A quick farewell at Bhuj and the farm house where I had lodged myself. Old friend Lalit Suri, whom we lost very suddenly, had a thriving hotel business - some of the most prominent facilities being in Delhi, Srinagar, Mumbai and Goa and now spreading around the country. After his demise his wife Jyoti has taken over the working and renamed all the facilities after her husbands name, Lalit. All the Hotels are now The Lalit. A strong and dedicated woman, she has single handedly worked in keeping the flag flying and indeed adding to it hands on, through intense and efficient management. This farm house was hers, her father having started his business from Bhuj.

The charter took barely 40 minutes to cover the distance to Diu, south of Gujarat and the nearest airfield to Saasan Gir, our next destination. Diu is a Union Territory now, but was before part of Goa along with Daman a separate region bordering Mumbai. Now Goa has become an independent state and Diu and Daman Union Territories - erstwhile Portuguese colonized land. Diu is a small island sitting on the protruding peninsula north of Mumbai and lush green with vegetation. It was a pleasant change to see green again after the arid dry Kutch.

From Diu, it was a two hour drive to Saasan Gir. This will be our camp for the next few days. We shall be shooting in the Gir sanctuary and then be visiting the temple of Somnath.

After a short rest we set off again into the forest … ‘rest’ into the ‘forest’, hah hah a bit of rhyme again .. now back to the dry land and wilderness to search for the lions. Not too long into the drive, the indication came in from the advance stalking party that they had been sighted. The number of vehicles and personnel were reduced. Lions do not particularly like the presence of a crowd and very cautiously we drove deeper into the woods.

And then almost suddenly stopped ! The stalkers or rangers or what ever one calls them, who were on foot, motioned to us that they were close by and that we should get our cameras ready. I looked around in the foliage and stark leaf less trees and bushes, but nothing was visible. The brave men on foot who had stopped ahead, now invited us forward. Shouldn’t they be inside the jeeps I thought ! But no ! Instead, they in the most dramatic manner, as if they were presenting a new bride to us, waved their hands towards their right and … there they were .. three females .. panting heavily because of the heat under the sparse shade of dry fierce looking branches of fallen and lifeless tree !! We were secure in the jeep just 30 feet away from them. But the ‘whatchamacallits’ were barely 15 feet away, least bothered about panting cats and animatedly asking us whether we wanted to see their cubs just a little further in. I declined and nervously asked them to get away from beast. They thought I was in need of dear help and disappointedly waved their hands up in the air, whispered a quick adieu to solo maiden on the floor,  two having walked away almost in disgust, and grumbling, strolled back, not concerned about their precarious positioning at all. Ride to Gir over ! Shall be back tomorrow morning. Incredible !!

There are in the last census, 411 of the lions left. Recent reports say they have marginally increased in number, much to the delight of the administration. I believe they were shifted to the forests of Madhya Pradesh near by, to preserve them better, but the environment did not suit them and they were brought back to Gir. How ? I do not know ! But they are back and doing well. Only two regions in the world where lions exist in the wild - Africa and India.

I smile within myself at some of the welcome banners put up on the street corners, shops and resort homes on the drive in to this lodge, for it would be embarrassing for me to upload them. I smile within myself at some of the welcome exultations from eager fans. I smile not to disrespect them, I smile at the innocence of their enthusiasm. Really the common man on the streets, in the villages in every day life, is really so endearing, warm, charitable. We urbanites would take a lifetime to imbibe what they possess - the simplicity of life and living !!

What a magnificent country we own. And it is only when you visit these places yourself do you realize, that its not just the greatness of the domain that makes this land so wonderful and blessed, it is the man on the street, the commoner that gives this nation its strength and its glory !

Long live India. And long live those that truly inhabit it …

Amitabh Bachchan