Kalyan Varma ([info]kalyan) wrote,
@ 2007-12-14 09:03:00
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Current mood: depressed

Yuthi the Superman



Yuthi is one of the young chaps from the Lisu tribe who was with us on our trip at Namdapha. He was helping us carry our luggage as we crossed the National park in over 10 days. The other Lisu men used to call him 'Superman' because he was the strongest one of the lot. He was also the happiest of the lot because on Dec 14th (today) was his wedding and he was really excited about that.

On the 4th day of our trip he fell ill and we decided to let him rest at the '52 mile' settlement where his cousin has a house and we moved on. Yuthi passed away last week because of Malaria. Infact 12 people died in the 52 mile settlement (which has 16 families) last year.

And here were we wimps trying to talk wildlife conservation to them.

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[info]premkudva
2007-12-14 04:05 am UTC (link)
Goddamnit!

So sorry to hear that Kalyan!

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[info]anushsh
2007-12-14 04:06 am UTC (link)
Really sorry. May his soul rest in peace.

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[info]reetuashwin
2007-12-14 04:19 am UTC (link)
Itz really sad to hear it.

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[info]rechristened
2007-12-14 04:43 am UTC (link)
Yes, some people leave behind an impact for life.
May Yuthi's soul find peace. My thoughts are with his loved ones.

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[info]usha123
2007-12-14 04:43 am UTC (link)
did all of them die of Malaria? that is too much in this day and age because it is preventable. As I have seen, in Karnataka, if there is an outbreak, there is a huge hue and cry at the concerned PHCs and taluks. If you have access to those communities can you build in some heath education about malaria prevention/early recognition there?

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[info]kalyan
2007-12-14 09:45 am UTC (link)
Lisu's were not recognised by either India or Barma. Only recently they did get the citizenship for India, but still do not have ST status. They are cut off from mainland because of the National park and nearest PHC is 5 day walk away.

We have managed to pick a lisu and gave him basic medical training. But its still not enough.

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Malara - a preventable death
(Anonymous)
2007-12-14 10:16 pm UTC (link)
Hearing of Malaria deaths really pains me and if somebody this young is dying of Malaria, it shows how much we value a human life, if we cannot grant such basic health access to somebody.....tch tch....
Prashanth

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[info]shivakumar_l
2007-12-14 05:48 am UTC (link)
Feels really sad to hear this.

May his soul rest in peace.

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[info]fox2mike
2007-12-14 06:24 am UTC (link)
Damn. Sorry to hear that.

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(Anonymous)
2007-12-14 06:36 am UTC (link)
Aww.. not good to hear.
irony of life

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[info]rythm
2007-12-14 06:39 am UTC (link)
He had such an innocent smile.
May his soul rest in peace.

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[info]say_yes04
2007-12-14 06:48 am UTC (link)
My condolences :(

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[info]wild_guy
2007-12-14 07:54 am UTC (link)
I wasn't prepared for this depressing moment from your Namdapha trip..:-( May his soul rest in peace.

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[info]kalyan
2007-12-14 09:46 am UTC (link)
Well Namdapha has a lot of wildlife and even more issues. Glad to have seen both sides of it.

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[info]wild_guy
2007-12-14 10:46 am UTC (link)
Like ebony_nivory put it..I too was expecting this to be a congratulatory post for Yuthi..:-(
Awaiting your trip report

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[info]premkudva
2007-12-15 06:24 am UTC (link)
> I wasn't prepared for this depressing moment

Me too, I was thinking you were going to narrate some amusing anecdote seeing his smiling photo.

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'Yuthi'
(Anonymous)
2007-12-17 02:33 am UTC (link)
His smile , your write-up & the way in which you presented the twist of the events...all is commendable. We were able to see Yuthi through you and share the feelings. Have senses a crying & concerned heart in you. God Bless you. Let me join hands with your colleagues in praying for Yuthi's soul.
V!nod Nair

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[info]raghav
2007-12-14 08:43 am UTC (link)
:(((

That is a really depressing and unfortunate series of event...

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[info]ebony_nivory
2007-12-14 09:21 am UTC (link)
:( When I was reading your post I thought the next thing you would tell us would be about his wedding!
Sad to hear that he passed away! :(

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[info]sharifah
2007-12-14 12:21 pm UTC (link)
very poignant post about the realities of their world.

thank you for sharing. I'm sad about the loss of lives.

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[info]deponti
2007-12-14 04:08 pm UTC (link)
Oh my goodness...I had just posted on Shiva's LJ about not feeling tragic at the death of people over 80. But for a young man like this, just because good medical care was not available, to die...that IS a tragedy.

What I like about you, Kalyan, is that you see the good and the bad...and never fail to describe it all, too.

Do you think any of Yuthi's family would be able to see your post? Seeing the photo would be so comforting to them in their grief...

Thank you, for talking about the sad realities of life...and death.

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(Anonymous)
2007-12-15 02:40 am UTC (link)
Really saddening ....
Anand

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[info]teemus
2007-12-15 04:57 am UTC (link)
RIP, Yuthi. Hope you are reborn in a more civilised place.

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[info]kalyan
2007-12-15 07:03 pm UTC (link)
Well the world "Civilised" means diff for diff people. Maybe they feel what they have is civilised. :)

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[info]sylvanwind
2007-12-15 05:33 am UTC (link)
disheartening ...indeed.

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(Anonymous)
2007-12-15 07:06 am UTC (link)
Very disheartening and a sad thing this is. May his soul rest in peace.
It's very difficult to digest such a things, especially when you see the person with you so close and the very next moment he isn't there. Sad to hear this :(

-Pramod Viswanath.

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(Anonymous)
2007-12-15 07:31 am UTC (link)
That was very sad to hear that people in our country still die of these curable diseases. But we proclaim ourselves as super powers and knowledge capital of the world. Shame on our Government.Kudos to the superman and may his soul rest in peace.

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disease effecting tribes
[info]kaadupapa
2007-12-15 08:55 am UTC (link)
Most of the tribes living remote used get less affected by these so called common disease, as they hardly got them at the 1st place. Due to modernization & more exposure to modern world they are delicate to even common flu.
Sad to hear about Yuthi.

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Idetrorce
(Anonymous)
2007-12-15 01:03 pm UTC (link)
very interesting, but I don't agree with you
Idetrorce

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Re: Idetrorce
[info]kalyan
2007-12-15 07:08 pm UTC (link)
Agree with what ?

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Re: Idetrorce
[info]shortindiangirl
2007-12-16 08:05 am UTC (link)
This is a standard comment for Idetrorce. Exact same words on other journals...

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Re: Idetrorce
[info]jace
2007-12-16 10:03 am UTC (link)
Ignore it. It's some kind of a spam bot.

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(Anonymous)
2007-12-16 03:08 am UTC (link)
this comment is a bit off topic but i want you to know that your photography brings out a spiritual reaction in me.......i can take pretty good pix but yours touch the soul and almost make me weep they are so beautiful.....

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[info]shortindiangirl
2007-12-16 08:11 am UTC (link)
Sad. I'm sure his fiance is heartbroken too. I hope she finds the right way to move on in her life. I have to think that these are not the people who need to learn about wildlife conservation. There are policy makers who set down rules that slowly become a way of life. They are also the ones that may make medical care available.

Harsh realities. What we value as life is fragile enough as it is. I wonder how the Lisus look at life and their place in it ?

So I'm curious - having seen the "other side" of the "wild" life... how do you justify your passion and your focus ? I know your heart has tugged at you for the betterment of the marginalized - the tribals, the people who are "leavers" (Ref: Danielle Quinn's "Ishmael" - recommended reading), who live simply in simple cycles that include the earth in tangible ways.

So what is that keeps you focussed ? Or perhaps you are not and your needs are changing....

Curious.

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DEPRESSING
(Anonymous)
2007-12-18 04:48 am UTC (link)
Was waiting for over a month to read about your Namdapha trip. As few ppl have menitoned, I thought you were gonna write about Yuthi's wedding or wish him. Such an innocent smile, poor him. May God bless the departed soul and the give the strength to his family & the bride to overcome this grief and loss.
-Anand

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Lost between lines and thaughts.
(Anonymous)
2008-01-11 07:15 pm UTC (link)
I always feel we talk of Freedom & don't have enough respect for the soldiers that defend it.

We talk of conservation of plants & animals in forests and forget little kids or helpless little animals on the streets.

We talk of chiranjeevi's father's death but no one sees how many Young lives are wasted like this.
Neither people nor Press covers these.

Much thanks to you for a slap on the face.
Keep your good work going.

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(Anonymous)
2008-02-04 01:24 am UTC (link)
Omg !! such a tragedy!


P.s: New blogger… would love to hear from all you people in my blog!! Pls visit and post comments on how i improve it!

Shravan(www.deliciousfingers.blogspot.com)

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