The migratory season is
well underway, first indication was a surprise call of White-browed Wagtail, a
local migrant, outside my window about a month back. I am quite lucky to see
atleast a dozen species from my window early morning ranging from nesting Brahmini
Kites, Red naped Ibis (occasionally Black Headed too, I am yet to see the
Glossy this year), Sunbirds, Prinias, Tailorbirds, Bulbuls…so on. On morning
walks, these days are, compelling sights of Baya Weavers weaving their nests.
There are hundreds of them precariously perched along the irrigational canals
and rain soaked green fields. Very meticulously choosing the long stranded
grass and zipping back to weave it. And yes the early arrival migrant Common
Sandpiper likes to startle me all the while.
Exactly two weeks back I spotted Blue tailed Bee eaters, since then have
been attempting to click it. Not a success, today though I manage to get
White-rumped Munia. First I thought they are Black-throated Munia, the one I
used to see quite often on my daily walks in Western Ghats, it is much later I
realized that I haven’t clicked them. I realized Black-throats are endemic to
high altitudes of Western Ghats, on a closer look confirmed it is
White-rumped.
From
boodhan to jeevandhan, saving endangered native trees
My apologies to the
felled tree for the table’s four legs, wrote Wislawa Syzmborska, my all time
favourite 
poet. It is much interesting to read about people trying to save
endangered native trees. I was at the temple town of Melukote to meet Surendra
Koulagi, an octogenarian closely associated with dramatis personae of Indian
history. He was secretary to Jaiprakash
Narayan in late 1950s, those were initial days of JP movement and young
Surendra Koulagi had landed in Mumbai (then Bombay) in search of employment and
as fate would have he got the job of an assistant at Dr.Dinshah Mehta’s clinic.
Those well versed in Indian history will recall Dr.Mehta, who professed nature
cure therapy, as the personal physician of Mahatma Gandhi. The correspondence
between the two suggest their relation was more than that of just doctor and
patient (those who want to follow-up on this may read the book Mahatma Gandhi: The Beloved Patient,
compilation of letters between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Dinshah Mehta, edited by
Sundari Vaswani). Through Dr. Mehta young Koulagi got personally acquainted to
ideas of Gandhian practices. It was while he was employed with Dr.Mehta that JP
visited for treatment of some ailment. Mr. Koulagi reminisces “JP began as a
communist and turned into a socialist but having observed remarkable success of
Vinoba Bhave’s boodhan andholan he
realized the importance of Gandhian methods as a way to achieve socialistic
goals. JP evolved it further and declared Jeevandhan
for the cause of the nation”. This was the critical juncture at which Mr.
Koulagi joined JP and became his confidante. This was much before JP movement
had caught the imagination of the nation and ensuing emergency period. Carrying the idealistic flame in the cause of
service to the nation Mr. Koulagi returned to his hometown Melkote and started Janapada Seva Trust in 1960, inspired by
Gandhian ideal of Sarvodaya. Initially he focused on women empowerment later
extended to weaker sections; they now have child adoption centre and also a
thriving organic farm that supply to Mysore. 
A weaving centre is also
functioning that use natural organic dyes and provide skill training and
employment to local community. Finished organic khadi cloth products are sold through retail shops.
poet. It is much interesting to read about people trying to save
endangered native trees. I was at the temple town of Melukote to meet Surendra
Koulagi, an octogenarian closely associated with dramatis personae of Indian
history. He was secretary to Jaiprakash
Narayan in late 1950s, those were initial days of JP movement and young
Surendra Koulagi had landed in Mumbai (then Bombay) in search of employment and
as fate would have he got the job of an assistant at Dr.Dinshah Mehta’s clinic.
Those well versed in Indian history will recall Dr.Mehta, who professed nature
cure therapy, as the personal physician of Mahatma Gandhi. The correspondence
between the two suggest their relation was more than that of just doctor and
patient (those who want to follow-up on this may read the book Mahatma Gandhi: The Beloved Patient,
compilation of letters between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Dinshah Mehta, edited by
Sundari Vaswani). Through Dr. Mehta young Koulagi got personally acquainted to
ideas of Gandhian practices. It was while he was employed with Dr.Mehta that JP
visited for treatment of some ailment. Mr. Koulagi reminisces “JP began as a
communist and turned into a socialist but having observed remarkable success of
Vinoba Bhave’s boodhan andholan he
realized the importance of Gandhian methods as a way to achieve socialistic
goals. JP evolved it further and declared Jeevandhan
for the cause of the nation”. This was the critical juncture at which Mr.
Koulagi joined JP and became his confidante. This was much before JP movement
had caught the imagination of the nation and ensuing emergency period. Carrying the idealistic flame in the cause of
service to the nation Mr. Koulagi returned to his hometown Melkote and started Janapada Seva Trust in 1960, inspired by
Gandhian ideal of Sarvodaya. Initially he focused on women empowerment later
extended to weaker sections; they now have child adoption centre and also a
thriving organic farm that supply to Mysore. 
A weaving centre is also
functioning that use natural organic dyes and provide skill training and
employment to local community. Finished organic khadi cloth products are sold through retail shops.
Significantly Janapada Seva Trust has also taken the
initiative to conserve endangered native trees. Mr.Koulagi explained about
importance of native trees and its significance to not only the biodiversity
but also to our culture “many a times a tree is centre of folklore, with the
vanishing of native tree we lose part of our culture. It is a collective lose
to the humanity” he asserts and adds “take for instance Banni maraa (Acacia
ferruginea), the leaves of this tree was once distributed among people
during diwali as a message of peace and goodwill”. Santhosh Koulagi, son of Surendra Koulagi who
now looks after the affairs of the Trust and is eminently known for translating
the much acclaimed Masanobu Fukoka’s book One
Straw Revolution into Kannada titled Ondu
Hullina Kranti, took me to the huge Alale
maraa (Terminalia chebula) in the
premise and explained the medicinal importance of the tree as cure for
digestive ailments. The extract from the nut is also used as a natural dye. The
dyes are also produced from extracts of areca nuts, betel nuts, pomegranate,
indigo and rust. On the way back I bought a shirt from their retail shop. These
cloths are comfortable to wear and look trendy. I request readers of this blog
to please encourage cloths made from natural dye by sustainable means. It is
our choices that sustain these efforts.
From my scribble pad…
The
I in me
The I in me is in constant
prowl
sniffing possibilities, calculating
the increase.
Whenever an opportunity poses
the I makes a slick deal as me look
the other way.
The immediate gain is what keeps
its attention.
Shoving others out of the way
and reach early is what keeps it
going.
When me extends helping hand to the
needy
and volunteer for a cause
the I baulk, raise an eyebrow,
twitch the nose,
and firmly stays away.
As me makes pacts with conscience,
express regrets and ask for
forgiveness
I keeps a safe distance.
Me is adorable and a constant guide
but it is the I am in love with
and pander to its whims all the
while.
