Sincere efforts never go in vain. This is a poem which reaffirms this conviction, narrating a myth from the Raamaayana, in which the sincere, but trivial-looking efforts of a little squirrel are appreciated by Shree Raama during the construction of the bridge - Raama-Setu - to Lanka.
How Did Squirrels Get Stripes On Their Back?
The vast, roaring ocean
Posed an incredible task on
Sugreeva’s army, toiling, tenacious;
Huge, heavy rocks, mountainous,
Inscribed with “Raama”, the holy name, redeemer,
On the dancing waves, lay together,
Forming the bridge, unbelievable,
Across the ocean, unfathomable,
Beyond the cape of Indian peninsula,
To Raavana’s golden kingdom, Lanka ….
Time was too less,
The task, enormous,
Hurrying past the trail,
Someone spotted a squirrel,
Rolling vigorously on the sand,
Gathering sand on its fluffy back,
Filling hands with a pebble or two,
As much as could be carried through,
And then racing to the bridge,
To empty the carried loads on it.
“What’s going on, little one ?
Why are you pacing along ?”
“Trying to lend a helping hand,
In this titanic task, my friend !!”
“Oh really ??!!” Jested the soldier,
And the ensuing wave of laughter,
Caught Shree Raama’s caring ears.
He came to see the tiniest of troopers.
He lifted the tiny critter, tenderly,
The little soldier said, shyly,
“I too, wanted to contribute ….”
“Oh, why not ? I do truly value
Your piety, sincerity and effort !”
Full of love, said the Lord,
The earth and sky and world yonder,
Echoed with immense joy and cheer.
Shree Raama ran His fingers, gently,
On the fluffy back of his little devotee,
As stripes, marks of love, appear,
To be on squirrel’s back, then on, forever.
Vanita Thakkar (10-06-2023)
This poem narrates a very famous story from the Raamaayana, which has always inspired me. I narrate it during my teaching sessions or talks and on relevant occasions.
In the modern fast world of competitions and acquisitions, it is easy to underestimate the value of true, but seemingly trivial individual efforts. This story shows that each individual effort is important in team work. A true leader, like Lord Raama, accepts and appreciates every contributor.
One gets reminded of this incident even as a lone, significant contributor in thankless working conditions, which may be due to working under substandard leadership / administration.
Background ....
According to the Raamaayana, Raama, the crown price of Ayodhya was spending an exile of 14 years in the forests to fulfill his father, Dasharatha's promise to his step-mother, Kaikeyi. His wife, Sita and younger brother, Lakshman were with him. During the last year of this tenure, the demon king Raavana kidnapped his wife, Sita. Raama went to Lanka to rescue Sita, with the army of his friend, Sugreeva, the king of Kishkindha.
This incident took place when Raama's army was building a bridge, known as the Raama-Setu, from the southern tip of the Indian Peninsula to Lanka.
I Love Squirrels ....
Squirrels are cute little creatures, with their restless alertness singing and dancing on squeaky sounds and wavy, jumpy tails.
Needless to say, squirrels remind of the inspiring story narrated in the poem above.
I enjoy watching squirrels play around in gardens and munching food I offer them. There are plenty of squirrels in the gardens around the Hansa Mehta Library of the M. S. University of Baroda, which I used to visit regularly during my college days. During tea or lunch breaks, many a squirrels would oblige me and my friends by eating biscuits, nuts, bread or any snacks that we would have carried with us. My friends would tease me, "Here comes your Raama Nee Khiskoli (meaning, Raama's Squirrel. In Gujarati, squirrel is called Khiskoli) ...."
Mahadevi Verma's Pet Squirrel - Gillu ....
Squirrels also remind me of the Hindi story by the renowned Hindi Poetess and Author, Mahadevi Verma, titled - Gillu. It is a very touching story of the author's pet squirrel - Gillu. She had rescued Gillu as a little baby squirrel which had somehow dropped off his nest and was attacked by crows. Gillu could be brought back to senses by great efforts and he stayed on with his saviour through out his life. The story describes a unique relationship between the author, Mahadevi Verma and Gillu and incidents that highlight Gillu's love, playfulness, intelligence and sensitivity.
A Sad Incident ....
In 2005, when I was working at Government Polytechnic, Rajkot, one evening, while returning home from work, a squirrel, hurrying past the road near the main gate of the college, came under my scooter and got badly injured. I immediately stopped the scooter and rushed to see what best could be done. Two little boys, who were playing nearby, immediately came to help. They were probably the children of some security staff members living nearby. The rear body parts, back and hind legs of the squirrel had almost flattened and it looked half-dead. I was terribly sorry. The little boys brought water and we tried to see if she could be saved.
The Government Polytechnic at Rajkot is in the outskirts of the city, in the industrial area. The little boys insisted that I should leave immediately.
"Madam, please leave as soon as possible. It will be dark soon. We will take care of the squirrel ...." They promised me that they would try their best to save the squirrel and if it could not survive, which looked more likely, they would prayerfully put it to rest.
I left, with a heavy heart, feeling sorry and praying, trying to console myself that Raama would take care of His squirrel.
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