Wilderness speaks

Janowar Kothakar (An animal from no-where : in Bangla)….Ghadheda Jewu (like a donkey : in Gujarati) …..  Janglee (wild- in Hindi)….Kutte...(much known in Bollywood films) I have more than often come across such selected bouquet of words in different phases of living at different times and places....to the point of believing that animals are lesser beings when compared to the humans and that it is a matter of ultimate shame to be compared with these downtrodden species.  Till, just a few days back, when I experienced something different.  

God…it took me 40 years to understand a simple phenomenon…!! 

Or am I too naïve to register the learning, which prevailed all along while growing up….? 

Or…Should I decide that I am too bigheaded being a member of clan of the homo sapiens…? Nah…that’s being unfair towards the more aware and enlightened brethren. 

I conclude that I represent the pallid remains of human species removed from the worldly ills….blinded by the superficial glory and lusture of urban living.  I wish I was an animal, preferably a donkey and was as wild as possible….. 

Every day, my work brings me to a beautiful part of Ahmedabad developed by the visionary family in Ahmedabad, the Sarabhais.  When Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai (known to be the father of the India space programme) and Dr. Mrinalini Sarabhai (the celebrated classical dancer) initiated the greening of the campus during late sixties by planting big trees like Peepal (Ficus Religiosa), Banyan (Ficus benghalensis) and Amaltas (Cassia fistula), they did visualize the genesis of a breathtaking 14 acre land from an over grazed barren piece of territory. From being inhabited by single species of Ber, the campus is now well represented by flora and fauna elements sheltering around 1600 trees, attracting more than 100 bird species over the year and is viewed as one of the best – wooded areas of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar belt.  Watching adorable peacocks, candid squirrels, bossy monkeys, slithery snakes and pretty parrots has now become commonplace. 

One day while I sat glued to the inanimate screen at my desk, I overheard excited noises mostly comprising of twittering of the birds and squeaking of squirrels.  Initially I dismissed them as one more mindless activity.  But the screeches continued and I felt that something is not very normal.  I rose from my seat and moved to the adjoining glass window directly opening to the ground below, just in time to catch sight of the shiny long tapering black snake disappearing fast amidst the thick vegetation.  The fleet did not lose focus.  They continued their pursuit and the cacophony. After a while, the legless creature felt cornered and retreated to its known territories. 

(From above I got a good view of the drama unfolding below and stood speechless, wondering. 

Firstly, together, they could successfully ward off a dangerous reptile barring its entry into their territory and causing harm what-so-ever.   

Secondly and most importantly, they represented a collectivity, each of whom were individually far less powerful as compared to the venomous reptile. 

Thirdly, each animal came from a different family but when faced with danger, they united to ward it off. 

I delved further trying to draw comparisons with the human race.  We live in a stratified society.  Both caste and class based living characterize us.  Do we respond to any form of threat or attack in a similar manner?  Do we have in place the warning signals to be sent off as soon as we sense any threat? Do we think of building informal social security networks? Are we even concerned?  

No....I we are not.  The ever increasing cases of robberies, vehicle lifting, incest, rapes, murders, child lifting, trafficking are numerous examples to show how vulnerable but yet how apathetic we are and will continue to be.....
  
Do we need to learn from our wild counterparts?  Are we capable of rising above our personal differences and unite against the vile forces? And finally, should I necessarily feel superior anymore?)