Leaves from the Jungle - Verrier Elwin

Some interesting excerpts from Verrier Elwin's diary about the "Life of a Gond"

" Gonds describe heaven as "miles and miles of forests without any forest guards" and Heaven as "miles and miles of forests without a Mahua Tree " !

Panda baba, a learned Gondi's wish was to be buried under a mahua tree so that even after death he may suck some pleasure out of its roots!

A Maria Gond once saved the life of a Forest Officer from the clutches of a man eater and was awarded the Albert Medal. But when the governor was to present the medal, it was found that he could not pin it on, as our hero had no clothes on except a loin cloth !

The greatest love, according to Gond saying, is the love of children.

Baigas feel it is best to give a name to a child that will scare the ghosts away. Some of the common names given to baiga tribal children are - Bhangi ( sweeper), Ghurkha ( pile of cow dung) , Biri katta ( pack of cigarettes ) And D.F.O ( District Forest Officer) !!!!

A Gond song - ".... where little foot paths sweet to see go seeking sweeter footpaths still ..."