– Satyakam Ray
The 1978 movie “Piranha” brought massive notoriety to the monstrous, predatory fish often found in South American lakes and rivers. Aquatic ecologist Zeb Hogan, host of the famous National Geographic show Monster Fish, wrangled with one Piranha on his show. Even its former host, Jeremy Wade, often caught many sea monsters during his adventures.
The fifth chapter of the Anandpur Chronicles centers on the story of a monstrous fish found in the town. Interestingly, neither Zeb Hogan nor Jeremy went to the counter to catch the big fish. The local fishermen and some expert Bengali fishermen from Cuttack did the much-needed extradition work.
As described in the earlier chronicles, the large river Baitarani flows by the town of Anandpur. In the rainy season, floodwaters always enter the city, even in small amounts. When the floodwaters recede from the town, they leave behind a host of river creatures. Many wild animals are washed out of the jungles onto the plains.
A large, round pond was used for fish cultivation near the riverbanks. The tribal laborers maintained it. Cement structures surrounded it, and neat steps were provided for easy access.
The pond was a small part of the large farmhouse belonging to one of Maa’s relatives. Beyond fish cultivation, the farmhouse grew a variety of vegetables. The tribal caretakers had proper accommodations within the farmhouse near the pond.
According to Maa, it was the year 1980. A severe flood had just occurred, and the water had receded from the town, entering the pond.
It was late afternoon. One of the tribal boys was playing beside the pond. He felt something unusual in the middle of the pond. The large head of a fish was visible from a distance. The curious boy went as close as possible to confirm it; he was horrified by what he saw! A big fish, probably 7-8 feet long, was swimming in the pond and eating other small fish.
Fearful, the boy ran home and told his parents what he had seen. As usual, the news spread like wildfire. All the tribal laborers were intrigued and alarmed about the incident. They were curious as hell. Some even confirmed the sightings by themselves. Of course, there was a rumor about the mysteriously decreasing number of fish in the pond. After the incident, everyone zeroed in on the culprit. They were confident that something fishy was going on in the fish pond!
Several master Bengali fishermen from the nearby town of Cuttack were summoned to tackle the issue. They came with their massive fishnets, which would cover the entire pond! Along with local tribal laborers, the crafty fishermen carefully netted the fish in the pond. After a thorough search, they found their dream catch in the pond. The monster fish was of remarkable sight. It weighed around 2-3 quintals. Of course, a large crowd had gathered around the pond to witness the incident. Maa was a part of the crowd.
The fish belonged to the sea. Nobody could recognize such a fish in the river during the floods. Hence, the fish might have escaped from the Bay of Bengal to the River Baitarani. As the floodwater entered Anandpur town, the fish found a comfortable home in a pond. They enjoyed delicious meals with other small fish!
A party happened in the town of Anandpur. The group decided to kill the monster fish, still trapped in the nets. Seven to eight people used axes to tear the fish’s flesh into small pieces. The group divided the fish among themselves and the curious onlookers. Everyone nearby got their fair share of fish. According to Maa, the fish tasted good but was a tad oily. No wonder the prehistoric monster belonged to the sea!
Sadly, I found no photographic or video evidence to support my credibility claim. The story is set in the 1980s, when smartphones were just beginning to enter our lives.
Prehistoric large fish have existed in various corners of the watery world, earlier unidentified by science. The fish found in Anandpur that day may be one of them. Seeing the fish in the flesh was a lifelong, worthwhile experience for the residents of Anandpur.
The Witty Stride 