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The real lion – Ramesh Raval

Ramesh Raval

Ramesh Raval is a name which is more famous in lions than the humans! Yes, this can be true in sense of his devotion to lions for last 35 years. The nature and environment lover.  His love towards lions is so strong that he says “I must see a lion everyweek or else I can’t even eat!”.

On 20/08/1995, he has been featured in one of INDIA’s very famous television programs, which was broadcast from Doordarshan known as ‘Surabhi’. Not only that, single handedly he has harvested 50,000 plants of ‘Khakhar‘ (a kind of wild tree – butea frondosa) in Una Taluka, of Gujarat state.

By birth, a Brahmin, but by acts a very brave man, Ramesh Raval has dedicated over 20 years to study the life style of Lions in Gir National Park which is in Junagadh district of Gujarat, the only lion sanctuary in entire Asia continent, where we can get to see Asiatic lions.

He has wandered in the Gir jungles for 10 years and has gathered many useful and interesting information about the lions. Not only he knows lions, but even lions know him! Through the main language of ‘Hukvo‘, he gets familiar with lions and makes friendship with them.

He can easily understand what exactly a lion is telling through the expressions.


Through the movements of lion’s eyes, ears and tail, he can easily make out whether lion wants get acquainted with or not. And if lion gets agitated, he waves its tail thrice, and still if we do not understand, the fourth time he strikes. So many tiny details he has noted during his research on lifestyle of lions.

During his research on lions, he has witnessed various activities of lions’ lifestyles such as their eating, sleeping, playing with cubs and even sexual intercourse. It might sound funny but when he is in good mood he calls up lion by saying ‘Aey, Amitabh‘ and to our surprise, lion stops by hearing these words, like it has heard these words from a relative!

with Bharati Bapu

Ramesh Raval says “Lion is the symbol of bravery. If you stand up against it with equal bravery, it won’t harm you. But if you try teasing him and run away, you confirm your death. The lion never zaps suddenly. If a lion is nearby you and you stand in the opposite side of the wind so as the lions gets your body smell, you confirm your friendship with the lions.”

Once, during the population counting of lions in the sanctuary he went with the photographer Bhati N. and Bhavanagar’s Shivbhadrasinh. A lion attacked on him and he fell down. He says, “I would never forget this experience in my life.” When we ask him “Don’t you get scared of such wild and dangerous animal like lion?”, he instantly says with bravery shadow on his face “The lion that has provided me this much fame, if kills me, is truly welcome“.

So after the intensive research on lions, Ramesh Raval wrote and published a book under the name “Sinh Jivan Darshan“, which he re-wrote 8 times to make sure no mistake or wrong information remains in it. And this book was highly welcome by the readers. And in fact, this is the only book of its kind available in market. He is also serving as Animal Welfare Officer for Indian Government. So when it comes to lions, Ramesh Raval’s name is first remembered in the state of Gujarat, and we can also say in entire Asia continent, because nobody has ever researched this much on lions and published the book on the same.

Sinh Chalisa

This might sound like unbelievable. Those who are Hindus would be very well familiar with ‘Hanuman Chalisa’, a series of mantra reciting Lord Hanuman’s character of bravery, which consists of mantras written in Sanskrit language. Would you believe if you come to know that someone has prepared a ‘Sinh Chalisa‘? Mostly, we won’t, but after reading this much about Ramesh Raval, it would be easy for us to know that he has prepared ‘Sinh Chalisa’, which consists of many Sanskrit mantras describing the character and bravery of lion. A must read for all. It is written in Gujarati. The shlokas are written by Dr. Narendra Raval and he has also arranged music for the same for the video version. It is a must watch CD for all the lion lovers, as he has nicely composed the Mantras with various scenes of lions.

Various print and electronic media has taken note of Ramesh Raval’s madness or crazyness about lions. Print medias like Divya Bhaskar, Gujarat Samachar, Aaspas, Phulchhab, Jai Hind, Sandesh, Chitralekha, Kutch-Mitra, Aajkal, Mayurbhumi, Navsarjan, Halwad Mitra, Navyug, Sorath Jagruti have published full fledges articles on Ramesh Raval’s love and service for lions. Electronic medias such Zee TV and Doordarshan has taken note of his adventurous.

Ramesh Raval with Narendra Modi

Ramesh Raval with Morari Bapu

Various leading personalities has inspired Ramesh Raval’s achievements. To name a few, Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Rameshbhai Oza, the leading Bhagwat-Kathakar and various officers of Forest Department.

Diu Darshan

He has also written a book for his city DIU with the title ‘DIU DARSHAN’, which contains total information on various places to see in DIU, hotels, the beach etc.

He has traveled across the Gir Jungle on his motorcycle, and also with family he has traveled 300 kms. to spread the awareness about lions.

There are many interesting stories associated with Ramesh Raval and lions. One day, he was passing through the jungle and he saw a lioness.

He started following it. For some metres, lioness didn’t recognize that someone was following her, but later knowing someone is following, she turned back started running towards Mr. Raval.


Now under this situation, most of us will start running, seeing the death itself running towards us, but Mr. Raval has this stick in his hands which he started hitting on the ground and making the special voice known as ‘Hukvo’ or ‘Kukvo’. And lioness stopped as she recognized this voice, which tells that this human is not an outsider!!

narendra-modi-on-kailash-mansarovar

By profession he is a teacher and teaches the language Sanskrit in DIU. The name of his home is ‘Sinh Darshan’ and this tells us his intensive love and interest for the lions. In the board exams, very rarely result of his students for the language has come below 100%. This way he is also a successful teacher.

Ramesh Raval with lions

And let me tell you that, all these details is just the introduction about him. To know more about him, you can read his book ‘Parichay – Ramesh Raval – DIU‘ which consists of so many interesting stories about him, his encounters with lions, people’s take on him, photographs with various leading personalities, his visit to Kailash – Mansarovar and much more.

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He can be reached at:

Ramesh Raval
Sinh Darshan
DIU. INDIA
Cell: +91 98259 96254

About

Devang Vibhakar is the Founder and Editor of www.SpeakBindas.com. He has interviewed more than 350 people. His effort was recognized by Limca Book of Records, twice. He has been to Scotland as well as Germany as part of vocational & cultural exchange programs and has compiled five books so far. He's passionate about bringing forth interesting stories & interviews of entrepreneurs to avid readers of SpeakBindas. He can be reached here.

27 thoughts on “The real lion – Ramesh Raval

  1. I am proud as a fellow Raval for your friendship with the King of the Jungles.
    Keep up the good work for saving our Lions

  2. સારો પરિચય આપ્યો…
    સેંજણ જળની વાઇતુ નીરાળી હો ભાઇ…

  3. Jadav Patel says:

    Bhai Bhai!

    For your such outstanding research and mostly love for our lions, I couldn’t find any words but the above ones.

    Rameshbhai, congratulations.

  4. kirtidev says:

    dear sir very good photo for enviourment averness

    1. Hi Rameshabhai tamri sinh chalicha mane bv gmi from.manglubhai khachar.Dhokalva ta .chotila mo.9429650244

  5. Neela says:

    I met Rameshbhai a month ago. Nice person.
    I kept his sinh chalisa in my blog ‘Meghdhanush’.
    http://shivshiva.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/sa-thio-68/

  6. Mara mitr ni pragti joi amo aanad pamya.haju visesh pragti ni abhilasha.

    From:
    Jitendra N. purohit
    Retired Telicom

    Una 51, gayatri society
    02875222055

  7. Ramesh Raval says:

    hi, Rameshbhai Raval I want to meet you,when come to junagadh,my young brother Rajesh raval also in junagadh, remember Ramesh raval are always real Lion ,God bless you,meeting soooooon.thanks -Ramesh Raval from Surat-M.0.-99798 50865

  8. Arun rawal says:

    Ma bhagvati vighnahari tamari pragati ma uttrotar vridhi karave tevi subhechha
    arun rawal
    +91 9879185470

  9. bhavesh mehta says:

    hi….dada wow For your such outstanding research and mostly love for our lions, I couldn’t find any words but the above ones. i wanna come wid u in gir.

    Congrats Ramesh dada

  10. RAJENDRA PATEL says:

    HELLO…. RAMESHBHAI KETLA SAMAYBAD TAMNE YAD KARYA………
    HU BHARUCH THI RAJENDRA PATEL….. APNI SATHE GANIVAR PATRA VADE VARTALAP THAYO CHHE…..BAS EK VAR TAMANE MALVU CHHE….. LION MAN SATHE LION JOVA CHHE…..

  11. RAJENDRA PATEL says:

    RAMESHBHAI YOU ARE A REAL LION MAN……YOU ARE PROUD OF GUJARAT…. GOD BLESS YOU…………… WE LOVE YOU ….. A LOT…..LONG LIVE …”NARSHIMHA”

  12. Kumud Joshi says:

    Hallo Rameshbhai How r u?
    AAPNI DAREK PRAVRUTI NA AMO MUK SAKSI CHHE, AAPE MANE PAN AAPNI PRAVRUTI MA JODI NE PRASIDHH KARYO CHHE TE BADAL AABHAR,
    AAPNI UTROTTAR PRAVRUTI NI VIKAS YATRA KADI NA ATKE TEVI PRATHNA
    Kumud J. Joshi
    Milkfarm fresh Foods
    DELWADA

  13. krunal raval says:

    dada ja bhagvan ,
    shakti punj sam deh bhayo
    bhayo shory martand ,,,,, part of sinh 40sa

  14. RAMESH RAVAL says:

    HELLO MY ALL WELL WISHER ,,
    HOW ARE YOU ALL ? I HOPE U ALL ARE FINE
    & I WISH HAPPY DIWALI U & YOUR FAMILLY ,,
    AAPNI SUBHEXA THI MANE MARA SINH NA KARY MA NAVU BAL MALYU 6 ANE AA BHAGVAD KARY MATE AAP SO NO AABHAR ,
    THANX TO ALL
    RAMESH RAVAL
    SINH DARSHAN ,DIU
    MO:- 9825996254

  15. rajendra patel bharuch says:

    KEM CHHO RAMESH BHAI? TAMARI YAD BAHU AVE CHHE…. BUS EK VAR TAMANE MALAVU CHHE….. AVO NE AMARE BHARUCH MA… TAMANE BHAVBHINU AMANTRAN CHHE…. EK VAR MAHEMAN THAV…

  16. ATUL JOSHI says:

    hi,
    kem cho ramesh mama …odkhan padi …kny morbi….thi…mukunray ‘s sons

  17. Rahul Dhonde says:

    Ramesh RAwal , Saheb amne garv che k tame Daman & Diu ne represent karo cho…., hu DAman thi Rahul …Tamaro Dikro RAhul no friend…

  18. dineshtilva says:

    રમેશ રાવલ (દીવ મો.: ૯૮૨૫૯ ૫૬૨૫૪)
    સિંહને જાણવા સિંહનું કાળજું અને દિલ બંને જે ધરાવે છે તે રમેશ રાવલ આજે મને મળવા મારી ઓફિસે આવ્યા… જોગાનું જોગ મારા કાતરિયામાં “સૂચક ” જે અટક ધરાવે છે તેવા સૂચક બાપ-દીકરો પણ હાજર હતા.. અંકુર સૂચક રમેશભાઈનું આવવાનું કારણ પૂછે છે અને નલીનભાઈ રમેશભાઈનો સ્કેચ બનાવે છે.. પ્રેક્ષક તરીકે તમે અને કાન્તીભાઈ વાડોલીયા ને હું આવી મોજ અને વાતું તો ગીરના જંગલમાં જ થાય… પણ આપણે તો મારું કાતરીયું ભલું… વધુ માહિતી અને વિડીયો આ લીંક પર જોવા મળશે…

  19. DHAVAL RAVAL, KONDH says:

    HEADS OFF, dear big brother how are you,i am not know your website but in kankavati patotsava krunal telling me about it ,,i proud to be,i want your more photos with lions.and are you looking toooo fabulous…..i showing it all family

  20. RAJENDRA PATEL says:

    Hi ramedhbhai u have done a great job for the lions of Asia . Your love for lions is wonderful .Being a nature lover I respect u from the depth of my heart.

  21. dineshtilva says:

    આ વિડીયો માણવા જેવો ખરો http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcBVHcsz4JQ

  22. Vijay rasiklal Paneri RAJKOT says:

    Param adarnia Rameshbhai Raval Sir apna vishe bahuj mahiti net parthi temj apna sinh vise Na interview dwara and YouTube par Na video thi bahuj prabhavit thayel Chu.apne friend request FB per mokli che messenger this message pan Karel che bas have rubru Malva ni prabal iichha che mane ASA che aap jarror svikar karso Mari namra araj. Vijay Paneri retired office supdt From Rajkot Mara mobile number 94294 72469& whaats up no9428630649 please apno contact no vahelasar janavso abhar

  23. Vijay rasiklal Paneri RAJKOT says:

    Ramesh raval real lion great work for lion and planetiin of trees Gujarat nu gaurav che sir salam AA lion ne

  24. Krunal raval says:

    Ramesh dada aapna janm divas ni khub khub subhkamna

  25. KARTIK RAVAL says:

    JAY HO.
    SHRI RAMESH BHAI RAVAL SAHEB…
    MARE AAPNI LAKHELI BOOK…” SINH NI SOBAT” JOI A CHE.
    A BOOK J GIR NA SINH NI MAHITI NO KHAJANO KHOLE CHE.
    JO SHAKYA HOY TO MANE A BOOK KEVI RITE MALSE TE JANVASO.
    AABHAR SAH.

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