Friday, July 31, 2009

Frogs' arranged Marriage

“With no signs of rains, villagers of Padapalli village in Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu turned to an age-old custom to invoke the rain Gods. They caught a male and female frog and got them married in a grand manner last Friday. After the marriage the frogs were released in the local tank”—this is an old news report from TOI.

Not only frog to frog marriage, they perform frog to human marriage too. Last year they got a frog married to a girl for rain and the frog had been left in a tank. The girl was seen crying in embarrassment in the picture which was in the TOI. When she comes to age, the frog may turn in to a prince and take her away. If frogs catch cold they would try to find a cure for it.

Marriage is for human beings who live by societal norms, not for animals who live by Nature’s rules. They know what to so when they get mature. I wonder if frogs get excited by marriage. Will the frog couple live together after marriage or they divorce? Monsoon is not the marriage season for humans, but it is for frogs and was marriage season for me too. My wedding was in monsoon, when it was raining pitter patter non-stop. We avoid marriage in monsoon simply because rain will cause inconvenience to all work.

Actually people don’t know when the rainy season is in this subcontinent. Since Chennai is familiar to me and according to my observation Tamil Nadu receives rainfall in autumn months. South-west monsoon is not so effective there. Farmers in every state should understand Nature and cultivate the lands only according to the rainfall the states receive. Even artificial irrigation will not help; the lands will dry up easily in the high temperature. Two term cultivation will not work out in all states. Instead of cursing Nature they should take blessing from Mother Nature. When we do everything artificially such problems arise and it gives frustration.

And there was this news about hiring infants for direct darshan of Lord Venkateshwara in Tirupati, the famous temple in India. The report says there are touts to hire out infants to devotees for Mahadwaram Darshan—meant for couples with children. If you want to have a quick darshan hire a child—a quick darshan for devotees and a quick buck for barkers! What is the meaning of visiting temples? Usually men cannot wear shirts in south Indian temples. But there is an option in one of the temples in Tamil Nadu. If you pay you can enter with the shirt on otherwise you have to remove it. Money can break all the rules. and there is a famous temple in Kerala, where women cannot enter wearing salwar kameez. If women go there without this knowledge they will make them wear a dhoti over salwar kameez. What is the use when salwar kameez is still there under the dhoti? Men should wear dhoti over the pants and remove shirts. Here, in Mumbai youngsters go to the temples wearing jeans and bermudas. Everything is going on in the name of religion and for money. Human beings are strange indeed. It is better we respect animals.

I believe in God but I don’t believe in meaningless rituals. I don’t do anything else than visiting a temple. I don’t even celebrate festivals. I don’t fast because I cannot stay long empty stomach. Ann hai purna Brahma, I believe. But my day starts with a prayer. I bow to the Mother Earth and Gods as I get up in the morning. I felt God’s presence in several occasions. I am God fearing; also fear devils, especially those walking around. When I was a school girl I would visit the nearest temple almost all days in the morning and I hadn’t written a single exam without visiting that temple in my village. That must be the reason if I never felt education a burden.


Rakhi’s Swayamvar was worse than frog’s wedding. I couldn’t make out whether it is in reel or real at first. Actually Swayamvar will be over when bride put on garland on bridegroom’s neck. Here it is swayamvar for engagement. The real swayamvar is unpredictable. No matter how long it lasts the couple seems ideal in every aspect.

Modern people go back to the 12the century from 21st and try to bring back age-old customs and perform making it modern. When old and modern customs mix the result is neutral.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Nothing New

New species of lizard found in Kolhapur—News headlines from TOI

Navi Mumbai: A team of scientists from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) in association with the Villanova University, US, recently discovered a new species of lizard in Kolhapur district.

The new species, belonging to the genus Cnemaspis, has been named as Cnemaspis kolhapurensis after the place it was first spotted by BNHS scientists Varad B Giri and research fellow Kshma Gaikwad. They were assisited by Aaron M Bauer of Villanova University.

“The new species is ground-dwelling and can be found among dead leaves or under rocks. Its unique feature is the presence of shiny scales on the body,” Giri a curator with BNHS, said. During this survey, he was accompanied by the members of Greenguards, an NGO in Kolhapur.
Initially the lizard seemed like the common gecko found in that region, but close observations revealed iridescent sheen on its tail dorsum. Iridescence is found in a variety of burrowing reptiles like some snakes and skinks. However, this feature has not been previously reported in geckos. Apart from this, there were other taxonomic characters which were not found in other Indian species in this genus of lizards. The group’s research findings were recently published in the science journal, Zootaxa.
According to the recent findings, this species has been founding only one locality, which is close to human habitation. This and other species discovered earlier proves that the Western Ghats in Maharashtra have a diversity of amphibians and reptiles
—I copied this report from the TOI--July-24-2009.

Why do they call it a new species of lizard? It is nothing new to me or in villages. It may be new for Mumbaikars. In this concrete jungle one can see only concrete buildings. From their description I guess it is a common ground lizard which I always see in our building compound. I used to see it crawling in the garden near the window of our flat. Now it is not seen because the building compound is laid with tiles. It would even climb on the window-grill. And it always crawls around our house in the village. In our village, they say it is highly poisonous and if bitten, instant death is possible.

PS: Sorry, I couldn’t get its picture.


This creature came again. I thought it has gone for ever. I spotted one lizard on the window-sill on 10th September mid-morning. It will not come into extinction when soil and greenery around there.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Tree's Trauma

It is rainy season. So, old and overgrown tree’s fate has started. Many trees in Mumbai have come under tree killers’ axe. Another Gulmohar in our building compound had a trauma recently. The tree’s size brought its fate. Though it is getting old it looks healthy and strong. The tree is a favourite place for squirrels, birds, crows and even bats. It has just finished the flowering and looked greener in this rainy season ever than before when this happened. It also happens in our lives. The moment you feel everything is OK some trouble could on your way. The tree’s fate started when it stretched out its branches up to a building’s flat and making an easy way for squirrels to hop on to the window.

Society members took step on one of the resident’s complaint. They brought three strong men to cut off its limbs as a punishment. Trees know no offense; they have a right to spread the branches where there is space. One of the men climbed on to the tree and started talking to someone over the mobile as if it is a walkie-talkie. Technology is going on at its best in India. You may see even a beggar use the mobile these days. They cut off half of the branches and chopped it into small pieces.

The resident had complaint about squirrels that enter into their flat. But squirrels are not the real problem, I can guess. The tree branches swinging violently in the monsoon winds might have scared them. They told their apprehension and blamed the member for planting such huge trees near the building. The man who planted the tree had made a mistake certainly and the tree has to suffer. Multi-storied building and tall trees cannot co-exit. Squirrels also hop on to our window and run around lifting the tail up and down. Even rats and chameleon climb on to our grill. But I don’t have to shoo them away or scare away from them. They will come and go themselves. I have learnt to co-exist with them. Once a baby squirrel stayed for a long time on our grill being confused where to go. I used to see snakes in our building compound. Once I saw a snake moving backward from our window-sill when I suddenly went to put clothes on the clothes-line. It scared me but I forget easily.

Trees need regular trimming, but not in this way. Some trees will not flower or bear fruit if trimmed regularly. If they want to trim the trees it should be done just after the rainy season, so that trees will spread the branches within a limited space up to the next rainy season. In Mumbai some trees fall in the rainy season and cause damage. We live in houses surrounded by large trees and plants in village—never heard of trees fallen on humans there. If you like trees they will like you, I believe. Trees are like humans and large animals. They live long. Fortunately, Nature has created trees in a way that the branches can grow again and again. If one branch is cut another will come out with a vengeance. They should plant small trees near the buildings in Mumbai to prevent damage by falling trees.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Bizarre Electric Shock

I read some bizarre incidents daily in the newspaper but I haven't witnessed one until this happened at home. We bought a plastic drum a few months ago to store water. My husband himself fixed the tap on it. After filling the drum with water when checking for the water flow from the tap he felt an electric shock and came out from the bathroom and told me. I couldn't believe at first. I thought he had gone mad. But he doesn't believe in such things. so he got confused on it. When tested with a tester it showed spark as if it is from an electric socket. My husband's hand showed more powerful spark than mine. Usually I am subjected to such problems. When I touch the switch board or electric appliances I feel a vibration through my hands. I hesitate to use the drum. What a way to produce electricity! I didn't tell anybody about it till date fearing a crowd will rush into our home to catch a glimpse of the bizarre.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Gay Pride Parade or going mad!

I watched Gay Pride Parade on TV with a feeling of disgust. Going gay or going mad? Legalizing homosexuality will breed more homosexuals. If some are born with peculiar personality let them do it. But how come a large number of people turn gay? I don't believe all gays are born with a personality disorder. Homosexuality is against Nature's rules.
Such relationship often starts when boys and girls of the same age group will have to share one room in hostels or anywhere else. As they share the room they start sharing their personal problems too. They may talk about everything including sex and show their bodies to each other thus keep a close friendship. At first they may feel strong attraction. But there is no guarantee in such relationship. Human mind can change with time and circumstances. some get married and when they feel it is not proper they try to live like man and wife. One of them will be compelled to dress up like boy or girl and even go for sex change operation. And break up is possible.
Sexual desire starts in adolescence but we, human beings have to wait till marriage. So this is the only option to seek relief when hormones rise. And don't have to fear pregnancy. Animals don't have to wait for marriage. When they get mature naturally they start mating. So they don't become homo.
Though unacceptable, in a way it is beneficial. It is the best way to control population. It must be the Nature's way to bring human beings to extinction because Mother Nature is fed up of human beings. Now she realises the mistake in creating humans and that too granted with two hands instead of four legs. It is like offspring torture their mother. Seeings all these problems it seems the world is coming to an end in December 2012 as predicted by the Mayan and Inca tribes.