Uttarakhand: A piece of history once cradled by the legendary hunter-turned-conservationist Jim Corbett now lies forgotten under layers of dust and neglect. The vintage muzzleloader, gifted by Corbett in the 1920s to a local farmer for protecting crops from wild boars, has been locked away in the storeroom of the Kaladhungi police station since 2019 — a victim of red tape and endless official delays.

On July 25 this year, Choti Haldwani, the heritage village Corbett purchased and nurtured in 1915, marked its 150th birth anniversary with song, theatre, and heartfelt tributes. But one cherished relic was conspicuously missing — the iconic gun that once drew tourists eager to connect with Corbett’s legacy.

The weapon’s story is deeply entwined with the village’s history. Corbett had gifted it to Sher Singh Negi, whose family guarded it as a treasured heirloom. After decades of display at the Negi home, it was deposited at the police station in 2019 following the death of Sher Singh’s son, Trilok Singh Negi. Efforts to officially transfer it to his grandson, Mohit Negi, have stalled ever since.

“The gun hasn’t worked for 15 years — it’s purely for display now,” says Mohit. “Tourists loved taking pictures with it, but since it’s been locked away, a part of our village’s story feels incomplete.”

For locals, the gun is more than an object — it’s a tangible link to the man who risked his life to protect their families from man-eaters, and who immortalised the Kumaon hills in his books.

The issue was raised during recent celebrations at the Corbett Tiger Reserve, where Uttarakhand Forest Minister Subodh Uniyal promised to push for the completion of formalities. Until then, the once-prized relic of a legendary life remains hidden from the very people who hold Jim Corbett’s memory closest.