Anthills

I remember walking with my grandma in the neighborhood to feed cows and dogs on hot lazy afternoons. The cows lay ruminating in the large shade of a tall berry tree (tutu तुतू). The dogs salivating with their tongues out to keep themselves cool. It was very typical of a midsize peripheral city. 

For me, the tall anthills in the grass nearby were a major attraction. Every-time we passed by those, I used to wonder if there were snakes hiding in there. Grandma used to relieve the fear and apprehension. On the way, she told stories of Dattaguru- who is always seen with a cow and dogs, or of Navanaths. She used to tell how the ants build those castles with diligent work and not giving up. She also talked about just how Dattaguru had many teachers and gained knowledge from these natural preceptors; everyone has ability to learn from the resources around them. My grandma was a multitasker and was good with gardening. Her lack of formal education wasn’t a barrier to her keen observation. She knew and cared a lot about all the living things - the small insects, plants, birds and animals in the backyard, and of course humans! She had dogs and parrot as pets. She knew how to grow rose plantation and even knew how to create a hybrid. She was a naturally intelligent and smart woman.

Listening to her stories, inspired me to be curious and inquisitive. I enjoyed thinking about those tiny creatures, their colonies and communities; their well-orchestrated, helpful and industrious behavior backed by science. Later in school, I learnt about the ecologic importance of insects- ants, bees and bugs, the chemical signaling for interpersonal communication- the never-ending cooperation and coordination. 

Many years later, when I watched the animated movie Antz and luckily visited the Disneyland- It was deja vu! Imagination coming true- DreamWorks!! The story of the protagonist feels like an imposter or a 'wrong man in workers' paradise' who makes his way and by overcoming his self-imposed limitations becomes a Hero saving the colony!

No wonder, I bought a science-experiment game of building ant colonies for my children! 

नन्हीं चींटी जब दाना लेकर चलती है
चढ़ती दीवारों पर, सौ बार फिसलती है
मन का विश्वास रगों में साहस भरता है
चढ़कर गिरना, गिरकर चढ़ना न अखरता है
आख़िर उसकी मेहनत बेकार नहीं होती
कोशिश करने वालों की हार नहीं होती 

Images borrowed from 

https://tunza.eco-generation.org/ambassadorReportView.jsp?viewID=44650

https://www.shreeswami.org/dattatreya/