Pride comes before a fall

"I don't know if this made it to international media but the news of a youth falling prey into a tiger's den in New Delhi's National zoo/park did create nation-wide furore.

Earlier this week on Tuesday, a youth crossed his safety limit to have a clearer look of the White Bengal tiger by climbing over the fence. As his fate could have it, he tripped and fell on the dangerous side of the fence. His death made a slow visit on him with the feline taking its time to gauge the intruder, round him up and measure up the opportunity. Eyewitness even said the youth had sat for nearly five minutes cornered, pleading with joined hands for his life. Then came his end- as swift, brutal and scary as one can imagine.

This episode is shocking, sad and scary, but it raises many questions.

° where were the authorities during the whole time? Shouldn't they have been spread across the premises to ensure abiding of rules and provide help in case of emergencies? The tiger gave them 15minutes of the youth's life, yet they arrived after his death visited on him.

° It is a myth that the creatures of the wild are always ready for the kill. In reality they do not harm until they are hungry, are attacked/angered at the first place, and/or have been tortured or feel threatened themselves. So, are the animals given all the rights they deserve in their enclosures? Or have they been neglected, and deprived of their neccessities?

° The animals of the wild, especially felines do not turn man-eaters until it's their last resort, and have been starving to death. So, are the animals in the zoo/park properly fed on time and in the right portions? Maybe that is what the White tiger in the Delhi's incident was analysing for the five minutes the youth sat begging for his life! Seeing if it can any other source of food!

India's National pride is falling in the eyes of the world. Questions have to be answered, errors corrected and needful done before we shame ourselves for it.

Have you ever held a sparrow?

Years ago, one warm summer afternoon we were called out of our doors with the sound of a soft thud on our porch. Probably something had fallen over our underground tank-top.

And indeed something had. To be precise a living thing- a sparrow. We are still at a lose to guess how it landed there, but it did appear very scared. A cute little thing, it sat cuddled in one place looking around with utter helplessness and shock. When it realised our presence it cuddled up even more.

We were worried if it was hurt. I and my sister were about to check on it when my mother stopped us and warned us against touching the innocent thing for its own good.

My mother has spent her childhood in the countryside of Tamilnadu and witnessed from her own eyes, so she knows. Sparrows are very puritan kinds and never ever forgive being touched by a human (she does not know if they have other species in their taboo list). Once a sparrow is touched by a human it becomes an out-cast in its community and never taken back. In fact (my mother has seen so herself) the rest of the sparrow community pecks the erring bird to its death.

Maybe that is why, as I realise it now, I don't recall even one of the sparrow handlers in zoo and museums ever hold them. They have always entreated them to perch on their balled up fists.

So, have you ever held a sparrow? If so, have you seen it through to the end?
What is your opinion in this regard?

The elemental nature

The chief of Red Indians wrote in his letter to Gen. Washington that all creatures are connected to one another and share one soul, adopting different forms. In other words, we are all one with nature, and nature is one with us. Some mystics believe so too.

I partially believe so, because I have felt the special bond with more than one element of nature. More so, with the beautiful and flawless spread of sky above.

The sheath of endless blue, and its serene blackness of the night! The soft lofty clouds, and the sun playing hide-n-seek across it. The graceful birds that complete it, and the stars that fill its void. The way it comes alive with various hues throughout the day, and the mystery it veils from us.

And of them all, the soft, serene, silent yet whispering ethereal moon. I connect to it like it was my soul-mate. It is always so lonely, yet complete in itself; it lifts me up when i feel low. The fact that it is always out there somewhere, even if we cannot see it with our naked eyes, it is surely there- like a dedicated loyal friend. Its royal elegance, its dedicated bond to earth and its simplicity. Its a real comfort.

And of late, the fresh break of dawn. The way everything comes alive, light prevails over darkness and the positive charm and possibilities it beholds.

I am a sky person, and I am one with nature through this.

Genuinity at its best

I was on my terrace the other day around early evening on a quick errand, and being a born sky gazer my eyes instinctively lifted to d beautiful blanket of soft blue sky decked with fluffy, clouds lazing around.

There tucked beside a chunk of white wisp of cloud, unmistakably, was the ethereal half moon. Just like that this simple sight inspired this thought in me:

No matter how much we alter, ape or disguise, one can always tell the moon from the clouds.
That's Genuinity.

We don't have to be any different to be seen, or to be noticed. Just being our usual, simple and natural self is enough to make us shine. :)

Be what you are, and be happy always.