Kalicharan – The Great Broad Rampuri
I still remember the first time I saw Kalicharan. It was the year 2016, and I had travelled to Calcutta for a completely different reason. But somewhere deep in my heart, I knew I couldn’t return without visiting Vincent Liu Bhai’s Aseel farm. I had heard too many stories about the quality of birds he kept. So, I made a humble request to Anis Bhai, asking if he could help arrange a visit. Thankfully, he allowed me. And that one short visit — which I had only hoped for — became one of the most unforgettable moments of my life as a fancier.
As I entered the farm, my eyes immediately got stuck on two giant birds standing proudly. One of them was already a legend in Calcutta circles, famously called “The Broad” — from Tlinga Bhai’s line. But the other bird, standing beside him, somehow looked even more impressive to me. Wider, heavier, and shining in a beautiful golden black-breasted red colour pattern. His high thick comb, long straight back, and strong crocodile shanks told me he was not a regular bird. His broad chest and back, the blackish strain running through his feathers — it all came together like a painting of a lost era.
I stood there silent, watching him move. It was like time paused for a minute. That bird carried a presence. Without even thinking, I softly named him in my mind — “Kalicharan.” And the name just fit.
Later, I came to know that he was one of the last few birds from Master Liu Saheb’s old original Rampuri family — a true preservation of pure Rampuri blood. It gave me goosebumps to think I had just witnessed something that rare. That old, broad, explosive Rampuri structure that the breed was once famous for — it was standing alive right in front of me.
We all know that over the decades, people started changing the original Rampuri. In search of extra height and reach, breeders started mixing tall blood from outside. Yes, they got taller birds, but they lost the real structure, character, and strength that made Rampuri so special. Only a few names, like P.S. Lee Saab and Master Liu, protected the real thing. And Kalicharan was living proof of that honest effort.
When Kalicharan finally came home to me, I knew he was not just a bird. He was a heritage. I paired him with my best hens, including some from Leeson Uncle’s bloodline, and waited to see what kind of offspring he would produce. The results shocked me.
From Kalicharan, I got the heaviest Rampuri birds I had ever seen. Still short in height, still carrying that classic Rampuri type — but triple in body size and bone thickness compared to most Rampuri strains. From “The Broad”, I had earlier gotten very masculine and fiery cocks, no doubt. But Kalicharan gave something more — birds with deep weight, long bone, and powerful width. Every chick looked like it came from an old textbook illustration of true Rampuri Aseel. Even the hens were impressive — broad, tight, strong, and extremely capable in breeding.
We are still breeding those birds till today — keeping them pure, maintaining Kalicharan’s size and strength just the way it was. I haven’t changed anything in that line. No unnecessary cross, no experiments. Because when you hold something this rare, the only duty is to preserve it, not change it.
Till today, I proudly say — Kalicharan was the most impressive bird I have ever seen in Rampuri Aseels. He wasn’t a bird for photos or videos. He was the kind that stopped even experienced fanciers in their tracks. If someone had even the slightest understanding of Aseels, one look at Kalicharan would leave them amazed. He was a pleasure to the eye — a walking reminder of what Rampuri once used to be.
And the best part? He passed it. The same structure, the same weight, the same tightness — everything came through his offspring. That’s what made him “The Great Kalicharan.”
I will forever be grateful to Vincent Bhai for gifting me such a rare gem, and to Anis Bhai for letting me witness that bird in person. And I thank all the breeders who continue working to preserve and improve Rampuri Aseels — people like Tlinga Bhai, Andre Leavers Ji, Asif Ali, C. Prasad Ji — and many more unsung heroes of this bloodline.
Kalicharan was more than a rooster. He was history alive, bloodline in motion, and legacy in feathers.
And as long as his sons and daughters breathe in my yard — his name, The Great Kalicharan, will live on.