Our Sundarban's life written in the Roar of the Tiger and Salty water: A Narrative Review from Hingalganj

DOI 10.66715/jirf/2026.v1.i2.200209 | Review Paper | 2026 | Volume 1 | Issue 02 | Page 200-209

1. Sayak Mondal, Student of BA (Honors), Barasat College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India (West Bengal State University), Email: sayaksayak855@gmail.com

2. Dr. Samir Kumar Naskar, M.Com., B.Ed., M.A. (Education), NET, Ph.D. (Education), Assistant Professor of Education, Dr. Kanailal Bhattacharyya College, Howrah, West Bengal, India (Affiliated to University of Calcutta), Email: naskar_samirkumar@yahoo.com 

Our sundarban's life written in the Roar of the Tiger and Salty water: A Narrative Review .

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Corresponding Author

Sayak Mondal, Student of BA (Honors), 

Barasat College, Kolkata, 

West Bengal, India (West Bengal State University)

Email: sayaksayak855@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

The Sundarbans are not just the name of the mangrove forest; rather it reflects the harmony of rivers, tides, salt water, wildlife and human livelihood. The people living in Hingalganj, the northern most part of the Sundarbans, have always been involved in their lives with the occupation like agriculture, fishing, crab catching and others, which depended upon the rivers and forests. But now due to climate change, rising sea level, cyclones, tidal surges, river erosion and increasing salinity, this way of living is becoming tough for them. Especially the salt water intrusion is hampering the agricultural lands, fresh water availability, food security and income of the people. This narrative review focuses on the different perspectives of human life, environmental change, livelihood crisis, lack of fresh water, cyclone induced disasters, food insecurity and human wildlife conflict in Hingalganj and in general Sundarbans area. Although the Royal Bengal Tiger of Sundarbans is an iconic element of natural heritage of the place, the presence of the tiger at times creates a fear for the people whose livelihood depends upon the forest resources. On the other hand, the livelihood crisis may make the people more dependent upon the rivers and forests, which will further increase the human wildlife conflict. From the review, it is evident that the understanding of the environmental crisis in Sundarbans from the point of view of conservation of forest or wildlife gives incomplete understanding of the problem. The lives, livelihood, health, safe drinking water, food security and opportunity for future generation of the people here also needs to be addressed in the context of environmental conservation. The experience of Hingalganj shows that the protection of the Sundarbans should not only focus on tigers and mangroves but also on the safety and dignity of the people living with these forests and rivers for generations. Thus, an integrated initiative is needed for promoting the climate resilient agriculture, provision of safe drinking water, alternative livelihoods, disaster preparedness, mangrove conservation and reduction in human wildlife conflict, keeping in mind the experience of the local people.

Keywords: Sundarbans; Hingalganj; Royal Bengal Tiger; Salt water; Salinity; Climate change; Mangrove forest; Livelihoods; Drinking water; Food security; Human-wildlife conflict; Cyclone; Coastal resilience.