“Of Birds and Birdsongs” is a collection
of essays written by M. Krishnan (forward by Zafar Futehally, edited by Shanthi
and Ashish Chandola). I must admit that my knowledge of such a great man was
rather sketchy, this book therefore was a revelation. What an amazing man. In one essay he writes about our education
system that still is devastatingly true (though the other day i was reading
that schools with support of Agriculture department have taken up vegetable
gardens so on rather seriously):
One of the chief defects of our education is that it
fails to stir or inform the natural curiosity of every child in the life
around. This failure is so sustained, so gradually asserted and insidious, that
no one notices it –and then one is through with school, through with college,
and wholly preoccupied with a life that is blind to the rest of creation. Few
people realise how complete this lack is, for it is a lack not only in our
education but in our culture too.
Krishnan
as is evident was not only a great Naturalist but also an influential writer,
his knowledge and experience found precise expressions in words that knit
seamlessly into brilliance. This is one book you must have.
The
cover picture (a painting) of this book quite coincidently has a Flameback
(indeed a Black-rumped). These few interesting lines on Flameback
Woodpecker in inimitable Krishnan style ...
I find these woodpeckers fascinating. They looks
ornate and outlandish, like birds out of a fairytale; and they run easily up
the shear surface, or slip down it, with no change in the rigidity held pose
but for quick, sideway transposition, they do not look like birds at all. Their
movements have that quality of change of place, without obvious, free use of
limbs, that suggests clockwork. ....Actually, these woodpeckers represent no
exotic, romantic survivals, but only extreme adaptation to a way of life. Their
chisel-tipped beaks sound bark and crevices for grubs and wood boring insects
most efficiently, and their stiff tail feathers serve as props in their
precarious stance. At first it may seem strange that things as flimsy as
feathers should bear body weight, but the weight of these woodpeckers is
surprisingly little, and the tail feathers only help, in an adventitious
manner, as a third leg. Woodpeckers are so used to vertical surfaces that
movement along them is normal and easy for them –have even been observed
asleep, stuck on to a tree trunk”.
The reclusive Muthuvan tribes of Western Ghats
Irittala
kudi is about an hour’s trek from Marayoor (Idukki district, Kerala),Vijayan
mashe was the local contact person who arranged the trip, of course permission
was taken from the forest department. The trek has scattered elephant presence
so one has to be careful. Overnight wind had brought down the crops that
preceded the forest land. I was told that the sugarcane grown here are much
sweeter, Marayoor jaggery is acclaimed for its unique taste. We did visit one
shack where they were making the famous jaggery. On the way Vijayan mashe
pointed to a crevice along the hill and said this was where a man was trampled
by an elephant few months back. The man was drunk and ambled to his home late one
afternoon. The elephant didn’t like it a bit and rest as they say is
tragedy.
One
of the most reclusive tribes in India Muthuvans are found in the Adimali and
Devikulam forest regions of Idukki district of Kerala, the largest
concentration is around the Anamudi hills, the highest peak of the Western Ghats.
The Muthuvan settlement is referred to as ‘Kudi’ and their houses are made of bamboo
reeds thatched with leaves. They are mostly dependent on the forest products
and cultivate essentials like ragi, banana so on. In some areas cash crops like
ginger, pepper, lemongrass etc are also grown. Though they nurture cattle they don’t drink
the milk; meat even chicken is eaten only on special occasions.
The
word Muthuvans is derived from the word "muthuku" which means ‘back’
in the Tamil and Malayalam languages. According to tribal legend when dynasty
of Madurai was deposed, they crossed the mountains into Travancore and on their
way the Muthuvans were the ones who carried the idols of deity belonging to the
royal family on their backs. Another legend speaks of them carrying all their
belongings and children on their back, even now unlike other people in the
region the women carry their children on the back, therefore Muthuvans.
Muthuvans
are one of the few tribes that actively try to avoid outsiders. Indeed they
even evade eye contact and turn away their face from strangers. Muthuvans have
a tradition of maintaining separate dormitories for unmarried males (the
picture herein), and females. After they attain puberty they stay separate from
families, and women, in particular, avoid outside males.
"Muduvans follow the matriarchal system and have an innate
fear of outsiders and strangers. They used to be shifting cultivators of ragi
and rice. They are also adept at hunting and trapping game. Over the years,
they developed a symbiotic relationship with the environment. Their keen sense of
sight, sound and hearing coupled with an innate fondness for animals made them
skilful trackers…Muduvans are proud race and were unwilling to work in the restricting
environment of the expanding plantations. However, from the inception of these plantations,
they have served as guides, trackers and game watchers" (The Story Of Munnar by Sulochana Nalapat)
The
law and order in the community is handled by a council of elders under the
leadership of the Kani, the headman. Another headman ‘Thalaivar’ takes care of
social issues. The language spoken is proto Dravidian closely linked to Tamil (visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mv18CDWqaI&feature=plcp for video on Muthuvan songs) .
from my scribble pad...
from my scribble pad...
Dissection of a Rat
Dissection of
rat was a subject of study in school
disemboweled
internals were identified and tagged
systems –Digestive,
Respiratory, Excretory so on.
It doesn’t differ
from us.
When the rat
is cut, it dies
and stays that
way
without any attempt
to be alive.
Just like us.
We live and
die
never making
an attempt to be alive.
Where we
differ from the rat
is never taught
in the school.
