Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright | #241
+ A Himesh Reshammiya Tribute
Friends,
With about 5,000 tigers left in the world, these magnificent big cats are truly a rare breed. Sadly, they find themselves in a purr-plexing situation, facing threats from poaching and habitat loss. India is home to around 3,500 of these majestic felines, making it their largest stronghold.
Tigers have prowled through our myths and legends; inspiring tales that make us roar with laughter or gasp in awe. From ancient folklore to modern-day stories, they’ve captured our imaginations and hearts.
So, this week we take a look at some interesting stories that have all bold stripes about them.
Things we learnt this week 🤓
In the 1990s, Surabhi wasn’t just a TV show—it was a cultural phenomenon that brought India into our living rooms. Hosted by the charismatic Siddharth Kak and the effervescent Renuka Shahane, it was a celebration of India’s diversity, exploring everything from ancient traditions to modern art forms. The show aired from 1990 to 2001, and its impact was staggering—at its peak, it received over a million letters in a single week, a testament to how deeply it resonated with audiences. This wasn’t just television; it was a movement that made us pause and marvel at the richness of our heritage. And then came the ultimate tribute: two white tigers at Mumbai’s Byculla Zoo were named Siddharth and Renuka. It’s fitting, really. Just like those tigers, Kak and Shahane symbolized grace, strength, and a deep connection to India’s cultural roots.
You are trekking through the Sunderbans, lush mangrove forests, the air thick with humidity, and you spot a Bengal Tiger. Gorgeous, majestic, but also, you know, a KILLER. About 20 people a year get to see a Bengal Tiger as their last vision. Back in the '80s, the locals came up with a genius idea - Tigers usually attack from the back, so they started wearing face masks on the backs of their heads. And It worked! For a while, at least. For about three years, nobody wearing the masks got killed. True Jugaad! The government even got in on it, handing out thousands of rubber masks to protect folks. But here's the thing about nature: it adapts and tigers are quite clever. By 2012, the attacks were back on, masks or no masks. If you come face to face with a tiger - be careful, it might be a cause of Tiger Maut!
This solution worked for a while! We cannot talk about tigers and not mention Champawat - a big cat with a taste for human flesh. It's 1907, and this tigress is on a rampage that would make most serial killers look like amateurs. We're talking 436 confirmed kills! Enter Jim Corbett who tracks this tigress through the jungle. When he kills the Tigress, Corbett has an epiphany - He starts thinking about ecosystems, biodiversity. Killing the tigress wasn't just about saving lives, it was about the beginning of a new phase in Corbett’s life. It gave him a profound appreciation for the delicate balance we disrupt at our peril.
From IWTK, with love 💌
Himesh Reshammiya’s Badass Ravikumar has a neat little tribute to Shalimar. Watch it here.
When Oliver Stone really liked Sanjay Dutt.
Only In India 🇮🇳
Modern Bengaluru Problems require Modern Bengaluru Solutions!
IWTK Recommendations 💌
Team #9’s founder Hari Shenoy, who at one point of time, was famous on Twitter for being tagged to Big Basket complaints has started a weekly newsletter - where he writes about things that he fancies - music, words, poetry etc. Subscribe and read.
💟 IWTK