Sharjeena Khan

I did not grow up visiting tiger reserves as a tourist. I grew up near one. For many people, a tiger reserve is a place they visit once or twice in their lives. For us, it was part of our daily routine. The forest was not an attraction—it was our background. When people talk about tiger reserves, they usually talk about safaris, luxury resorts, cameras, and tiger sightings. But very few people talk about the lives of those who live beside these forests. This blog is my attempt to share those untold stories—stories from people who truly call the tiger reserve their home. Living with Tigers Is Living with Balance People often ask me, “Aren’t you scared to live near tigers?” The answer is yes—and no. Fear is there, but so is understanding. Tigers are not our enemies. We know their space, their timing, and their behaviour. Most problems happen when humans forget that they are entering the tiger’s area, not the other way around. I remember an old man from a village near Kanha once told me, ...