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Rs 10 lakh for a feathered friend.
Byline: Jhimli Mukherjee Pandey
: As a child Arpan Mitra fed crows and watched sparrow chicks hatch in his study.
While an undergraduate commerce student in St Xavier's College, a strange cackle emanating from a dilapidated multi-storeyed building on Park Street drew him inside, where he came face to face with a situation that would remind you of Pip and Mrs Havisham of Great Expectations.
An old gentleman sat in his ancient drawing room, surrounded by exotic birds, some in cages and others perched here and there. Thus started a friendship between Kolkata's legendary bird collector Leo Ara and Mitra.
Before his death Ara bequeathed his entire collection to Mitra. In due course Mitra, a successful chartered accountant, turned a bird collector. Today he is the only one in India to have birds like Major Mitchell's Cockatoo (origin Australia), Great Black Palm Cockatoo (Venezuela) and Scarlet Macaw (Mexico).
Ten of Mitra's birds have been declared "endangered" and classified under Appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade In Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna.
"Appendix 1 means most endangered species of the world," Mitra explains. He has a licence from West Bengal's chief wildlife warden S.K. Das for these birds.
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- Magazine article from: Alternatives Journal Loverock, Kelly March 22, 2002 700+ words
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- Mitra vs. Mitra.
- Newspaper article from: Manila Standard September 6, 2006 700+ words
...It is ironic that biggest detractor of the Malaysian Mitra Energy Ltd. who is supposed to have been given the contract...Malampaya Oil Leg (CMOL) is Palawan Rep. Abraham Mitra. Mitra, whose province has jurisdiction over the Camago-Malampaya...
- No Applause for Ashok Mitra.
- Newspaper article from: Indian Express February 24, 2007 700+ words
...Calcutta was to sometimes "process" Ashok Mitra's column, Cutting Corners'. It was pleasant because whatever Dr Mitra said, he said it in beautifully languid...newspaper commentaries you never forget. Dr Mitra had lamented Indian cricket fans' indifference...
- In memory: Sombhu Mitra, 1914-1997. (Bengali actor, producer)(Obituary)
- Magazine article from: TDR (Cambridge, Mass.) Chatterjee, Sudipto March 22, 1998 700+ words
...clarity of pronunciation. It was Sombhu Mitra's rendition of a poem by the Bengali...Jibananda Das. There was something in Mitra's vocalization that stirred my adolescent...I was unfortunate to have missed seeing Mitra in action onstage. He had retired just...
- Agfa Signs Definitive Agreements to Acquire Mitra; Antitrust Approval Pending;...
- Press release article from: Business Wire November 25, 2001 700+ words
...acquisition of long-time technology partner Mitra. Closing, which is targeted for early...regarding the sale on September 26, 2001. Mitra, one of the world's leading providers...the past 10 years. The acquisition of Mitra by Agfa will be of significant benefit...
- With Mitra, shopping is always a pleasure and dining an art.
- Newspaper article from: New Straits Times December 30, 2006 700+ words
...holiday to any destination in Malaysia with Mitra Tours and Travel and experience a diversity...which has history and entertainment. Mitra specialises in local tours and offers packages...pleasure and dining is an art. For 28 years, Mitra has been providing travel-related services...
- Agfa Announces Intent to Acquire Long-Time Partner Mitra; Acquisition...
- Press release article from: Business Wire September 26, 2001 700+ words
...letter of intent to acquire long-time technology partner Mitra Inc. Mitra is one of the world's leading providers of imaging...Agfa's IMPAX PACS solutions for the past 10 years. "Mitra provides a powerful core of software expertise and technological...