NAGAON : For most teenagers, school textbooks are unlikely places to find personal memories. But for Assam’s Giban Saikia, a chapter in his Class 10 textbook opened a window to a forgotten chapter of his life, which depicts the rescue story of an orphaned civet cub and how it was raised as a family member. A civet is a small and mostly nocturnal mammal native to tropical Asia and Africa, especially the tropical forests.

The memories came rushing back to young Giban of central Assam’s Nagaon district as he read through ‘Baby Bhakat’, a chapter in his English textbook.

Recalling the incident, Giban’s father Dharani Saikia said, “It was in 2009. I received information that a 10-day-old cub of a civet (locally called ‘Jahamal’) had fallen down from its nest on the premises of a neighbour’s house. As there was no one to look after it, I decided to bring the animal home.” Saikia is known for his love for nature and wildlife in Kampur area of the district, and he is approached by people in such matters.

Initially unsure on what to feed the cub, Saikia’s wife Anjali decided to raise it on her own milk along with Giban, who was a six-month-old infant back then.

The cub, whom they named ‘Bhakat’, grew up with Giban and his elder brother Pulin – eating, playing and even sleeping with them.

After spending about eight months with the Saikia family, ‘Bhakat’ suddenly disappeared from the household.

The civet cub’s stay with the Saikia family was documented by photojournalist Rommel Shunmugam, which found its way into the CBSE English textbook for Class 10.

The chapter, ‘Baby Bhakat’, has been included since the 2024-25 session.

“We hope that this will inspire young students to love nature and wildlife, and help in whatever way they can,” Saikia said. (Source: PTI)