CHNADRAPUR: Govardhan Dange may or may not have watched Amitabh Bachchan take on a tiger in Mr Natwarlal. But the 42-year farmer has just earned his stripes to carry the 1979 blockbuster’s name as a well-deserved moniker, having fought off a tiger in Maharashtra’s Chandrapur and lived to tell the tale.
Dange’s unbelievable act of bravery unfolded Sunday in Nandgaon Jani village of Brahmapuri taluka, turning him into a local hero overnight as villagers have started affectionately calling him “Mr Natwarlal”. The presence of tigers in villages bordering north Brahmapuri Forest Range is a common occurrence, so much so that their roars no longer startle locals.
Dange started Sunday with a routine task – irrigating his paddy field – but it soon turned into a matter of survival. While he was at work, the tiger, crouching in the vicinity, pounced on him. Although he was caught completely off guard, Dange did not freeze in fear and fought back with all his might. The tiger buried its canines into Dange’s cheek, leaving a long tear. Dange refused to give up. The struggle continued for 10 minutes with Dange suffering multiple injuries. He finally wriggled out of the big cat’s clutches, spotted a well nearby and scaled down into it, saving himself from further blows.
From the safety of the well, he called his son for help. By the time his son and other villagers arrived, the tiger had retreated into the jungles. Forest officials rushed Dange to a rural hospital, where he received treatment and is now stable.
