When a quartet of veteran caddies rushed out of the dense undergrowth flanking the 15th hole at the Panchkula Golf Club, looking pale yet oddly impassioned, we knew it was familiar trouble. A yellowish snake, which refused to budge, had held up search operations for a lost golf ball! 

While the elder caddies twittered, a shudder slithering up their spines, two wasted kids made a dramatic entry. They plunged heedless into the grasses, did a jig around the snake and implored us, the Brown Sahebs, to take a video. These fairway urchins were `professional' ball hounds, retrieving lost balls and selling them to golfers for a handful of 10 rupee notes.

We golfers stepped gingerly into the untamed grasses, a far cry from golf's cultured Bermuda greens. The Sahebs had a `keen' eye for Eve's beloved serpents. They did not want to disappoint the caddie kids with gleaming eyes. But maintained so discreet a distance from the viper that even a leopard's mighty leap would not have stirred the halo around us. It was a 4-foot Russel's viper with characteristic black rings, enraged by caddies trampling around its family quarters. A muscular, aggressive fellow when disturbed and capable of leaping to strike!

Viper fangs are loaded with haemotoxic venom that cause muscle-bursting and a bleeding death. In Dadumajra village this monsoon, a viper bit a sleeping autorickshaw driver twice after climbing his bed. The viper hissed like a housewife's errant pressure cooker when the terrorised family switched on the tubelight and fled the room. The doughty Dadumajra viper did not vacate the bed!

As the evening light was too low to click a cellphone video, Rinku and his caddie crony offered to prod the viper towards us. We politely declined, seeking refuge in the pious dictum: `Let nature be'.  Indeed, Sahebs, caddies and serpents do make for a fascinating love triangle with the fair, dimpled damsels (read golf balls) flirting between the three. At the Shiwalik Golf Course (SGC), Chandimandir, golfers often sight a lost ball tantalisingly close to the stacked-up coils of huge Indian Rock pythons that inhabit the ravines. Caddies with a tribal background often emerge from the thickets, a baby python draped like mink fur around their shoulders. Caddies can come back wringing empty hands, pleading that the ball has been spotted but is under the swaying hood of a big black cobra. Conversely, the more cunning caddies spin snake stories and pocket the ball! A brand new Titleist Pro VIx retails at nearly Rs 300, so its sparkling visage is the proverbial gold nugget for caddies sieving the grasses.

Poverty, they say, has no conscience. Neither any qualms! Ball searching is dangerous, as hands have to be shoved under bushes, dead wood and holes. All are favoured refuges of golf balls and snakes. Places that the experts implore not to explore even with a barge pole. A bite in a remote rough is certain to invite death as medical aid is far away and snazzy golf carts may not be rushed to the rescue of non-Sahebs and ball thieves. Yet, caddies with their monsoon mud-like brown legs wasted by years of malnutrition and intestinal worms, pause not a second. Though golf course roughs swarm with snakes, bites have been extremely rare. There is, obviously, someone up there spreading a benign hood over these children of a lesser God.

The non-venomous serpents, too, pack some tricks to tick off a nosey golfing brigade. On the 11th hole fairway at the SGC, a harmless water snake quickly inflated a cobra-like hood on being poked and prodded by some caddies and golfers, who were no doubt inspired by the Discovery channel. The snake had the last laugh though, because all took to their heels thinking it was a dangerous phaniyar naag (cobra)! Senior caddie Rameshwar ran out of the 8th hole roughs at the SGC, his face an ashy-white. An expert at finding balls and inflating half a gunny bag with these dimpled beauties, a black rat snake had fallen from a tree on to Rameshwar's face, but in its panic had clean forgotten to bite him. Both Rameshwar and the snake fled in opposite directions!

Snake encounters spawn an incredible amount of babble amongst caddies but none more so than the `legendary' figure of Rajinder, the SGC's 18th hole pumphouse keeper. Believed to be a demi-God at handling snakes — as caddie lore goes — Rajinder was once bitten by a cobra resulting in the latter's death! Then there is this doomed spirit flitting from bush to bush at the 4th, 7th and 13th holes of the Chandigarh Golf Club. A former caddie, this fellow has been turned out of his Kishengarh village house because of an irredeemable indulgence in intoxicants, a common ailment amongst glorified coolies seeking an escape from desperate lives. This fellow has lost none of his cunning. He lurks in the roughs where golfers habitually hit errant shots and drives a canny auction for retrieved balls. ``These Babas (godmen-like cobras) spring up from the grasses at my feet but I rarely stop searching for balls because I need my daily fix,'' says the addict, with his right hand cupped to a hood and arm held erect from the elbow in an eerie mimickry of Shiva's serpent.

If we want to conveniently ignore certain things…ah well the matter ends there! On the other hand, if guided by conscience you decide to take note of things around and act accordingly, the scope of repair and betterment increases.

Wikipedia flashes a set of facts and figures, which again can be ignored or be taken into account. India lying within the Indo-Malaya eco-zone is home to 7.6 per cent of all mammalian, 12.6 per cent avian, 6.2 per cent reptilian and 6.0 per cent of flowering plant species. This means our country accounts for almost 60- 70 per cent of world's biodiversity. Do we need to do anything about it? As of now we are only trying our level best to upset the figures. The least we can do!

If sparing a thought on the ecological balance doesn't fall in your scheme of things, we could give you a reason. On Valentine's Day you talk about love and its expression; daughters doing exceptionally well is discussed on Daughter's Day, walking is a good exercise is for Walkathon.

Likewise, during the Wildlife Week we could talk about wildlife conservation! As you sit cuddled in your rooms, chilling out under the AC, watching Discovery Channel, SMSing friends on the amazing wild beast stories you just saw, updating Facebook status, spreading your concern…a brigade driven by passion, puffs fresh oxygen and sets out for their work…wildlife conservation!

Captain Suresh Sharma, the man behind the Snake Cell, wildlife photographer, has too much on mind when it comes to conservation. He shares without mincing words, "Are we really doing something about wildlife conservation?" He adds, "Not really. People are not clear on the concept of conservation. We discourage them from using wood or plastic, but is there any substitute for wood? Instead, encourage people to grow trees on barren tracts for commercial purposes and not axe virgin forests. It is half-baked and old information on conservation that we need to get rid of," says the man for whom closeness to nature and snakes is what happiness is all about.

The snake cell formed by him is a self-funded nature conservation project for the tricity, commissioned on the World Environment Day in 1998, at Chandigarh, which disseminates vital information on the subject — snakes and snakebites — and the role of snakes in maintaining ecological balance. The educational programmes of the Snake Cell have helped people dispel the myths, fear and hatred for them. Captain Suresh raises funds through wildlife photography. "I am often asked why do I do this for free and I tell them it is all about happiness that comes in loads through this work." His endeavour — The Green Frames — has been commissioned to raise the levels of nature conservation awareness among people by presenting the beauty of nature's heritage through photos. It also aims to raise funds by selling images in the market to anyone who pays suitably.

All the same, raising funds is not an issue here and neither is publicity. They are one with nature, which is the fountainhead of their happiness. They make no hue and cry about branded clothes getting soiled, they are omnipresent 24X7, and this is the way they like it to be!

Nikhil Sanger and his fiancee Sonika Mann have all the good reasons to lead a comfortable life abroad, which they 'conveniently ignored' because they cannot think of moving away from the ground reality - wildlife conservation in this case. Nikhil, who runs an NGO Wildlife Conservation Society Nawanshahr, is not blowing his own trumpet when he shares that he has rescued 1,600 snakes, 15-20 Indian Pythons, 25 barking deer, and many sambhars and neelgais.

"Rescue accounts for only 40 per cent of the work, the real task is about rehabilitation in the right habitat. I need to check whatever animal is rescued finds a safe habitat, a place where they can get ample food and water." A wildlife conservator who is always at your beck and call, Nikhil is saddened to see that nothing is being done about conservation in the real sense. "There is no encouragement or help from the government. Whatever funds or infrastructure I use like search lights, snake equipment and so on is generated by me," he adds.

Ditto for Salim Khan, another conservator who has been rescuing snakes for almost 25 years now. The idea is to catch snakes and at the same time ensure that people warm up to the animal. But when it comes to reality, Salim is not satisfied with the existing scheme of things. "I spend hours in rescuing snakes, which is something I like to do. At the same time, I expect the government to take note of the effort. If they believe in wildlife conservation, they should involve people in this, which comes through incentives."

jasmine@tribunemail.com

I spend hours rescuing snakes, which is something I like to do. At the same time, I expect the government to take note of the effort. If they believe in wildlife conservation, they should involve people in this, which comes through incentives."

— Salim Khan, wildlife conservationist

People are not clear on the concept of conservation. We discourage them from using wood or plastic, but is there any substitute for wood? Instead, encourage people to grow trees on barren tracts for commercial purposes and not axe forests.

— Suresh Sharma, Snake Cell

What do you expect when you meet one of the best all-rounder in the history of cricket and Wisden Cricketer of the Century (2002)? "No cricket questions please." Now, that's a surprise and Kapil Dev has never failed to throw one at you whether on the field or outside!

Don't take it as his loss of interest in the game (given the latest controversies)…the 'Haryana Hurricane' just believes in the present. So, he was open to talking about the purpose that brought him to Chandigarh on Wednesday morning - to flag-off Chandigarh Walkathon at the Lake Club on the World Arthritis Day.

"I believe in talking about the work I am doing now and not something else. I live in the present moment," he says. So do we. Glad to be back home, Kapil seems excited at the walkathon. "It's been a busy week; I have been working hard, handling a lot of stuff. So, the lovely and beautiful surroundings of Chandigarh are a refreshing change," says Kapil, who boarded the early morning flight from Delhi to flag-off the event.

The Walkathon had participants from all ages and the enthusiasm was something that motivated Kapil as well. A part of the crowd, Kapil was at his spirited best. "Watching all these people here, smiling and proving that age is not a barrier, just makes me so happy."

Extending the Good Samaritan act, he also interacted with 200 patients and senior citizens. "I have myself gone through three knee surgeries and know of the lifestyle changes it brings about. We have got to appreciate the efforts of those trying to help the older generation live a better life. They have to be careful about the complications that age brings and take care." His NGO — Khushii - too has been working in this field for quite some time now, with destitute and old people. Educating school dropouts and spearheading a campaign on functional literacy of adults in rural areas, Kapil has also extended his hand to those who want help. And his message to youngsters was, "Prevention is better than cure." Conventions always work. "One should adopt a healthy living style to avoid complications later in life," says the sportsperson.

All said and done, cricket can't be ignored. So, India's dramatic and surprise Test win is the safest bet. "The team showed tremendous talent and temperament. I am proud of them for playing so well," says Kapil. And that takes care of our itch as well!

nehawalia@tribunemail.com

Power walk

On Wednesday morning, over 200 senior citizens gathered at the Lake Club not just to enjoy a good walk, but also show support towards the cause of healthy living. The Chandigarh Walkathon - 'Doosra Bachpan' - organised by city based orthopaedic surgeon Harsimran Singh in association with B Braun, leading German joint replacement prosthetic manufacturer, celebrated the World Arthritis Day that falls on October 11. The younger generation showed support while the older generation took control. Amongst the participants were patients who had undergone knee replacement surgeries and battled with osteo-arthritis for years. 

If you cannot get on field and play the match, you can always sit outside and enjoy. Of course, it is not that exhilarating, but it could be better if you have a Vuvuzela — the cheering device that caught the fancy of fans during the FIFA world cup — in hand!

And now we have the same device in India as well, which can be made full use of at the Commonwealth Games. No, we are not talking about some cheap Chinese duplicate. Manpreet Singh Walia makes Vuvuzelas at his company Hi Tech Rubber Industries, Mohali. The good news is that Premier Brand Pvt Ltd Authority has selected a sample made by him on CWG merchandise.

"One of my friend brought a Vuvuzela for me from South Africa. I thought we could have one 'Made in India' Vuvuzela because the ones we get in India are those Chinese types that don't use good quality plastic," shares Manpreet.

There is more thought behind this. "Spectators do not have anything to cheer their teams, except for flags or plastic bottles. Vuvuzela makes a nice noise and can be a great cheer leader," adds Manpreet who also made silicon wristbands for IPL. — Jasmine Singh

This one's for those to whom green stands for crisp notes. We can't buy another earth with green currency; can we? Unfortunately with the development came the destruction; and environmentally speaking, came the diversity of problems. Think pollution, acid rains, climate change, devastated rain forests, unbalanced wild habitats, extinct species…Did someone rightly say, it sounds depressing but we must not despair.

The visual campaign by master's students of Government College of Art-10 tried making a difference where it matters.

Present on the occasion was the victor of the cause Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal; amidst the go green campaigns sitting stout in his saffron.

"The big question is, for the environmental destruction surrounding us; who's responsible? The educated or the illiterate?" he strikes a chord with the listeners and questions. Did the audience embarrassingly answer; the educated? "If our accumulated wealth acquired through so called development finally is to go to the doctors for curing cancer; then what is the worth of such progress? In every religion, some way or the other, emphasises man's relationship with environment. Earth has been symbolised as the real mother that protects and supports after the initial nine months," Seechewal takes to the stage and continues. He adds, "Punjab was a land of five rivers, now the water is not stale; it's poisonous."

Perhaps, he's also referring to the till now devastated Kali Bein rivulet, which the eco-activist took upon cleansing himself. Thereby spearheading the anti-river pollution campaign. "I've myself seen the filth and the poison being released into rivers; there are dyeing industries, electroplating industries, leather factories that release their water into the rivers; it's most unfortunate."

Where can the commoner contribute? How can the people who lack the practical consciousness be made to make an effort? He shares, "Unfortunately we have role models that preach and don't practice and then there's the problem of apathy. It's not that the people aren't aware; it's just that they don't care. We cut a cake every birthday, how about the culture of planting a sapling every birthday and looking after it. The cake's not going to bless us, but the tree will." He adds, "On World Environment Day, these bureaucrats will plant a sapling, get clicked and everything. Chances are, next year on the same day, they'll plant a sapling at the same place, because the previous one would've wilted due to lack of care." We're back to square one; did he pass the message loud and clear.

Meanwhile, the visual campaign, Life and Earth, true to its purpose, filled up for the thought provoking messages; acted as a catalyst for the green cause. "We were assigned this project in February, it's only by now we completed and exhibited it," says Sonam Budhiraja, MFA student. The campaigns and the posters continue, Put some green in your life,' Where do you want to go? Towards green or destruction; There's only one earth in this universe, and that's all we have.

manpriya@tribunemail.com

Glaxo SmithKline Consumer Health care has launched Lucozade Sport, a scientifically formulated isotonic sports drink endorsed by top level sports bodies and used by athletes worldwide. Lucozade sport has the right balance of electrolytes, glucose and fluids in body and ensures faster supply and absorption of energy to your body during high activity sports like running, jogging, cycling and playing football.

Speaking about the product Shubhajit Sen, executive vice president - marketing, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, India, said, "At GSKCH, it is our constant endeavour to provide our consumers with products that help them to do more, feel better and live longer. Through Lucozade Sport, we have made strong inroads into a nascent but a fast growing category in India. Lucozade Sport is a scientifically formulated drink that is backed by years of research as well as approved by independent authorities like World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) that further establishes its credibility."

Why is Salman Khan still single? Dad Salim Khan has the answer to the question that has vexed so many of his fans -- 'mama's boy' Salman, he says, can't fix on a girl because he mostly falls for girls who can't pamper him like his mother.

"There's a contradiction in Salman's character. He gets attracted to women from his industry only... his co-stars become his love interests. Once a relationship is established, he starts looking for his mom in them. Now that is not possible," Salim said in an interview.

"A woman who has just started her career can't be doing stuff like preparing meals, washing clothes, preparing kids and yet lead the hectic life of a movie star! This expectation can't be met by a woman who has just started her film career…not even if she tries," reasoned the 74-year-old, who made a rocking scriptwriting team with Javed Akhtar.

Salman, 44, who is Salim's eldest son, has been involved with actors like Somy Ali, Sangeeta Bijlani and Aishwarya Rai.

The 44-year-old is said to have split from his latest girlfriend Katrina Kaif.

Salim dodged the question, saying: "I can't say if Katrina is in Salman's life... If a marriage decision stretches for so long, it usually does not happen. It means that the person is not 100 percent sure to get into it…that's why the delay."

"Whenever girls have come into Salman's life, they are looking to be a movie star. So settling down is the last thing on their minds. So the relationships reach a saturation point and then fizzle out." — IANS

Superstar Rajnikanth rocked the box office down south with Endhiran, but the Hindi version of the mega budget sci-fi outing Robot lost out to Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor's mushy antics in Anjaana Anjaani in the northern region, where audiences are opting for the young romance saga. The Ranbir-Priyanka Chopra starrer earned around Rs 260 million in the initial weekend, while Robot, which also stars Aishwarya Rai, raked in close to Rs 70 million. 

But in the southern region, Endhiran has broken all records by earning a staggering Rs 1 billion in the opening weekend and scalpers were even selling tickets for a whopping Rs 5,000.Another release of the week, family comedy Khichdi - The Movie failed to invite much footfalls and lost to the two biggies. It could collect only Rs 55 million."The weekend was rocking. Anjaana Anjaani was very good with over 80 per cent occupancy while Robot was in the second spot with close to 70 per cent footfalls. Khichdi, however, didn't go as per expectations and managed only about 50 per cent occupany," Yogesh Raizada, corporate head (Cinemas) of Wave Cinemas, said.While Anjaana Anjaani was made on a budget of Rs 25 crore, Robot is Indian cinema's most expensive movie with an investment of approximately Rs 1.75 billion.Rajnikanth, 61, defied gravity and took artificial intelligence to the next level in his role as a Robot, again proving there is nothing that he can't do. 

"In North and West Delhi, Anjaana Anjaani has done better vis-a-vis Robot and Khichdi with 80-85 per cent occupancy while the others got only 50-60 percent and 20-30 per cent occupancies respectively," said Deepak Taluja, senior vice-president (Business and Operations) of Fun Cinemas."While in the rest of the city, Robot took over with above 85 per cent occupancy, Anjaana Anjaani and Khichdi got only 70-75 per cent and 10-15 per cent respectively," he added.Jayendra Banerji, vice president (Operations) of Satyam Cineplexes, said: "The weekend was quite special and we had a very good occupancy with all Anjaana Anjaani, Robot, Enthiran, Khichdi doing well. Even Dabangg is still going strong on limited screens.""Most of the shows for Anjaana Anjaani went houseful with over 90 percent occupancy while both Robot and Enthiran did well with close to 80 percent occupancy. Khichdi was comparatively less with 40 per cent," he added. Amit Shah, chief manager (Programming) of DLF DT cinemas, however, said : "The weekend was good. All three movies did good business. Anjaana Anjaani was on top with 60-65 per cent occupancy while Robot on second with 50 per cent. Khichdi managed 35-40 per cent. "All three films had a mixed reaction as they are from different genres. These will extend because there is not much content in the second week," he added. — IANS

Actor John Abhraham's fans will have to wait a little longer to catch his latest film Jhootha Hi Sahi as the film, originally slated to release on October 15, has been delayed by a week.

Oscar-winner A R Rahman, who has given the music in the Abbas Tyrewala directed film, still requires some work on the background score of the movie, which has resulted in the delay.

"Abbas took a completely creative decision when he postpone the release date by a week. Abbas feels that what A R Rahman brings to a project is very valuable and therefore, he did not want to hamper A R Rahman’s creative process by binding him with time limits," a source close to the director said.

Producer Madhu Mantena confirmed the delay, saying, "It's true that we've decided to release Jhootha Hi Sahi on October 22 instead of the October 15. It's only good, as we will utilise this extra time in promoting our film." Official explanation notwithstanding, the delay in release could also be to avoid a clash with Priyadarshan's Aakrosh, which stars heavyweights like Ajay Devgn and Bipasha Basu.

Jhootha Hi Sahi, starring Tyrewala's wife Pakhi in the lead opposite Abraham, will now have to battle with Ram Gopal Varma's Rakta Charitra and Mallika Sherawat starrer Hisss.

The year has not been lucky for Abraham. His film Aashayein released after a delay of nearly three years to bad box office collection.

Jhootha... too was in limbo for sometime and his 'Hook Ya Crook' has reportedly been shelved.

The release date of other Bollywood movies are also expected to be affected after Ranbir Kapoor-Priyanka Chopra starrer Anjaana Anjaani got pushed back because of Ayodhya verdict, forcing Priyadarshan to delay Aakrosh as well. — PTI