NATURE
TEACHES
-
K. V. Dominic (India)
The Chairman of the Municipal
Council addressed the councillors: “One of the agendas of our meeting today is
to discuss and take a decision regarding the construction of a shopping complex
at the municipal plot near to the Gandhi Square. That plot has been lying there
barren for several years. If we build a shopping complex there, it would be an
additional income for our municipality.”
“But there is big fig tree on
the roadside in front of the plot. And it is a bus stop also. Passengers
waiting for the buses take shelter from the scorching heat of the sun under its
shade. There will be objections from the people if we cut the tree,” Councillor
Jairam said.
“This is the only tree left in
the neighbourhood. In the name of development we have cut almost all the trees
on the roadsides. Those were the trees planted by the kings who ruled before
our Independence. Unlike us they were Nature lovers and knew the importance of
trees and plants for the survival of human race and other beings. That fig tree
is the abode of hundreds of birds in this town. Not only birds, squirrels,
flies, honeybees, wasps, chameleons, spiders, ants and several other creatures
survive only because of that tree. Haven’t other beings, plants and trees and
all that reside on earth have equal rights to live here as we human beings?”
Councillor Krishnan exploded.
“How do you equate other
beings and plants to human beings? Aren’t all these created for human beings?
Our priority should be welfare of human beings. Even if that tree is felled the
birds and other creatures will survive. Trees are there in the suburbs and they
can live there. It is my opinion that a shopping complex should be built there
and thus increase the income of our municipality. Whenever we councillors
request for some fund the reply is always negative. By renting the rooms for
shops we can earn lakhs of rupees every month,” Councillor Joseph said.
“I fully support the views of
Councillor Joseph. Let us worry first about our own people and then we shall
think about other beings and plants,” Councillor Ashraf stated.
“We should come to an
agreement,” the Chairman Yusef said. “Those who support the project of
constructing a shopping complex may raise their hands.”
Out of the thirty councillors
twenty five voted for the construction of the shopping complex. Thus it was
decided that a three storeyed shopping complex will be built there and for that
tender should be invited. The lowest bidder will be given the work and the
construction has to be completed within two years.
Councillor Jairam warned: “I
don’t think we can cut the tree without any opposition from the people. There
are some Nature lovers in our town who assemble there every evening under the
tree.”
“We will seek the help of
police when the tree is cut,” The Chairman said. The meeting thus ended.
There was a crow sitting on a
window pane listening to the discussion of the councillors. It used to frequent
there as to eat the leftovers of the snacks after each meeting. The decision to
cut the tree thrust like an arrow on its heart. Once the meeting was over, it
flew to the fig tree, not waiting for the leftover to eat. It was going to be
dusk and all the crows and other birds had come back for their sleep on the
branches of the fig tree. The crow cried loudly as possible: “Dear friends, I
have alarming news to convey. I have been listening to the meeting of the
municipal councillors at the council hall. They have decided to destroy our
abode, fell this tree and build a shopping complex here.”
Then all the crows, mynas,
cuckoos, bulbuls, treepies, flowerpeckers, drongos, woodpeckers, owls and
several others birds resting on various branches of the huge tree came closer
to the announcing crow. The eldest among the crows then said, “Dear friends,
this is our only shelter in this town. Human beings have destroyed all our
houses least bothering about our existence. If we lose this house where will we
sleep? This fig tree is not only our house but our feeder also. We survive
eating its fruits which are found in abundance on its branches. Cutting this
tree is equal to killing us all. We shall never allow them to do so.”
The eldest myna supported,
“What right has man to cut this tree? This earth is not his grandpa’s. We never
trespass upon his house and shut him out. Then why should he destroy our house
and deprive us our food and shelter?”
A squirrel listening to the
talks of the birds then said, “I support your views dear friends. We can defeat
man’s attempt of cutting this tree fighting unitedly.”
The eldest crow declared
loudly, “So we have all decided to fight against man if he comes to cut this
tree. Our messenger crow will collect the news of the council’s agenda everyday
and thus caution us for action when necessary. We should teach man a lesson
that non human beings are never inferior to him, but superior.” The meeting was
dispersed and all the birds and other creatures retired for sleep.
The tender for the
construction of the shopping complex was finalised and the work was tendered to
a company named Vision Construction Company. One Monday morning two woodcutters
of the company came with necessary tools--axes, chainsaw etc. The messenger
crow had already informed the entire birds and other creatures on the tree
about the move of the construction company. So no bird or other animals had
gone away in search of food.
Seeing the woodcutters moving
to the tree, a group of Nature lovers who anticipated the tragedy to the tree
surrounded them and their leader asked, “What are you going to do?”
“We are requested to fell this
tree,” the woodcutters replied.
“Who requested you?” the
leader asked.
“Our Company’s manager. The
Company is allotted the construction of a shopping complex here.”
“No, we won’t allow you to
touch this tree. It is a shelter to thousands of passengers and abode to
hundreds of birds and other creatures. Tell your manager that we won’t allow
you.”
Immediately the woodcutters
phoned to the manager and within ten minutes the Chairman of the Municipality
and the Manager of the Construction Company arrived there with the escort of a
jeep full of police.
The Chairman then told the
protesters, “The Municipal Council have decided to fell this fig tree and build
a shopping complex here. It is for the welfare of the people that we have taken
such a decision.”
The leader of the protesters
replied, “It is for the comfort of the hundreds of passengers who wait for the
buses everyday that we are requesting you to spare this tree. You have not
built a waiting shed in this area even though the people have been requesting
for it for many years. Those hundreds of birds and other living bodies
depending of this tree for food and shelter have nowhere to go. You have
destroyed hundreds of trees that served men and other beings on the roadsides
of this municipality. What a noble, selfless sacrifice these trees have been
rendering! You administrators have no heart to read it. We won’t allow you to
fell this tree.” Telling this he and his followers, some twenty men, lay down
around the tree. The Chairman asked the Sub Inspector to remove them.
The Sub Inspector told the
protesters, “If you do not go away we will arrest you and take you to the
police station.”
“We won’t move.” The leader of
the protestors said. Thereupon the Sub Inspector ordered the police constables
to arrest them. The constables dragged the protesters one by one to the police
jeep.
“Now is our turn,” The leader
of the crow gave signal to all birds. All the crows, mynahs, and other birds
flew down and started pecking on the head of the Sub Inspector, police
constables, Chairman, Manager and woodcutters. The Sub Inspector gave order to
shoot the birds with the guns. The gun shots went up and one hit the huge wasp
nest on one of the branches of the tree. Thousands of wasps flew down angrily
and attacked the offenders. The police, the Chairman and the Manager got into
their vehicles and sped away for their lives. Still the wasps were chasing
them. The wood cutters ran away into a hotel nearby. The protesters also ran
away to another hotel. The birds flew back to the branches of the tree. After a
few minutes the wasps returned to the tree.
One could hear the chirps,
tweets, twitters and all such merry sounds of all the birds from the tree,
celebrating their victory. The chorus music of the birds was accompanied by the
humming of the wasps and honeybees. The squirrels and crickets also played
their parts with sharp notes. It seemed like a great celestial symphony.
An urgent meeting of the
Municipal Council was held on the next day. The Chairman addressed the
councillors, “Even though we have decided to build a shopping complex, we are
not permitted by the Nature to fell the tree. It is a lesson to us that we
should be considerate to non humans because this earth belongs to them also. As
a compensation for the deforestation done in this municipality, let us plant as
many trees as possible on the roadsides. I hope you all will agree to it on the
ground of what happened yesterday.” All the councillors agreed to the proposal
of the Chairman.
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