Musk Deer – Is it still the state animal of Uttarakhand??

The most primeval animal among the deer family, Kasturi Mrig is the state animal of Uttarakhand. Kasturi Mrig is also known as Musk Deer (Moschus Chrysogaster). It possesses a special musk gland under the tail. This gland consists of very expensive scented fluid known as ‘Kasturi’. Kasturi is used in making perfumes and it is also used in approximately 150 Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines. Musk Deer is a very shy animal found at an altitude range of 2300mts – 4300mts above sea level. It inhabits in the dense forests of Deodar and Fir trees.

It is sad than Kasturi Mrig is on the road to extinction. Indian Wildlife board included Kasturi Mrig in the list of endangered animal in the year 1952. Efforts were made to save this beautiful animal with Wildlife Preservation Act in year 1972. Kedarnath Musk deer sanctuary was established in the Kedarnath region in Rudraprayag district to protect the animal and forest. Kedarnath Sanctuary is spread over an area of 967.2 sqkms in the Panch Kedar belt. Government of India has established 4 Musk Deer Sanctuary with Wildlife Protection Act in order to stop the hunting of Musk Deer. But it is sad to say that hunting still persists.

Musk deer are vulnerable and left in very limited number. The Kasturi of Musk Deer gives out aroma which stays for a long time. The perfume that comes from the musk glands of the Musk Deer was first extracted by The Arabs.

Hunting and poaching are the only reasons for the decrease in numbers of Musk Deer in Uttarakhand. Innocent Musk Deer are still hunted and killed for the expensive Musk Glands. In this operation female musk deer are also killed for no reason, as they don’t have musk glands, only male Musk Deer possess them. It is hard to distinguish between female and male Musk Deer.

Musk Gland originates after the age of one year, which means that the life of Musk Deer is safe only till one year. Many people don’t know that Kasturi is costlier than gold. On an average musk gland weighs 25-50grams, depending on the age, size and health of Kasturi Mrig.

On my recent visit to Panch Kedar belt of Uttarakhand state, I came to know that poaching of Kasturi Mrig still persists. One of the villagers told me that everything is connected there and everyone is involved. No one gives attention towards this severe problem where extinction of our state animal lies on the edge. The state animal of Uttarakhand, Kasturi Mrig is in much worse condition than the tigers in India. Tigers in India are in thousands but Kasturi Mrigs in Uttarakhand are not even left in hundreds. Along with the extinction of Kasturi Mrig the pride of Uttaranchal also lies at stakes.

Features of Kasturi Mrig

·         Body Length: 2.6 - 3.4 feet

·         Shoulder Height : 19 - 22 inches

·         Weight: 11 - 19 kgs

·         Gestation Period: 185 – 195 days

·         Mating Season: December, January

·         Life Span: 12 - 20 years

·         Tail Length: 1.6 - 2.6 inches

·         Diet - Grasses, moss, lichens, twigs, shoots, leaves, etc.

For the one I love

My dreams have already began to shatter
All my hopes are on a verge to scatter
Wasn't prepared for the occurrence of this situation
And for the one I love, it doesn't matter


I will be with her holding her hands someday, I assume
Maybe in her heart, she will give me some room
Future is unpredictable but I will live for it
For the one I love, I will make crushed rose bloom


Time is hard and things are terrible
Without her it feels that I am invisible
A chance is all I require to win her heart
For the one I love, I will make things possible


Distance is increasing and the road is lost
I have ocean full of feelings and she is frost
Will climb the highest mountain, touch the depth of the sea
For the one I love, my life doesn't cost


I will freeze the rainbow, for the one I love
I will catch the butterflies, for the one I love
I will turn day to night, spring to fall
I will make stars glow bright, for the one I love

I will be her blanket, whenever she shiver
The day I forget her, it will come never
I am not with her now, but someday I will be
For the one I love, I will wait forever.....

Few Things

Loneliness was my destiny when you held my hands,
you taught me to be apart from the crowd and stand,
I don't know whether to call you a friend, angel or blessing,
If your feet touches the deserted place it turn into a fertile land,
There are few things about you which makes me go crazy.

You are more expressive when you speak through your eyes,
Truth is your asset and not the lies,
Even if nothing exists in this world,
I will be here to brighten up your life even with fireflies,
There are few things about you which makes you special.

The way you untangle my hairs with your soft fingers,
You are sole responsible for making my heart linger,
Moments shared with you i will cherish forever,
Your beauty has made hummingbird become a singer,
There are few things about you which makes me fall in love with you,
and these things aren't few anymore.

I will be waiting

Walking on green lawn with your feet on mine
grabbing you in my arms on a winter evening
candle light dinner and a bottle of wine
dancing so close that we feel each other breathing

I will be waiting for that day to come

Watching you sleep in the morning for hours
sipping tea under a small shelter when its raining,
desperately waiting for the moments that will be ours
I want you in real life I am done with dreaming.



Long drive at night you sitting next to me
hand in hand lying on terrace gazing stars,
I have locked you in my heart and lost the key
I want to be with you before you go too far.

You hold me tight and wipe your tears on my shoulder
i stroke your hairs with your head on my lap,
when we will make things work together
the vacant space in your heart i want to fill that gap.

I will be waiting for that day to come...

Little Things

The smile on my face and tears in my eyes
Distinguishes her presence and absence
My companion is now loneliness and her absence
I will now take pleasure in these little things that i shared with her.

As it reminds me her innocence and beauty
Her holding my fingers in her soft hands were no less than an angels blessing
Her picking of eyelash from my eyes and putting it on my fist
Even though i dint believe in it I always asked for her in my wish
My world was mine whenever she put her head on my shoulder
I will now take pleasure in these little things that I shared with her.

I never saw anything else whenever i looked in her mysterious eyes
She used to blush whenever i complimented her
I am confused that whether I am lucky or not
That she was with me and now I am alone
But now, I take pleasure in these little things.

I am a mortal being but my love for her is immortal
I can sense her presence with closed eyes
I started loving my name ever since she started writing it
She wrote on my clothes and on my hands
Her smile is worth dying for and I got addicted to it
Never in my life I saw someone more beautiful than her
And never will I see it in future
Only her memories are left with me
And I wish I could have spend more time with her
But I will now take pleasure in these little things that I shared with her.



By: Sandeep Bisht

Nature's Paradise

Crescent moon kissing snow capped peaks,
stars preparing for their brightest night,
applausing sound of flowing water,
mountains flying their highest kite,
instant change of weathers mood,
turns cloud grey from white,
scattered drops of waterfall,
showers us with pride,
green looks artistic than ever,
and its variety is wide,
one who is close to nature,
will keep material things aside,
search for himself will come to an end,
if you comprehend the meaning of nature's paradise.

VOL - 164 ACE, Wipro Training Batch

Different faces total strangers
a hi here and shakehand there,
exchange of smiles and formal greeting
after every hour 5 minutes to breathe in,
formation of smokers gang acted as first brick of the foundation
most of us started yawning in class without any boundation,
if given chance we will sleep in class like a baby
our trainer always says yes no maybe,
fun and learn are servings on the same plate
in this class we have interesting batchmates,

from sidharth's threatening looks to amrinders love theory
from rajat's zombie walk to mayank's precise mimicry,
kritika is always on phone, ravi is always with the majority
alok laid back on his chair, dhruv works on his vocabulary,
raghuvendra left us in midway, yaman missed the cake
babita started shivering and jasmeet got afraid,
ashish is good with one liners, apoorva is always sleepy
kishan speaks like a rapper and maazins name is tricky,
anubhav is kind of closed mouth, varun sticks to his own rules
prerna is the finest trainer and no doubt that she is super cool,
manik is always punctual with punching his attendance
about me i would say sorry for the inconvenience,

Divided into teams, united as a family
pulling each others legs and that too constantly,
this was the story of 21 different persons
in the house of wipro, where we show each other concern,
what destiny beholds for us is an unsolved mystery
we might get different process but our training will be history,

different faces total strangers
not anymore, not anymore