The Purple Swamphen of the Basai Wetland

Right so, we've all seen Purple Swamphen moving around, making short desperate flights that seem to be more leaps of faith than flights in the true sense. Looking at these rather colourful birds, one can never stop wondering why they have been called 'hens'  rather than egrets or even or pheasants! I wouldn't really call them ducks because they certainly don't have webbed feet or I would have called them Cormorants!

There is a saying in India that the stately and regal Peacock cries out aloud in grief when he looks down at his feet. He cries out, "Why, why, O Lord, have you given me such ugly feet, I who am the most handsome and regal of all birds!" The answer surely would have been, " I had to give you the ugliest of feet to bring you down from your high throne of pride and vanity, Son!" The Purple Swamphen has the ugliest feet of any bird that I have ever seen! Its claws seem to have sprouted some sort weird appendages that seem somehow to be proportionately bigger than the rest of the body.

The Purple Swamphens, however, are the amongst the most beautiful birds I have come across to now (Beyond and above its legs, of course!). The shimmering purple-blue feathers of its body contrast quite well with its rather garishly red crown. The rich colours of its feathers, along with its bright red crop are often too distracting for the autofocus of one's camera to really lock in. Like the Peacock, (though less loud) the Purple Swamphen has an equally grating harsh call, rather like a trumpet gone bad. When startled, the bird makes a short trumpet squeak before it makes its Dash to safety.

From what I have observed so far is that Purple Swamphen are terrestrial birds with limited ability to fly. They can be found in swamps, marshes and wetlands. I have been observing Purple Swamphen at the Basai Wetland in Gurgaon for more than two years now and have come to realise that the bird population has been declining steadily. One of the major reasons for the declining number of Swamphen is the steady reduction in the size of the wetland thanks to the draining out of the water, filling up of the shallow areas with sand, debris and mud, and last but not least, the competition for food presented by the ever-increasing numbers of kites in the vicinity. The cultivation of the African Catfish in the adjacent ponds fed by the drained water of the wetland has been turned into big money. Carcasses and offal of gutted catfish left in the open have attracted kites that have in turn put excess burden on the resources available in the area.

Soon, the Swamphen will have been forced into extinction even as ugly concrete structures rise from the bed of the Wetland. Till then I guess we might have to make do with the few photographs that we have of this uniquely beautiful bird. Unlike Coots and Moorhen, Purple Swamphen seem to be tethered to the habitats they have grown up in. Their limited mobility and the rather strange shape of their feet could mean that the Purple Swamphen will probably not be able to migrate to other habitats before the bulldozers arrive to crush their nests under tonnes of sand and mud. That Purple Swamphen build their nests on weeds and mounds just above the water level becomes evident the moment we observe their nest-building activities.

Greater Flamingos Spotted at The Basai Wetland Gurgaon

Just today on the third day of my summer vacation, I wanted to do something different. It had been a long time since I had last visited the Sultanpur National Park, a mere twenty-two kilometres from my home on the New Railway Road, Gurgaon. I woke my brother from his deep slumber at half-past five in the morning and urged him to ride pillion with me on a ride to the National Park. He reluctantly agreed and we sped away merrily hoping to spot a rare migratory bird or two!

Alas! On reaching the main gate of the Bird Sanctuary we found the gate barred, and before the gate were two Park attendants who were equally surprised to see both of us at this time (of the year?). I sheepishly grinned at them and asked if we had reached early! The Park always opened at seven in the mornings and it was just seven, wasn't it? One of the attendants then rather patiently told me that the Park had shut down for the breeding season! Of course, I had forgotten this, I should have checked before rushing to the Park. Looking at our disappointed faces, the attendant had the cheek to suggest that we could drive in through the other gate into the Sultanpur Haryana Tourism Complex as we might be able to see something. I knew the only birds we would spot would be Crows and Maina birds.

Resignedly we made a U-turn and drove back home, but then just as we reached the vicinity of the Basai Wetland, I suggested to my brother that we might as well take a peek into the wetland. The way into the wetland was dangerous what with piles of debris, soft dust into which the wheels sank threatening to make the bike skid and topple over (But the BAJAJ V15 has a good grip) however this did not happen and so wended over to the dyke on one side of which lay the remaining patch of water. It was after we had parked and collected our cameras that we got our greatest surprise. Out there in the distance was a flock of Flamingoes foraging in the mud of the rapidly drying up waters of the wetland! Unfortunately, they were not only too far away, but also against the rising sun! Moreover, I was carrying a 250 mm lens and there was not much I could do with that lens.

In spite of all the hurdles, I was able to take a couple of really whacky snaps! In one of them, a flying Flamingo seemed to be voiding the contents of its stomach with great enthusiasm over the Wetland. What a way to bomb the ground, that too with poop! Fortunately, enough none of us on the ground was hurt!

The second photograph was a rather cute one, it was of another flight of Flamingoes, in which one pair was in perfect flight formation, one exactly on top of the other! There a few other interesting snaps we were able to take, especially of a flock of Painted Storks standing on the mud flat of the wetland, preening their feathers or just sitting idle. The resident Pheasant-tailed Jacana, the Purple Swamp-hen and the pair of Kingfisher birds were in the vicinity, though I often wonder, how long it will be before they are forced to flee from the advancing bulldozers and trucks laden with sand and mud.

It is indeed a sad state of affairs especially exacerbated by Officials and people in power who turn a blind eye towards the steady destruction of a habitat home to so many resident and migratory birds. The Basai Wetland is a rich resource that we are wantonly squandering away for real estate prices and greased palms. Till then, we can only wait with bated breath as the advancing jaws of development draw nearer and nearer to this Oasis of life, a reservoir of endangered species, all for the sake of development, advancement and settlement!

Where have all those Libraries disappeared?

How important are Libraries?

Inside each book hides a kernel,

Within that kernel is a germ

And within that germ is an idea,

An idea that grows into a tree!

And where there are many books, 

There are many ideas, ideas, 

That drive change, change 

That bears new thought!

Behind each new thought is a library,

A powerhouse of change,

 A melting pot of ideas,

And driver of inventions!

The Library is one of the oldest Institutions of knowledge and that it is on its way out is a matter of great concern for all human beings, educationists, students, parents and book lovers. What was once a refuge for bookworms, a centre for learning and perhaps even a meeting place for lovers has now become a derelict space that is haunted by the ghosts of the past. Libraries were once centres of learning in all schools and colleges and having a well-stocked library was certainly a matter to brag about. One visited the library to access all kinds of information pertaining to research topics, and in the process, one might even bump into an odd friend or two. Even while browsing through reference books one might revel in the scent of books and wood thrown together, or even borrow a novel to read at home.

Nothing can beat the immersive experience of sitting in the library, soaking in the scents of all those books, being part of the rather solemn atmosphere that is the source of inspiration so divine. Sinking into the sofa, reading from the Scientific American Magazine, or browsing through a National Geographic Magazine can be most uplifting! For students studying in schools it this immersive experience (that can be found only in the library) that provides them with knowledge, academic and social, it teaches them about interpersonal skills, it makes them emotionally strong, it teaches them to be sensitive in life, besides, it teaches students about human relationships. One of the strongest advantages of a library is that it makes us more Human and Humane! The library is to the student what the soul is to the heart! In these days of artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality and augmented reality, it is the libraries in schools and colleges that offer us the dignity to be human. Libraries have been and still are important sanctuaries for all kinds of people. They offer us safe spaces to meditate, introspect, mull over things, and perhaps even provide us with solutions! Writers and poets, scientists and artists are more likely to be inspired while sitting in the library than in front of the screen of their laptops.

My first library was in the Arbaminch Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Arba Minch, Ethiopia. This was a well-stocked library that had been funded with aid from the USA. At the age of nine I was introduced to a series of books in the library by my father that described the lives of animals from the animal's point of view. Although there were many titles in this series, two that stand out include Kpo the Leopard and Tarka the Otter. After completing the series (which were more than fifteen) I moved on to Hardy Boys, Nancy Drews, and Ken Holts, besides Nesbit, Enid Blyton, Jack London and Sir Henry Rider Haggard.

For me, the school library was a refuge, a place for learning and a place to pass time for me to fall back on in times of boredom. There were no TVs nor Cinemas in those times. The only pass times in those days were listening to music, reading books, evening drives into the forest and weekend fishing trips to the Chamo Lake to fish for Nile-Perch ( but then the trips were infrequent). At times, I remember poring through the encyclopedia, DIY books, Science Project books, History books and even textbooks. Besides my father who carefully selected the books that I should read, the librarians made sure to ask me what each book was about right after I returned it. I guess, they were surprised at the speed with which I was decimating the books. Later when the revolution took place and Emperor Haile Selassie was replaced by Comrade Mengistu Hailemariam, I took to reading the books that were taken off the shelf because of a change of regime. One of the off the shelf books had something to do with Lij Tafari Makonnen who would later become Haile Selassie the deposed Emperor.

Later when my parents got transferred to Addis Ababa, the Capital city of Ethiopia I became a member of the British Council Library. It was 1983 when I became a member of the library and the number of books that I had access to simply increased tremendously. This was a library where one had access to books of a wide variety. Today I am a member of the British Council Library in Delhi and the scope of books has increased. I have access to not only books and magazines, but also E-Journals,  and DVDs. It is embarrassing, however, to realise quite often that a few of the books borrowed by me have already been read. I do have a Kindle with me, (A thoughtful gift from the school) but then, I confess, I'd rather have a book to read!

A list of some of the writers that have fascinated me includes, J.G.Ballard, John Wyndham, Sir Henry Rider Haggard, E.Nesbit, Enid Blyton, H.G. Wells, Alistair Maclean, Andy McNab and so on. A few of these would be classical writers by now I guess! Everyone makes a start at reading at some time in life and it should be the prerogative of parents and teachers to inculcate this habit. The adage, "Reading makes a [Man/Woman] perfect" rings true even today! Students can increase their vocabulary by reading books, they learn to empathise better, and without doubt, reading enables students to express themselves better. It is for this reason that all schools should have a central library that caters to students of all grades. The central library should ideally be stocked with books, magazines, newspapers and even reference books but certainly not E-Books because E-Books and E-Journals can, in any case, be accessed by students at home. If actual books are on the way out then, it is the schools' responsibility to preserve the rich heritage of printed books for posterity and for students of the future to savour and cherish. An unfortunate and alarming trend lately has been to downsize and even limit the size of the library, sometimes closing it for senior students of grade eighth onwards.

Students who pick up the reading habit from grades one to fourth often lose interest because of the paucity of good libraries with books of their choice. By the time the student reaches grade ten or eleven, the reading habit would have disappeared. In many cases, schools, parents and teachers are to blame for this lack of interest in students of senior classes. Schools should attempt to revive the reading habit at grade ten to twelve levels by providing students with a well-stocked library that is welcoming, inviting and fun to be in. The lack of a proper reading environment in school and at home is a major reason why students of grades tenth to twelfth lose interest in reading. For a generation that has fed itself on books, it is a tragedy that books are no longer the craze!

This is It, This is It, This is It! - A poem

Don't Give Up!

When you come complaining, of  pain and frustration, ache and struggle,

I tell you to let it be, let it be,  for if there's a time to sweat and time to weep, there will
Be a time to sing, sing and revel! If these are difficult times of struggle and sweat,
There will surely be time to relax and celebrate the success that comes
After! This is as sure the day that comes after the night!

Let it be!

There will be a time to excel and a time to revel, a few years from now,

When we meet, you'll tell me, "This is it, this is it, this is it!" That's when I

Tell you, "You've arrived finally! You've certainly arrived, after a long journey."

 I"ll lift up my hat to salute one who struggled to succeed, even as we greet each other
And celebrate lessons learned together, of struggle sweat shed, teacher and student.

There will be a time to revel!

Time will tell  (true as the sun that rises) when the moment for wailing  and
Defeat is long past, and the turn for excellence is nigh. When we meet,
In a few years' time, we'll sing, "This is it this is it, this it!" And you reply, "I've arrived,
I've arrived, I've arrived." And all those memories  of despair, anger and confusion will
Drift away, blown away by the sweet breeze of joy and exultation.

You will finally arrive!

Therefore, I tell you, "the aches and pain will pass away, for success is made
Of hard work and struggle, so let it be, let it be, let it be, till we meet in years to
Come, and sing together in triumph - This is it, this is it, this is it, you've finally
Achieved success. The hours you struggled and bled, suffered despair and anguish
Have finally borne fruit, the sweetest you've ever had, the sweetest to the last."

The best is yet to be!

A Secondary School Classroom in a Posh Slum - A Poem

They flock into the classroom bedraggled and lost,

Clothes that are slept in, pyjamas and tee-shirts

Crumpled and crushed. Their jaws movie in unison 

As they chump on chewing gum, the flavour too 

Valuable to discard. The privileged few they are,

A generation pampered and spoiled by pelf and wealth.

After a class that starts so sure, a few moments later, they

Cry for help. They find the lessons unfair to bear, that calls

On them to focus on things so vague. Alas! What was so

Clear became so vague even as they try to drag their minds

From a party so cool! The music echoes in their mind till now.

They lack the strength to focus on things so sure, minds so

Fogged by party so late - the gum they chew would hide

The  food they ate. They lack the time to brush their teeth! 

Their faces do bear the brunt of night so late, to wash their

Faces would rob them of kisses to share. Thus they gossip 

Of night so late, even as the lesson does pace.

Of late night conquests they' d rather share,  than answer the

Questions that for lessons do matter. Alas to come school 

Would only mean, to share  exploits of night so late. And as

They open their tiffins to eat, smells of stale ham and rancid

Cheese does waft, food so bad minds to stall, all in a class that

The privileged could have. Spoiled children do waste their time,

They swim in scent so sharp, even as they gossip of

Late nights conquests that drowned their share. Of

Adventure so bold they cast about, for gleanings in

Class to take, and even as those do learn, to spoil

The lives of those who cared. And so the noise does

Increase for sure, a class that descends into chaos for sure!

 If only they'd the hunger to learn,

I'd be rewarded for calling them to care, my throat does rasp

From pleading for calm. Alas! I call aloud in vain! And so they flirt

With one another e'en as time does fly, and as the boards so

Near do loom, in panic to washroom do flee! And in the

Corridors do measure their pace, if only someone to share.

If money can buy success and love, who cares a hoot

For exams to boot! If only they'd know the  world so real

Where death doth defy dime of gold, and love does ditch

Pride and swagger. If only they'd burst their bubbles asunder,

My hat I'd lift to greet the thunder. Tear o tear walls asunder,

That hide from them the world of wonder.

Take them out to learn to fall but rise,  despair to hope

  Turn bitter to sweet and grief to joy! Let them see streams so

Clear, trees so green, fruits so ripe, and birds so bright.

Tear, o tear, walls that hide a world so rich from those who

Dream of tin-can worlds, with love so fake and food so stale!

If only they'd look at the real world, to live a hope a star to shine.

Alas! They loll and play, slouch and grouch, meet and

Greet - friends parted an hour or less. They are Kings 

And Queens of fantasy world who rule the roost and

Order the boot. Unlucky heirs of pride and vanity, they

 Rush to unburden the food that so late at night they ate,

Washroom meeting ground does make for minds that drift.

The creme de la creme studying in a secondary school

Classroom in a posh slum, alas, know naught of the world out there! 

Of manners or etiquettes and deportment they know naught, but 

Chew on gum and talk so loud, as they share their exploits to all. 

The food they ate, the drink they had, the trip they made

 Is what they share, of lesson who cares, when a party is nigh!

Tailorbirds and Kingfisher Birds in Gurgaon

I have come a long way from being woken early in the mornings by the twittering sparrows on the Bouganvilla to the sharp twits of the Tailorbird. While I miss the sparrows (a whole lot that has disappeared from the Gurgaon I once knew)  the twitterings of the Tailorbirds makes up for their absence. I wonder, how long it will be before the Tailorbirds are driven away too!

A lot has happened to Gurgaon since the early eighties, the renaming of the city to Gurgram being one, the most important however has been the virtual disappearance of greenery, water bodies, rivers and fields of mustard that once dotted this rather quaint and sleepy town. The advent of the twenty-first century and the tag of the Millennium city of Haryana have perhaps forced Gurgaon to shift gears perhaps beyond the capability of the town to bear!

But then, I return to the Tailorbirds that have reminded me of times gone by. Strangely enough, the birds simply wouldn't sit or rather perch still. I tried so hard to take a snap of one of them feeding on the blossoms of the Curry-Leaf tree, Alas! Each moment I picked up my camera, the bird would hop, flit and fly to another branch. This Hide and seek game would go on for a good fifteen minutes before either one of us would concede defeat.

Finally one fine day I was able to take a few snaps of this rather restless bird while it was perched on top of one the power lines passing by. I admit never having seen this bird during the eighties, I guess the sparrows would have driven it away! But then equally intriguing is the spotting of Kingfishers in the middle of the town, far, far, away from the nearest water body called the Basai Wetland. One can't help wondering if the Kingfishers might no have learned to adapt to a meal of insects if not fish!