Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Birds of the Killingworth

It was long time ago - years it would be, when I was studying 4th standard we used to have "Reader's"(text book) - named as "Tales the Reader tells" and there was a wonderful lesson in it. The title of the lesson was "Birds of Killingworth". In short summary it was a story about a town called "Killing Worth" where the farmers faced problems with birds and they presumed that the birds where destroying their yield. And they decided and got rid of them only to realize that they landed up with much more serious problems caused by insects and worms. And after the great realization they brought back birds in cages and set them free finally to live again in peace and harmony.
Now coming to the present stage of time, I now realize that the wonderful sparrows are missing. I had a rare chance of spotting them at the Bengalooru Airport, which made me feel so happy listing to their chirp and indeed it was after years I heard again.

It was Guntakal a small little railway town I grew up and as young boys we used to sport catapult to hunt them down and while doing so fortunately got caught by aunty (thotha)only to get beaten up, after which we gave up our hunting practices. Well that activity did not perish them all away, but the introduction of ceiling fans in all the railway quarters which caused the disaster I guess. The same phenomena I could notice at Nellore. My wife's house had a thatched room upstairs (1985- feb) which had no ceiling fan and I had a company of these wonderful birds singing for their beloved ones. And after the fan was introduced I could see one by one of them getting killed and now - I hardly find them there. What a pity! I hope and wish that A/C residences would encourage dwelling place for them .... what a wish! and give me an opportunity to write a story similar to "The Birds of the Killingworth"............

                                           Thank you for the attention:












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