces around. I was extremely good in sports and at no cost was I willing to leave that place. I was a district champion in cycling 400m, 800m, 1000m, 10000m. No body could beat me in sports. My Principal and the Belur Math Guruji used to admire me a lot for my sportsman spirit. I never liked studies but was remarkable in sports. I had taken up night college so I could spend the entire day participating in various sports. Those days we didn’t have gym, but we used to regularly exercise, for body building and fitness.

I had passed the exam of the Defense Academy but never joined it, in fear of leaving Suri. Being the elder son in the family everyone loved and pampered me a lot. No one objected to my decision of not joining the Military Academy. But the practice of rifle shooting continued amidst hunting.