The whispering trees!

Has it ever crossed your mind how similar people are to trees? The tree needs to be nurtured as a sapling. It depends on its environment to grow in strength. As it blooms into its prime, there are newer branches, leaves & flowers. Then come the fruits & the tree is happy & content. In the meanwhile it’s doing it’s job too. Helping to attract rains, bring down pollution & helping the fauna to thrive under its folds.

A few unfortunate ones get impugned in a very subtle way. They don’t even realize that they have been afflicted by termite’s that’s gnawing away at their very existence. By the time the tree realizes it’s stricken, the damage is intense. But all’s not lost. The giant ant-eater (family & friends) is around with huge claws & a long sticky tongue. It claws away at the bark & slowly but skillfully devours the silent killers & helps the unfortunate tree a chance to live again.

Just as there are individuals with different personality traits so are trees. The magnificent Oak tree is an epitome of strength & magnitude. A refuge to the existing fauna & insect life, this tree spells dependability. It has deep roots & a strong foundation. But as this tree grows older...it develops a tiered root system with feeder & sinker roots that permeate at different layers of the soil. On occasions these feeder n sinker roots are damaged due to the unfortunate forces of nature. The rock hard tree that the world thinks is majestic starts withering away. Everyone around looks at the grand tree & envy’s its strength but in reality, its lastingness is numbered.

Then there is the Semul tree. Tall, sparse with thorns adorning every aspect of it’s body. One is repulsed with the abominable & bristling thorns but if one looks closely, along with giving refuge to a number of dwindling species, it’s rich in medicinal properties & in the labyrinth of its innards, stores a treasure of cures for the weak. It’s like a teacher that’s austere but intrinsic to learn the ropes of life.

The palm tree…this sure reminds me of all mothers. Every part of this tree is a precious storehouse. It stands tall & yet flexible, bending to the whims of the breeze. But hey! Just because it accommodates the velocity of the wind does not spell its weakness.

Lastly… the omnipresent parasites! The beef steak fungi & the Mistletoe are two harmless looking individuals on the surface. But one good hold of the trees primary system & slowly it claws away at the trees nutrients with invisible tentacles. It deceives the tree into thinking that it’s the master & merely giving refuge to the infirm. In reality it gnaws away stealthily & deceivingly until its powerful enough to reign in the host tree’s very growth.

It’s all a matter of how we look at life. No ones indefectible & we do need others to help us in our life’s journey. The harmony lies in the crescendo of good karmic forces, humility & the ability to live unpretentious lives. We do need the oak to draw strength from it, the semul to indoctrinate life’s lessons, the palm to soak in the profound predilection to warmth & emotional regard & the parasites that compel us to walk the rugged terrain & make us wise. Each one of these trees is important in our personal growth to becoming individuals with substance!

Copyright © BuntysBanter 2007

A gasp of precious breath!

I struggle as I gasp for precious breath
Broken due to this unhealth,
Nothing interests me as I sit
in depression playing symphony,

Dont stress I'm told
It shall worsen if your bold,
Your body's crying for some hold
of that elusive leisure time.

I read, I watch, I hear, I pray
for all the madness of the day,
Innocent angels bearing the brunt
of perverted minds,

Someones looted, some killed,
Death defying orgy thrilled,
With so much grief doing the round,
How dare I grief my temporary bound,

My remorse is nothing I comprehend,
To that of a grieving father,
Who's lost his wonderful paradise,
his offsprings prancing precipice...of unending glee.

I shall regain my strength & bounce back,
what of him for there's no come back,
From a depressing worldof childless fatherhood.

Oh dear God! How could you not
Help those angels on fire,
Didn't it burn a hole in your heart
to see them burn on a pyre.

(penned while the author was remorseful for not keeping good health & realised how vain she had been in comparision to the Nithari mayhem where scores of innocent children were abused & killed to quench two sick mens perversion)

Copyright © BuntysBanter 2007

Born Fighters!

Today’s plan was to walk-up to the man made Bandra pond (talao) where I had noticed Little Cormorants soaking in the sun on the small island in the middle of the pond & take a few pictures of these interesting birds.

As I walk the narrow by lanes of Bandra, there’s something that catches the eye. College going kids standing outside a tutorial class, back slapping one another surrounding this young man on his Kinetic Honda scooter. The young man is in his element. He’s narrating some anecdote to his friends clapping his hands etc with everyone guffawing away. There’s nothing amiss in all this right? Well…Reagan is physically challenged.

This though does not stop him from going about his life in the same way as most of us. He’s smart & articulate & fun to know. Reagan is a fighter & how it shows! But what I found gratifying is his peers. The complete acceptance showed as no one seemed to notice or care.

This brought to mind the school my daughter goes to. This institution has its mind in the right place. It knows that education does not start & end with books. The students are made to mingle with the kids from the spastic society of India founded by Dr Mithu Alur & is situated in the Bandra reclamation area every week.

Here I want to deviate & journey back to my childhood. I grew up thinking kids affected by downs syndrome were mentally imbalanced. I was 12 when I met my classmate’s mama (maternal uncle) Madan who was 41 yrs then but had the trappings of a 5 year ole. Madan mama loved to play with us & especially loved my company. He would call me Bati & cry for hours if I missed going over even for a day. The moment he would spot me on the road…he would bound & engulf me in his arms. While his beard & mature looks frightened me, his behavior baffled. Though my friend counseled, it was difficult to accept Madan Mama as a kid. My mum was equally naïve as she advised me to be careful.

Back to the present & this year’s annual school function that was celebrated a few weeks ago. There was this fusion dance wherein an extremely enthusiastic kid missed all his steps but not his fervor. He looked happy and at ease doing his own thing. The parents were enjoying this goof-up and as I laughed too, I realized something was different here. I was looking at a downs syndrome kid. As I tried to capture him in my lens the vision blurred. That was my tear telling me how proud I was of this kid, his parents & most importantly of the school that did not discriminate.

Going to school with differently abled kids has brought a certain inoculation to the other supposedly “normal” kid’s attitude towards life. My daughter looks quizzically when I mention this as if to understand what this whole drama is all about. When I say I’m mighty proud of her school mate…she says …so? What about him? He’s one naughty fellow & never listens to anyone if he’s not in the mood to.

See what I mean? Kids like my daughter have just accepted the fact that there are a few kids in school who are a bit slow & that it’s alright!

Back to Reagan, our collegiate. I retrace my steps uncertainly introducing myself to the group. As I talk about wanting to write about spirited people like him, he beams & without much ado gives permission to take a pic of him with his group. Was relieved after seeing their acceptance of my request coz was scared of scrapping feelings here. As I explained my intention, the group smiled & was more than happy to relent. One of the individuals wearing an orange T-shirt in the mug shot is a product of the same school I mention above.

This is how I want my India to flower into. A place where everyone is accepted without questions asked. A place where the kids are taught the language of life!

Copyright © BuntysBanter 2007