Bhojpuri speaking Brazilian parrot worth Rs 1.20 lakh

Varanasi, Sep 19 (UNI) The Laat Bhairo area here, once famous for signature Banarasi sarees, is now in the spotlight due to a Bhojpuri speaking Brazilian parrot that has off late allegedly attracted a price of Rs 1.20 lakh.

''Betu'' -- the parrot with green-sea blue plummage and scarlet beak was bought for Rs 80 six years back by an egg seller Pappu Gupta in the Lat Bhairo (Sarraiya) area. The talkative bird slowly became the darling of the family and over the years learnt the rustic Bhojpuri lingo.

''The parrot talks with us in out and out Bhojpuri,'' said Pappu.

One of the neighbours Anil, however, claimed that when in anger Betu also showers choicest of Bhojpuri abuses.

Six days back, a Bahelia (bird seller) came to the house and offered me Rs 1,000 for Betu, Pappu said, adding, that the family refused selling the parrot as the bird had now become their inseparable part.

''The bird seller came again next day, this time with an offer of Rs 10,000 and on our refusal he tried to pressurise us with some people accompanying him. We, however, did not succumb to pressure,'' Pappu recalled.

Since then, Pappu and his family have been frequented by many a bird sellers and the wealthiest of them, Ajgar, on Saturday quoted a price of Rs 1.20 lakh for Betu.

''I am unable to understand why the bird sellers are quoting sky high prices for my Betu..... mAy be due to the crystal clear voice of the parrot,'' said Pappu.

His neighbour Anil, however, claimed having the answer. ''The wealthiest bird seller, ready to shell out Rs 1.20 lakh for parrot, had told to us that Betu was not desi or pahari (both indigenous breeds) but is a rare Brazilian parrot.'' ''We have informed the police who have assured us that they will not let anyone compel us to sell Betu -- who is as close to our heart as the children in the family,'' said Pappu.

Even Betu has made it clear that he wants to stay with the family in a cage like a countrybreed parrot also domesticated by the family. ''Hum kahiyon nahi jayib'' (I will not go anywhere else) has been the straight forward reply of Betu in Bhojpuri -- the mother tongue of the family, claimed Pappu.

The residents of the locality now stand united with Pappu in his attempts to save his Betu from the stubborn buyers, who are likely to return once the entire issue has subsided.

''We will not let anyone take away Betu from Pappu's family,'' is the collective vow of the locales.

Meanwhile, Forest Department here appeared to be in the dark over the issue.

''A team will be sent in a day or two to investigate about the parrot,'' said Alok Srivastava, Divisional Forest Officer (Kashi Range) here today. Stating that anything about the origin or uniqueness of the parrot will be known only after the team's visit and subsequent study. At the same time he did not rule out the possibility of bird being smuggled into India some years back.

''The Wildlife Act deals and protects birds and other indigenous species, but does not cover animals found in other nations, which could have resulted in a parrot being smuggled into India from Brazil or any other country and then sold out to the egg seller by unscrupulous bird sellers,'' Mr Srivastava added.

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