A white Ibis family on a Coconut palm early in the morning in our garden! These are native birds but not usually seen in our garden. I noticed a few Ibis on the same palm in the previous evening. Was it their night shelter! As the coconut tree is adjacent to the stream flowing below, I have noticed other water birds also on the same palm during this season.
While they too are welcome in the garden, the unfortunate outcome is that small birds such as Kingfisher, Wood pecker, Parakeet, Magpie Robin, etc. stay out of their territory.
This is also the nesting season of these water birds. Their nest is a platform of twigs on. tree adjacent to a stream. I shall look out for nests.
About thirty species of birds visit our garden almost every day. Anna has been active to provide nesting huts for some small birds.
It is when we think about the avians we get to see the other side of life-the non permanency of the rhythm of life they follow. Excepting for the nesting season, they would not be found in the same place. They move about and live in and around the places, where they can find their daily bread. They surely shall find their daily bread.
We live in stressful times when finding enough food is going to be even more difficult for those who live on daily wages. Their income would not suffice to buy food form the open market. The local governments seem to be less interested to expand the net work of subsidised food supply through ration shops as it 'impoverishes' the government financially. The shift is towards providing infrastructure by denying welfare support. This is a discordant approach. Is it not possible to be fair to both!
As I watch the transition from a socialistic view of life to a capitalistic orientation in India, I feel disturbed and confused. The ownership of property, resources, wealth, industry, education, health care, governance, etc seem to be dominantly in the control of private citizens or companies. The governments seem to promote this because of the political advantage of thriving on the favours they receive from those whom the governments promote. The companies received a tax cut during the dispensation of the current central government and not those who have limited income!
I wonder whether the honourable Supremer Court, while appointing an expert committee to propose measures to settle the farmer's woes, was inclusive in its approach! Why is that the expert committee of four are members, who have publicly supported the three farm laws against which the farmers are protesting for forty days in Delhi!
Is it that justice is not even for all!
Just as the big birds displace the smaller ones, there is inequality of opportunity for those who live in the margins of society!
This is worrying to say the least!
M.C.Mathew (text and photo)
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