Coffee and conservation

What can you say about a man who claims that he prefers animals to human beings? Who is sometimes terse and abrupt on the outside, but kind hearted and caring? Who loves Italian opera and Swiss chocolates, and can fire an undisciplined bus driver on the road in choicest Kannada?

This 83-year-old resident of Chik-magalur, India’s finest coffee-growing region in North Karnataka, Kaoosi Rustom Sethna was born in Karachi and spent his school and early college days in Poona. He soon realized that attending college was a waste of time and that life was too short to be spent sitting in a classroom listening to lecturers who did not bring the world alive for him. His heart was set on understanding the world inhabited by all living creatures. Why did a scorpion move the way it did? Why did horses run with the grace and power at their command? How did earthworms survive in such harsh terrains?

He dropped out of college, and pursued his passion for horses and riding. He was one of the few to become a professional jockey without first completing the formalities of being an apprentice. With his natural flair and talent for riding, he raced in India and Pakistan, won many races, was suspended a couple of times, and made life-long friends in the racing fraternity. An unfortunate riding accident cut short his racing career. Once again, he chose an unusual career and pursued the life of a planter. He was inspired to make this choice by some of his English colleagues in the racing fraternity. Then followed hard days when he had to look for work and for a good plantation to manage. Over the years, he slowly gained expertise in his field and has a reputation for being one of the best in his profession.

Nature lover Kaoosi Sethna with Blondie, his Labrador

Over 20 years ago, he turned his plantation completely organic, though he took a big cut in his profits at that time. He firmly believed that organic farming was the way to go. From 1989 he stopped using chemicals and pesticides and this pioneering effort was a trend-setter for coffee-growing in India. Yellikodigi, his plantation, is a prized and unique plantation. He did not cut down old, indigenous trees to plant the commercially more viable silver oaks. He also retained a couple of fabulous hillocks and grasslands in their original form, instead of planting coffee on those to make more money. Coffee grown on Sethna’s estate commands a 30 percent premium over market prices. Foreign coffee growers that visit India make it a point to visit this eco-friendly and bio-rich estate. Bird-lovers are also thrilled because it attracts many different species.

A fearless, self-taught individual, he quickly realized that he could not be a silent spectator to the wrongdoings of politicians. He filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Supreme Court against a politician in a land encroachment case. The landmark judgment in the case forced the vested powers to vacate public land and also paved the way for further protection of public property. In yet another first, he initiated the fight against illegal iron-ore mining in the forests. We know today that the collective efforts of many concerned individuals have borne fruit and saved the forests of Karnataka.

A close associate and friend, Dinkar Rao, who resides in the same area and is his legal advisor, feels that Sethna has made a big difference to Chikmagalur. The forest land encroachment case helped save the grasslands and mining in the National Park was stopped. He wrote articles, sent out petitions, filed PILs, and often fought alone. He is feared by the local officials as he is always ready to fight for justice, and is not afraid to take these government departments to court.

Sethna’s 100-year-old house has a unique charm

Another friend, Ramesh Rao, who is his auditor and has known Sethna since 1972, is also full of admiration when he says that "Kaoosi introduced the culture of Parsis and their way of life to Chik­magalur.” The Zoroastrian values of integrity, hard work, initiative and independence of thought, have been lived by this "bird man” of Chikmagalur. This term may have been originally coined for the late Salim Ali. But then, Salim Ali was a dear friend who had visited Sethna and spent some time at his estate, and the physical similarity between these two individuals was striking! "Kaoosi is not interested in money or good food like the rest of us. He loves nature, the outdoors, will fight for a cause and loves his beloved Himalayas where he is happiest,” says Rao. He has come a long way from the early days of hunting wildlife in the company of his English friends. Today he is passionate about conservation, the environment, fighting for the rights of animals and the protection of wildlife. He enjoyed his years as an honorary wildlife warden. Sethna has also made several trips to the Himalayas. Trekking in the foothills, climbing the mountains, visiting Nepal every year, were events he dearly loved and looked forward to.

He was also a trend-setter in the selection of his cars. Long before the Tata group thought of acquiring the Land Rover brand and bringing it to India, Sethna was a Land Rover loyalist and enthusiast. After many years of using his Land Rover, he imported the Discovery over 20 years ago.

One of the causes close to Sethna’s heart is the struggle of the Tibetans for their liberation from China. He is also passionately concerned about the education of the daughters of his employees on the estate. It is heartening to meet a young woman, for instance, whose parents are illiterate, but who has herself gone on to get a degree and teaches in a school.

We have known Sethna for over 30 years now. Our daughters have grown up loving and respecting this out-of-the-ordinary person who has always lived life on his own terms. He has been a source of inspiration and delight to all of us, even though, at times, he would drive us up the wall with his stubborn ways! My husband joked that a visit with him on his estate is like a visit to a boarding school — you have to dress up for dinner, you cannot touch his toaster (which he alone can handle), you cannot watch Hindi films because he does not like them, you have to eat food which has no spice, and you end up losing every argument with him, because he likes to win! Thinking of Sethna, we remember the beautiful orchids in his garden, his lovely Blondie, a Labrador he is attached to, his 100-year-old house which has a unique charm, the cows peacefully ruminating as they chew their cud, the high tea on the verandah, the warmth of the fire-place, the books on nature, wildlife and the many interesting people from around the world who enjoy his hospitality.

A quieter and an older man today Sethna remains to all species a friend both tough and gentle.