A chapter in a CBSE Class 10 English textbook has brought back memories for an Assam family that raised an orphaned civet cub alongside their infant son more than a decade ago.

The chapter, Baby Bhakat, recounts the rescue of a 10-day-old civet cub, locally known as ‘Jahamal’, by Dharani Saikia of Kampur in Nagaon district in 2009.

According to Saikia, the cub had fallen from its nest at a neighbour’s house and was brought home after no one was able to care for it. Unsure of how to feed the animal, his wife Anjali raised it on her own milk along with their six-month-old son, Giban.

Named ‘Bhakat’, the civet grew up with Giban and his elder brother Pulin, sharing their daily routine for about eight months before disappearing from the household.

Now a Class 10 student, Giban encountered the story while reading his English textbook, where the episode has been featured since the 2024–25 academic session.

The story was documented by photojournalist Rommel Shunmugam and later included in the CBSE curriculum.

Saikia said he hopes the chapter encourages students to care for nature and wildlife and support conservation efforts whenever possible.

Inputs from PTI

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