Thursday, March 22, 2012

The Sparrow

With reference to World Sparrow Day and the article http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/article3019583.ece I wanted to write about them also.

Coming from Bangalore, I could sense the reduction in the population of these birds. Also because we used to leave food for the birds everyday before we consume. I like the ritual not because of its orthodoxity but because it helps those cute little things. With the rise of fertilizers and even the greenery vanishing - no natural habitat and no food source. Not just for birds but also for cats n dogs.

I was depressed not to see Rajajinagar in the article. I wouldnt say it is the most commercialized area nor completely residential but still I just wanted sparrows in the vicinity.

I also remember gramps making those bird noises. He used to wake up at 4 30ish and make this lovely coffee. Once you indulge in the smell of coffee and taste of it, the whole world seems heavenly. And the sounds of these birds just adds to the orchestra.

Once during CAT coaching when we were wrecking our brains on a question, there came few sparrows. Patnaik Sir, who was coordinating the class stopped all of us, "In the day light of Bangalore and that too in an environment like this - even miracles can happen" 

The ponderous thought is - if an adaptable bird like sparrow is dying and vanishing, what would be the pollution levels. We have already started charging for clean water, next what fresh air? Just like a bottle of Qua - which would taste like water from a well - u pay a premium compared to a normal bisleri/aquafina.This leads to the question why do we go to an extent to complicate lives and pay an extra charge, develop technologies to overcome the effect.



Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realise we cannot eat money.  ~Cree Indian Proverb 


My question over and above this is - where does comfort and luxury fit into the scheme of things


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