"ये उनका शहर है!" (in 'Pothiz' October 2010 Issue)

Read Pothiz October 2010 Issue Online.

http://pothi.com/pothi/magazine/issue/october-2010

(Good & Bad) Company

Place: A Sacred fig, Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary.

Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary (Keoladeo Ghana National Park) in Rajasthan, India is a famous avifauna sanctuary that sees thousands of rare and highly endangered birds such as the Siberian Crane come here during the winter season. Over 230 species of birds are known to have made the National Park their home.

Little Sparrow - “Dad, they are my friends. We do few things together and spend some time. At the end of the day, I return to home. I have my mind, family and life. It’s just a fraction of a day we are together. That too, not on daily basis. Sorry, I don’t understand your Good company-Bad company theory.”

Daddy Sparrow – “Beta, surroundings, neighbours, friends, colleagues, etc make a lifelong impact on almost all the creatures.”

Little Sparrow – “No, Papa, I disagree....”

Daddy Sparrow - “Alright, I will explain this with the help of some practical examples. Go and chat with that group of ‘Asian Koels’ near the lake.”

After Half an Hour.

Little Sparrow – Daddy, they are awesome birds. They knew so much about life, karma and all. They are helping numerous old and injured Birds of this place. They gave me few herbs as a present.

Daddy Sparrow – “Where do they come from?”

Little Sparrow – “Himalayas, near the ashrams of Sadhus, Yogis and even Buddhist Monasteries.”

Daddy Sparrow – “Good, now similarly make friends with those stylish and funky migratory birds, 'Greater Flamingos' stationed at the other side of the lake.”

Few Moments Later.

Little Sparrow - “Ouch Daddy, You knew everything? They poked me everywhere, snatched my herbs. They were constantly bullying, abusing and eve teasing me and many other birds. They captured few nests beating the native birds..and...”

Daddy Sparrow – “Oh! And?”

Little Sparrow – “They were from those areas of Afghanistan with many terrorist camps and bases.”

The End!


Author notes :

*) - A Sacred fig, is a species of banyan fig native to Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, southwest China and Indochina. It is a large dry season-deciduous or semi-evergreen tree up to 30 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 3 m.

*) – Beta = Son. (Hindi)

*) - Greater Flamingos are the largest member of the flamingo family and they are the most widespread. They stand at 1.5 m (5 ft) tall, they have a wingspan between 1.4 and 1.7 m (4.5 - 5.5 ft) and they weigh up to 4 Kgs (8.75 lbs). They are pinkish white in colour but immature birds are grey before they get their full adult plumage. They have long, pink legs with relatively small webbed feet, and a very long neck.