Manas National Park is not the only place of importance in Assam that will be celebrating its century in the month of December this year. Hundred years ago i.e. in the month of December, 1905, a person called U. Lakhan Bang Suchiang set up a small plantation on a non descript ridge on the Barali Hill range in the present North Cachar Hill district of Assam. A sleepy hamlet developed around this plantation but the place slowly became famous far and wide for the unique migratory birds annually and their mysterious suicidal acts that is still a source of baffle to ornithologists. The place now is called Jatinga.

Jatinga is a zemi Naga word meaning a pathway of wind and rain. And indeed, these two elements provide a touch of adventure and suspense to this place. But most mysterious is the phenomenon of bird suicides. Every year, between August and October, on moonless nights, hundreds of migratory birds fly into the narrow ridge and dash to the ground as if to commit suicide. Group of villagers wait with lanterns to attract the birds and then club them to death. Experts have put up several theories to explain the suicide but have not been able to unravel the mystery.

This year on December 28, Jatinga, the village of 2000-odd farmers will hold its centenary celebration. The villagers want Jatinga to be developed in to a unique tourist spot. A Jatinga centenary celebration committee has been formed. Apart from cultural programmes, the committee will release a souvenir highlighting Jatinga’s history, geographical location, natural resources and population. Ornithologist S. Sengupta and A. Ray, who have extensively researched the Jatinga phenomenon, are also expected to attend the celebration.

Jatinga, famous otherwise for its oranges and pineapples, is a tourist spot. It has huge potential to attract more tourists if promoted properly. To make Jatinga a popular tourist destination, infrastructure has to be upgraded. The folks of Jatinga are coming up to the centenary celebrations to bring this unique place in to focus.

The villagers of Jatinga are now also keen to remove the tag of bird killers. A new drive for conservation of the migratory birds is sweeping Jatinga. The villages have now understood the fallouts of the bird killings which is giving them a bad name all over the world. The annual advent of the migratory birds and their dashing is a unique phenomenon that can draw large bird lovers and tourists to Jatinga. The centenary celebrations may just be the beginning of good things to follow. One can only hope that as Assam Government is promoting tourism in a big way, it will not forgrt the claims of Jatinga.

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