Persistence in Nature

Last year, around this time, or maybe a bit earlier, there was a sudden deluge of puppies in the park. They were everywhere, in every shape and color. Around 10 of them born to two mothers but being brought up as one pack. Both mothers nursed the litter, and I often wondered if they could tell their puppies apart from the other's or if the puppies could tell the moms apart. It was a heart-warming sight, these little balls of fluff playing in their little paradise. 

But the lives of stray dogs are full of tragedies. Their numbers dwindled, the first time it happened, the brave little warriors seemed to slowly lose a bit of their spark. They kept quiet for days and mourned, along with us, who cared about them. The mortality rate for stray dogs is quite high and one of the most frequent causes is human related activities. These beings who have genetically adapted to love and bond with humans have now become unwanted in the same human society. 

Over the year, I observed how the confident puppies slowly became timid, how the group dwindled and finally how they were forced out of the park, onto the streets. They had been reduced to a group of 3 with one of the moms and 2 pups remaining. They seemed to have joint forces though with another pack of dogs though. When winter came, I stopped seeing them or the other pack altogether. I wondered if this was the impact of the Supreme Court order. 

A few days back I finally spotted their mother early in the morning, back at the same spot, outside the park, waiting for the kind humans who come with food for them. Then I spotted two of the pups now grown up one-year olds. And then suddenly jumping between the mom's feet I spot a small puppy, trying to suckle, whom the older siblings seemed to be guarding. 

Nature and time have their own way of healing the tragedies that life inflicts on you. There is so much to learn from the natural world and animals - pets, strays, wild ones, ones in captivity, any kind. Resilience is one big lesson. I still remember the dejected looks on these little ones, when their numbers slowly reduced, how they would lie down curled up on the pavement, lost and directionless. Now they seemed to have taken up residence in a green patch just next to the park, which is full of trees. They have expanded their pack by taking in another group, though I suspect it was the other way round! I've now seen more tiny pups there and all of them (including the two older pups) running together and playing.  I wonder if they see a reflection of their lost siblings in these young ones. Do they miss their lost ones like humans do?

And then there is Punch-kun, the macaque baby in a Japanese Zoo who thinks a plushie is his mom and who has stolen the collective heart of people world over. Not only is he an adorable little baby who makes you want to reach out and hug him, I think a lot of people also relate to his loneliness and need to be loved and held close. Also, his inability to integrate and yet the persistence in trying to make a place for himself. 

Perhaps we humans like to imagine that animals are also going through emotions that are similar to ours, and maybe they do, but it's the stories that we resonate with that touch us the most. 

P.S. I know that the new set of puppies, the older dogs and Punch-kun all still have life lessons to learn, but I my hope for them is that they continue to persist and thrive the best they can. 

Morality

I was wondering about morality the other day. When I was younger, I was sure that I always do what is right. The moral compass was staunchly in place. But over time, I'm no longer sure what the definition of goodness is. One man's right can sometime be another man's wrong. There are always perspectives, the two sides of the coin. This whole question of what someone "must" or "must not" do, isn't really set in stone. Perhaps there is merit in a moral flexibility or rather putting it better - in being open minded. Seeing the other perspective. 

Even what is normal- is it just conformity to set standards of society? Are we allowed to be different? Perhaps, the answer my friend, is blowing.... 

Be like the wind, ever blowing, shapeless, formless and yet a cohesive whole a power to reckon with once it gathers enough momentum. 

Be like the river, ever flowing, ever bending, absorbing all that seeks its depths. 

In the new world order

It is a sin

To talk of doves

The hawk wins

The dove is caged 

The hawk unleashed

The skies must thunder

The earth must shake 

Is it even victory if there is no sound?

Buransh and Bird

Our travels took us to the hills in the midst of an almost war. There is much to be said on that, but some things are best left unspoken. I only pray that better sense prevails on either side of the border. But in the meanwhile, was delighted to find buransh still in bloom and the dense and varied population of birds, chirping and hopping branch to branch. The hills heal indeed.  

Dune and the after-effects of spice

I concluded the long epic of a book series some weeks ago. Just the first six books originally written by Frank Herbert. Before I begin my long rant (diatribe or whatever you may want to call it), I can never help but compare all fantasy/sci-fi work with the GOAT of an LoTR. Both books have significant social commentary and are still relevant even now in spite of the years that have passed since they were first published. LoTR however inhabits a far more innocent world, still recovering from the World Wars, still making sense of what the new world order was. Somehow to me it was a more endearing and comforting setting. 

Dune has this inherent sense of Doom, right from the word go (spoilers alert!) from Duke Leto who proceeds knowingly into a trap to two books later with Leto II who literally became the God Emperor doomed to millennia of loneliness (and of course his seeming corruption) not to mention our tragic (anti?) hero Paul Atreides and his beloved Chani in between. It has very relevant social commentary on dictatorship, how religious fanaticism leads to the extreme rot of society and how the oppressed and repressed can later turn into ruthless cults. The span of time it covers is impressive and its world building is completely immersive. Further you can keep drawing parallels to history as well as what you see happening around you. However, the decadence and sense of depression that emanates from the book can be a little overwhelming. The Honored Matres for instance are completely repulsive, in spite of a last-minute attempt to redeem them. 

To its merit, it has some extremely strongly written women characters particularly the Bene Gesserit, to have their power even for a day! Lady Jessica and Darwi Odrade are among my favorites, and there are surely more. 

More-over there is this over-arching theme on patterns - Frank Herbert is telling us that falling into patterns is near fatal, the Shai Hulud will come swallow you, society will go the dogs, you will become predictable and become easy prey to your enemies, so learn to do the unexpected. Then there is Duncan Idaho, who keeps coming back to life, a little altered every time perhaps, but with the same patterns and how he finally makes a break for it.  

The other noticeable thing is the strong influence of Islam on the writing and the characters, especially in the earlier books. The Dune is clearly the Sahara, and a bit of Arabia and the Freemen are the tribes that inhabit that area. Did read somewhere that Lawerence of Arabia was definitely an influence (perhaps the character development for Paul Mau-dib Atreides). The names also have strong Arabic/Persian influence. And in the later books the Tleilax also seem to have some sort of an Islamic order with an aim to turn the universe into a sort of Caliphate. 

The other influence is the books' own influence on Star Wars, apparently Frank Herbert always nursed the notion that George Lucas stole a lot from his work, but didn't really consider it worthwhile to pursue this further. 

The Dune movies in themselves cover only the first book so far, leaving a lot out. They have expanded the role of Chani (possibly to give Zendaya something meaty :)) and condensed that of Lady Jessica. From what I've read they'll end the franchise with Dune Messiah, the second book.

Finally coming to the key ingredient of the book - spice, I wonder what it really was. Magic mushrooms cum oil, weed cum some magic star dust that propels rockets? This was the single most important currency in the Dune world. And so many times I couldn't help feeling Mr. Herbert was himself reeling under the after-effects of too much spice, maybe that's why some parts of the books took a little effort getting through! Well, if Lewis Carol could give us a wonderland with talking cakes and cats, why not him?

New Year Post

We're well mid-week into the second (or first?) week of the year. This year I decided not to make resolutions, and I've so far been able to retain at least some of the habits I'd ended the year with. The only thing I really want now is to simplify life. Get rid of all that's unnecessary, declutter, have a simple routine, exercise, eat well, stay healthy. Minimalism is so peaceful. However, there is one area where I still get tempted to go over-board. My foray into learning crochet and restarting knitting has given me a greater appreciation of yarns. I need more yarn, and good, beautiful yarn. 

So, here's hoping this year brings something new and hope stays afloat.

To the city with a necklace

 A city by the sea, they say it never sleeps

Once a part of me, now a distant memory

The sand between the feet, the moonlit walk

The waves rushing ashore, 

The wind that never rests, the smell of salt 

The hustle and the bustle, the unimaginable sounds

All consumed me, my soul and mind

In spite of the grit, the grime, the dirt

The spirit of the city calls

Like some restless void deep inside 

The city which taught me all 

The city which has my heart