Losing charm

Snake charmers from across the state throng the village and mesmerise the countryfolk with their show. More than 40 snake charmers were present during this year’s puja.

During the fairs,these mystical men,entice the venomous creatures to dance to their tunes,capturing the imagination of the locals. On an average,they earn around Rs 700 each after a good day’s work at the fair.

However,there is growing discontent,as snake charmers are struggling for survival. Enforcement of strict wildlife laws and initiatives taken by the animal-rights activists have hit them hard.

Their numbers are fast declining. This is a family profession and has traditionally been passed from one generation to another. Things are changing now.

“My family members don’t want to come to this profession. The younger generation loathe it. This is because there are no returns. After wildlife laws were enforced,we have been living on the edge,” says 42-year-old snake charmer Haider Mal.

Mal also bemoans the alleged presence of the Bangladeshi snake charmers at the fair. “They come here illegally and take away a large share of our business,” he laments.

During the show,a snake charmers sits out of the biting range. Snakes do not have an outer ear,though they can sense sound. They follow the movement of the flute and respond as if it were a predator,Mal said.

Snake poison has medicinal properties and its allure is too big for these snake charmers to keep them away from the poison trade. Their greed has put rare species of venomous snakes on the verge of extinction. But now the government is acting tough.

Whatever be the situation,one thing is for certain – Mal and his colleagues stare at an uncertain future ahead.