Teetiri protects the grassland - 23 - Bade Miya and Chote Miya

23

Bade Miya and Chote Miya

While all the birds were waiting, Salonki had flown straight to the village. She had not stopped anywhere in the grassland. She had indeed felt extremely tempted when she saw Chimini and her cousins alighting on some foodgrain bullock carts that were returning to the village. She controlled herself, remembering Kotwal and Teetiri’s strict instructions. She had to meet Guturgu as fast as possible, seek his advice and return to the grassland. Teetiri and Kotwal would be waiting for her.

She could see some of blue-rock pigeons, Guturgu’s relatives, flying near the foodgrain sheds. Guturgu was sure to be sitting there. But what if he was not to be found there? She could not risk wasting time searching for Guturgu. She could not go around the entire village. What if Guturgu had gone to visit some other village? She needed information. Sure and reliable information to help her search for Guturgu. And she thought she knew where she could get some good information.

She had some very reliable and very strong friends. These were the oxen belonging to the groundnut farmer. He had his cropfields near the grassland. Salonki alighted at the farmer’s foodgrain shed. She knew his bullock cart, and had sat on the backs of the oxen that pulled it. She knew both the oxen and was friendly with them. Teetiri and Kotwal were also good friends of both the oxen. The three of them helped the oxen by picking off insects from their body. Actually only Salonki and Kotwal did that, by perching on the backs of the oxen. Teetiri stayed nearby, picking up the insects that got disturbed by the farmer’s plough  that was pulled by the oxen.

Salonki knew that she could safely sit near the oxen and talk to them about Teetiri and Kotwal. The oxen would not get angry at Salonki’s presence. Teetiri always preferred to follow the oxen when the farmer released them at the edge of his cropfield while he worked on the groundnut crop. They would not welcome Teetiri while they rested. Kotwal, perhaps, may be equally as welcome as Salonki. Kotwal was also friendly with the oxen, daring to perch on their backs. But it was Salonki that the oxen really trusted. They allowed her to perch even an inch away from their eyes. Salonki perched so dangerously in order to pick off the small insects from their ears and near their eyes.

The shorter, slimmer and younger ox was called Bade Miya (Big Man), while the taller, fatter and older one was called Chote Miya (Small Man). This seemed to be like a joke for the farmers, Salonki thought, for they always laughed when they called the oxen by their names. These oxen were a favourite with all the villagers because they always won prizes at the bullock-cart races. So, what brings you here to the village, so far away from your grassland, asked Bade Miya. Salonki hopped on to Chote Miya’s back, gestured to Bade Miya to have some patience, and took huge gasps of breath. She had flown very rapidly from the grassland in order to reach the village. Chote Miya was however not going to be patient. Yes, what brings you here to the village, my favourite tick-eater, Chote Miya asked Salonki. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 24 - Salonki asks for Guturgu at the village

24

Salonki asks for Guturgu at the village

I need to find Guturgu, the blue-rock pigeon, and seek his advice on taking revenge on Billi, Salonki told Bade Miya and Chote Miya. Billi is hiding in the marsh near the grassland and frightening all the birds, Salonki added. Bade Miya snorted angrily. Billi is hiding in the marsh near the grassland? That would not do, that would not do, that would not do, Bade Miya said, and angrily snorted and shook his head up and down and sideways. Chote Miya also nodded vigorously. The marsh is my favourite resting spot during the hot noon sun. I need the marsh, to relax, after a hard day's work at the cropfields.

Bade Miya added, we need the marsh, and we need all our bird friends. We need Kotwal, the black drongo, Salonki, the common myna, and her cousins, along with Teetiri and Teetiraa, the redwattled lapwings. We need all our friends while we rest and wallow in the marsh. Salonki also nodded and added that all the birds also loved their presence. The presence of the oxen in the marsh disturbed the insects from its bottom and provided easy food for most birds. Especially Salonki and her cousins and for Kotwal. They simply loved to perch on the backs of the oxen.

Billi should be chased away from the marsh, Bade Miya said. And who would do that, would you? asked Chote Miya sarcastically. Yes. Yes. I can chase Billi away. I can chase all the village dogs. I am not a coward like you, replied Bade Miya. Coward? Who are you calling a coward? Chote Miya asked. You. I am calling you a coward. Bade Miya retorted and  added, I would have loved to go with Salonki right away to chase Billi from the marsh, but I am tied down to the post by my farmer. What can I do? I am helpless right now.

Chote Miya snorted angrily, and said that it was more likely because Bade Miya had just eaten a lot of sugarcane, and could not even move from his spot. Bade Miya again rose to retort, but Salonki decided not to hang around and listen to this conversation that went back and forth throughout the day. Salonki knew that these two could argue upon absolutely useless topics for days and weeks without any purpose. They had nothing else to do. They had to sit next to each other, walk alongside each other, work with each other, and live with each other as long as their farmer kept them together. Without seeking any more advice from Bade Miya or Chote Miya, Salonki flew off to the flock of pigeons and to ask them about Guturgu. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 25 - Salonki meets Guturgu

25

Salonki meets Guturgu

Salonki flew up to the roof of the nearest shed. There were about twenty blue-rock pigeons sitting there, cooing loudly, with two very vain male pigeons, rotating themselves in circles,  trying to impress the lady pigeons. It would be better to seek information from these pigeons rather than Bade Miya or Chote Miya, thought Salonki. The pigeons were present on about six to seven roofs of the grain sheds. A very audible humming noise could be heard once one landed amongst the pigeons. Salonki wondered whether they chatted with each other. Whether they gossipped with each other.  The pigeon flock seemed totally unlike Chimini and her cousins or Salonki' relatives when they gathered together. You could hear them throughout the grassland when they started talking.

The pigeons became strangely silent the moment Salonki landed on the shed's roof. The humming stopped, and the vain male pigeons stopped circling themselves, and stood warily, watching Salonki. It was then that Salonki realised that there were hardly any other birds within the pigeons on the roofs. Alarmed, she looked around at the nearby sheds. Again there were none, except if you included Kaawla's cousin, who was cawing above the sweet merchant's shop.

She wondered if the pigeons would attack her because she had come inside their space. But then, she remembered, pigeons did not attack mynas. So she must be safe. Was she, Salonki wondered. She asked the nearest pigeons about Guturgu. They did not answer.  She walked inside the flock, and asked the vain male pigeons about Guturgu. They kept silent. And suddenly, one of the female pigeons made an abrupt gesture of flapping her wings and jumping up and down on the roof, as though in alarm. Taken aback, Salonki stepped out of the flock's space on the shed's roof.

From up above among the clouds, flying about almost unseen, a young male pigeon, very proud of his ability to fly in tight circles for a long time, flew down rapidly like an arrow, and came to an abrupt halt, barely two inches from Salonki. He stood beak-to-beak, barely an eyeblink away from Salonki's eye, and asked, and who asks, may I know? Surprised, Salonki replied, I am Salonki, from the grassland. I have come to meet Guturgu. The answer did not seem to have satisfied the young male pigeon, for he did not move away from Salonki, and asked again, And why do you think Guturgu should talk to you? All the other pigeons seemed to step closer now, including the vain male pigeons who seemed to have been frightened earlier. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 28 - Guturgu gives advice to Salonki

28

Guturgu gives advice to Salonki

Would the marsh also come to this, Salonki wondered. Would the mynas, sparrows, bulbuls, lapwings and drongos, continue to live peacefully in the grassland? Would they have to begin to develop a very alert and attentive system like Guturgu and his pigeons?  This seemed so silly. Why live like this? Forever fearful? Thankfully, the grassland was not like the village, except for the danger from Naag or Dhaman or Shikra or Shaheen. Salonki whispered to himself. Probably these were the dangers of living near or in human settlements. What was Guturgu thinking? Was it so difficult to get rid of Billi? Would Guturgu be able to help? Would Salonki, Teetiri and Kotwal have to wait until Bade Miya went into the marsh to chase Billi away? Salonki wondered.

I can sense your worries, my old friend. You are thinking if your grassland would also become a dangerous place, with unknown enemies, Guturgu said. Yes, Salonki said, we can survive with our known enemies, like Naag, Dhaman or Kaawla. Sometimes we can fool Shikra or Shaheen. But animals like Billi will bring other problems with them. We cannot survive without our water. We need the marsh in the grassland, Salonki added. Guturgu nodded and hmmmmmed. I do not think I can help you as much as you hope I can do magic immediately to chase Billi away from the grassland. Do you not see how we live her, in constant fear of various animals? Guturgu asked.

I cannot lend you strength or wisdom, Salonki my friend. You need to solve this problem with your own strengths, Guturgu said. It is not wise to invite others to help you when danger threatens you inside your own house. You need to work together, Guturgu advised and added, all the birds in the grassland need to think about this together. You can do it. The answer is within you. You need to search for it, my dear friend, Guturgu said. Those who live together will always help each other. Do as we do. See how well we have organised ourselves.We have not lost a pigeon for the past more than sixty days. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 30 - Salonki returns to the grassland

30

Salonki returns to the grassland

Salonki left Guturgu, puzzled and disappointed, and flew straight to Bade Miya and Chote Miya. They seemed to be arguing in very lazy voices, about the usefulness of their tails to chase away mosquitoes and flies that were hovering above them. Bade Miya wanted to use his tail to kill the insects, while Chote Miya was arguing that the tail should only be used to chase away the insects. Not to kill them. Chote Miya's opinion was that dead insects would be replaced with more and more new insects. It was better to have the number of insects that they were familiar with. Salonki perched upon Chote Miya's forehead and told them about Guturgu's advice about Bater and how the birds of the grassland need to protect the marsh by themselves. Bade Miya snorted immediately and said, what use is that advise? How can Bater help? He is a tiddly-piddly-widly small little scared ghost of a bird. He is frightened of the slightest movement of grass. Maybe the sight of his cousin jungle bush-quail would also frighten him. How can he help?

Chote Miya snorted angrily and told Salonki, O friend, do not get taken in by Bade Miya's words. He is more frightened of Billi or the village dogs than he would care to admit. He is of no use and his advise is also of no use. Do not misunderstand Guturgu, Chote Miya said. Guturgu is very wise, and usually knows what he is talking about. If he means that you have the strength in you to fight Billi, then Guturgu is correct. If Guturgu asks you to take Bater's help, then do it. Go and take Bater's help to fight Billi.

Puzzled at the strange advice from Guturgu being confirmed by Bade Miya and Chote Miya, Salonki flew back to the grassland. She flew nonstop to the lone babool stem near the marsh and perched on it to take some rest. Teetiri did not seem to be nearby. Kotwal could be seen perched on a high branch on the babool tree. All the other mynas were now settling down in the babool tree, some chattering, some flying back and forth from the river at the edge of the grassland. The farmers had returned on their bullock carts, filled with the foodgrain that they had harvested today. There must be a lot of spilled grain along the river edge where the carts had crossed over, Salonki thought. She could see mynas, doves, pigeons and sparrows feeding rapidly at the river-edge. There were a lot of birds flying about behind the bullock carts and in the cropfields beyond the river. 

Salonki called out to Kotwal and Teetiri. Hearing Salonki, Kotwal flew down immediately from his perch, while Teetiri was not to be seen. She must have gone back to the nest, Kotwal said. She is not here? She is not here? asked a worried Salonki. We need Teetiri. Guturgu gave some useless advice. We need Teetiri, Salonki gasped. Calm down, calm down, Kotwal said. We will get Teetiri back. Let us wait till she comes back from the nest. No, No, No, said Salonki and added, we will need to search for Teetiraa to return to the nest so that Teetiri can come back to help plan against Billi. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 31 - Salonki tells the story about Guturgu

31

Salonki tells the story about Guturgu

Salonki told Kotwal the entire story about Guturgu and Bade Miya and Chote Miya. Upon hearing about Guturgu's confusing advice, Kotwal agreed with Salonki that Teetiri should be part of the plan to chase Billi away from the marsh. He said that he would search for Bater while Salonki should go to talk to her partner and relatives at the babool tree. It was a wonder that Billi had not already run away from the marsh while listening to the mynas chattering away non-stop and so loudly. Kotwal did not agree with Salonki that Teetiraa had to be called back to take Teetiri's place at the nest. Let us search for Bater first, offered Kotwal. He may perhaps know more about tackling Billi than we may know. Who knows? Kotwal shrugged.

Kotwal flew off across the grassland in search of Bater. He flew up high, trying to decide which area should be searched first. He could see Teetiraa hunting for insects near the river’s edge. He went up to the river and perched on an arjuna tree. There was Bulbul, moving around inside the arjuna tree branches. Phoolchuki's cousins were arguing nearby. Teetiraa seemed to be talking to some of his cousins from across the river. He could hear Teetiraa calling out to his cousins with short abrupt calls and their replies in a similar manner.

The sparrows were also enjoying themselves here, feeding on the fallen foodgrain and drinking at the various small puddles near the river, and getting themselves wet. Bater was not to be seen. How does one search for Bater? How could he search for Bater? He knew that the jungle bush quail was a very nervous bird, very protective of its children, rushing off in a great hurry, always seeming to go somewhere urgently. He had not seen Bater stop to chat with anyone. He had not heard any gossip about Bater. So how did he go about in the grassland without any other bird actually knowing about him and his family?

This would not do, thought Kotwal. He needed help.  He could not go about alone trying to search for the jungle bush quail in the grassland. He had to take help from his family. Even if he did not like to depend upon his family, he would have to go and ask them to help him search for Bater. He flew back and forth across the river, searching on both the banks. He knew that his father loved to sit in the shade of the arjuna trees and hunt for insects flying above the dry river bed. It seemed like a good day to meet up with his father, thought Kotwal, watching the numerous insects flying about. He could see at least four other black drongos flying out of a large arjuna tree and catching an insect each on every attempt. That was probably the spot where he would be able to catch up with his father, he thought. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 37 - Bater does not want Billi in the grassland

37

Bater does not want Billi in the grassland

Bater immediately agreed with all the birds of the grassland that Billi had to be chased out of the marsh. It was an important part of the grassland. The birds needed the marsh. Even the jungle bush quail depended upon the marsh for its water during summer. But, how could the birds do it? Bater asked. Salonki intervened and spoke of her trip to the village. She spoke of her meeting with Bade Miya and Chote Miya and of her audience with Guturgu. Phoolchuki, Darzi and Bulbul listened in awe at Salonki’s description about Guturgu and his way of life.

Salonki spoke about Guturgu’s confidence that Bater would be the most important bird in the grassland to get rid of Billi. Teetiri had also immediately agreed to the suggestion. Frankly, Salonki said, she was still to comprehend how Bater could help, but that was the only option that was suggested to them. The other option was to wait for Bade Miya, the short ox, to chase Billi tomorrow. But, Teetiri had warned against allowing Bater to stay overnight peacefully in the marsh. So now, all the birds of the grassland were waiting for Bater to show some magic and chase Billi out of the marsh. Bater was amazed that Guturgu had proposed him.

So where was Teetiri? Bater asked Kotwal. Why was she not here along with Phoolchuki, Darzi, Bulbul, Salonki and the drongos? And where was Guturgu? Kotwal looked around at the other birds for help. It was Bulbul who helped out at the crucial moment. Teetiri was at her nest, while Teetiraa was at the riverbank, feeding for himself. Surely you would understand that, Bulbul added, you cannot risk leaving your nest, no matter what the problem. Phoolchuki took up the task, and said, you would have to go across the grassland, to meet Teetiri near the marsh. By the time we reach the spot, Teetiraa would have taken over at the nest and Teetiri would be free to guide the birds to protect the grassland.

Teetiri protects the grassland - 39 - Bater travels across the grassland

39

Bater travels across the grassland

Having got Bater to agree to the plan, Salonki went about gathering all the mynas and asked them to also fly back to the babool tree near the marsh. Kotwal asked Phoolchuki, Dominga, Darzi and Salonki to return with him, flying directly above Bater, so that they would be sure of the safety of the jungle bush quail. Soon there was this large movement of birds flying about in the grassland, with more than a hundred mynas returning to the babool tree. Dominga, Phoolchuki, Darzi, and Salonki also flew back to the edge of the marsh, along with Kotwal. Salonki flew down to Bater and asked the jungle bush quail to stop a little distance away from the marsh. Kotwal and Phoolchuki flew down to meet Teetiri.

Teetiri was waiting for them at the lone babool stem. Teetiraa had gone to take over at the nest.  Teetiri did not know what was happening since Salonki had left for the village. Kotwal explained the situation to her, right from Salonki’s meetings with Bade Miya, Chote Miya and Guturgu, to the search for Bater and the help from all the drongos. Kotwal also spoke about how Salonki and her cousins took over the grassland, made it impossible for predators and non-predators to live peacefully in the habitat. Teetiri smiled at that, because she had noticed the movement of mynas and drongos from her nest. She had wondered as to what was happening, but she could not leave her nest. Kotwal then spoke about Bater, his fears, and of how the drongos and mynas provided air cover to the jungle bush quail’s rapid run across the grassland.

But what was to be done about Bater? Salonki asked. We searched for Bater, merely because Guturgu asked us to, Teetiri replied,  but we were not told about what Bater has to do against Billi. What can Bater or the other jungle bush quail do against larger, much larger, and dangerous cats? Can Bater go and frighten Billi off the marsh? He was frightened to cross the grassland. Phoolchuki also added her own question, Yes, how can Bater fight Billi? Darzi and Bulbul nodded their beaks in agreement to Phoolchuki’s question. Salonki seemed to get very agitated that everybody agreed with her about Bater’s uselessness at this time of crisis in the grassland. And Bater was the only option that they seemed to have.

Yes, yes, Bater is such a frightened and panicky bird, Kotwal said. And very good at asking questions. He kept on asking me questions. He may be timid, secretive and looks like he is very frightened. But he is very courageous in protecting himself. He knows how to protect his family and does that no matter what, Kotwal added. That is all very good, but how can Bater fight Billi, Darzi asked. A worried Teetiri asked Salonki if Guturgu had given any indication of what Bater has to do in this fight? Salonki merely shook her head sideways. Guturgu said that we should solve our problems ourselves, we should act together, we should be united, the grassland belongs to all the birds and something about being able to fight together, etcetra etcetra, Salonki said. But he did not explain what Bater could do about it. We are supposed to think it out ourselves, perhaps. 

Teetiri protects the grassland - 44 - Teetiri decides on the plan to fight Billi

44

Teetiri decides on the plan to fight Billi

Teetiri quickly outlined her plan to fight Billi. It would require the participation of all the birds of the grassland. Each one would have a separate role to remove Billi from the marsh. First, she called Bater aside and told him about his and his family’s role in the plan. Next, Kotwal was told to bring together his family and explain to them about their part of the strategy. The plan would require excellent coordination between Kotwal and the drongos and Bater and the jungle bush quail. Teetiri would lead the attack like the leader that she was just elected to be.

Next, came the role of the lone birds, Darzi, Phoolchuki and Bulbul. Darzi was asked to go with Phoolchuki and play their roles exactly as Teetiri had told them to. After the lone birds, it was the responsibility of the large flocks, namely the mynas and the sparrows. Salonki was asked to explain to her family of more than a hundred mynas about their role. Chimini had come back from the cropfields with her large family of sixty-seven sparrows. They were also given a role in this plan. All the birds of the grassland went about to begin the war against Billi. Except Bulbul.

Bulbul sat on a low babool branch that swung low over the marsh. He had not been told about the entire plan. He was only told that his role would be to sit on the low babool branch and keep watching Billi. That was to be his entire role. Teetiri had worried that he would perhaps not be able to keep it as a secret. But because of his location, Bulbul saw the entire war happen out there that day in the grassland. He went back to tell other bulbuls in the village of what he saw, and how the birds defeated Billi and chased him away from the grassland. The bulbuls later told the story to Bade Miya and Chote Miya. Bade Miya told the story to Kaawla Chacha while Chote Miya excitedly added some unrelated parts while telling the story to Guturgu. The “War of the Marsh Waters”, as it came to be known was later told by Bade Miya, Guturgu, Kaawla Chacha and Bulbul to several other birds and animals. It became known as a famous war, and the story is still being told out there in the grassland. Here is how it happened.