Chronicles of a Forest Officer is a stirring memoir that journeys through the dense jungles, turbulent frontiers, and sacred landscapes of Assam, as seen through the eyes of a forest officer whose life has been inseparable from the wilderness he vowed to protect. Spanning over four decades of service, Ranjan Kumar Das weaves a rich tapestry of field encounters, legal battles, tribal alliances, and ecological triumphs that shaped both his career and conscience.
From the misty ridges of Kurseong to the floodplains of Kaziranga—where he helped deliver a historic “Zero Poaching Year”—this book captures the grit, grace, and gravitas of a life lived in service of nature. It chronicles the challenges of enforcing environmental law amidst political pressures, the delicate dance of community engagement, and the quiet heroism of those who patrol the forests with courage and conviction.
But beyond the uniform lies a poet’s soul. With lyrical ref lections and cultural vignettes, Das elevates his memoir into a tribute—to the land, its people, and the vanishing wild. Chronicles of a Forest Officer is not just a personal narrative; it is a call to conscience, a celebration of stewardship, and a legacy of love for Assam’s living heritage.
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Ranjan Kumar Das
Ranjan Kumar Das, Indian Forest Service (Assam-Meghalaya Cadre), is a distinguished forest officer, legal strategist, and cultural chronicler whose career spans over four decades across Assam’s ecological and administrative landscapes. A recipient of the Chairman’s Medal for excellence in Wildlife Management during his training at Eastern Forest Rangers College, Kurseong, Das began his service in the Indian Forest Service with postings in Aie Valley Division, where he balanced plantation initiatives, forest offence documentation, and tribal engagement.
His tenure includes landmark contributions such as the declaration of National Parks, strategic conservation planning, and the historic “Zero Poaching Year” in Kaziranga National Park (2003). Known for his legal acumen, Das has shaped environmental jurisprudence through RTI applications, affidavits, and policy frameworks.
Beyond departmental service, he has represented the Assam-Meghalaya Cadre in national and international forums, including the IUCN’s Endangered Waterfowl Research Group and the Central Project Elephant Monitoring Committee. Interwoven with his professional milestones are cultural tributes, musical collaborations, and poetic reflections—revealing a lifelong commitment to conservation as both technical endeavor and emotional legacy.
