Tags:
Journalism of Courage
What is common to Bhagyashree in Maine Pyar Kiya and the 2,000-odd people gathering before the Congress Bhavan every Sunday and Wednesday? They all like kabootars. Yes, if you want to experience a totally different Sunday morning, go to this venue at Shivajinagar and enjoy the biggest kabootar mela in Maharashtra. It is the only place for pigeon-lovers in and around Pune to buy and sell these birds.
The pigeons are brought in bicycle carriers by some, in big cages in an auto-rickshaw by others, and also in cane baskets and paper boxes. And do not be too surprised to find some of the kids taking their favourite birds out of cloth-bags!
Today, a pigeon costs anything from Rs 20 to Rs 250, depending on factors like their colour, eyes, feathers, their breed. Of course, pigeons fetch an higher amount than doves.
These pigeons, however, are no ordinary ones. They are special birds who are trained to steal kabootars from the other gang. This is how money rotates in this business. The pigeons are taught to fly far from their home and mix with the other group of pigeons flying simultaneously. When the former group returns to base, it attracts and also brings home some birds from the other camp, providing its master with a neat profit after he sells the additional birds in the market. 8220;Hey, but there is a risk of losing some of your soldiers if the commander of the other front is more clever,8221; says 25-year-old Anil Mohol, a man who has 125 different types of kabootars. Mohol has a spectacular collection of different breeds 8211; Shiraji, Lall Daiyar, Bhure, Kalpute, Babradare 8211; all in lovely colours of red, blue, black, brown, green.
Pune being home to atleast 1,00,000 pigeons, attracts kabootar-lovers all the way from Satara, Wai, Bhor, Saswad, Mahableshwar, Talegaon, and even Mumbai. Age is no bar as far as trading here is considered, many business tycoons are actually high-school students!
So do not worry if the postal services are affected by the strike next time. For a mere Rs 50 to 100, you can buy your own bird here and use it as a personalised mail bearer.
