The lost idyllic world is not completely lost

The bird is insistent, "Bou katha kao". Insistent and tireless, it breaks the silence of the dawn. An early riser who has just returned home in his village after years of mental banishment from the idyllic rural setting thankfully accepts this as a blessing from Nature or even from divinity. The three words are distinct, clear and sweet. At that early hour, the feathered and restless wanderer pours sweetness into the years of the homecomer. Has the bird instinctively known that the man has returned after decades from his exile in the loveless, mechanic, polluted and at times hostile environment of the mega city called Dhaka? Throughout the day, it continues to harp on the "bou katha kao" tune from the canopy of trees all around the lonely home. But it does not show itself. Much as one tries to see the bird, its call shifts from one direction to another. Like a temptress, 'shey je chamke berai, dristi erai, jaina tare badha' (continues to startle, evading sight and refusing any entanglement).

There is a misconception that the black-hooded oriole commonly known as halde pakhi, kalo matha benebou, kutum pakhi and sona bou makes this insistent call, "Bou katha kao". No, the benebou's call sounds like "isti kutum". Bou katha kao (Indian Cuckoo) is not as colourful as benebou. In fact, it is dusky with some black cross stripes on the underbelly and some white dots surrounding the fringe of its tail. Benebou is not as shy as the black-hooded oriole nor is it completely loner. At times a couple or more of them appear on branches not far from where people are. But the Bou katha kao is lonely, elusive and yet weaves a charm all its own.

Sure enough, the pristine villages of Bengal have long disappeared but Nature is still generous if some homesteads allow the local trees to grow to a verdant cover all around. Birds are sure to consider such places their special abodes. Not only the Benebou, Bou katha kao, several other winged species converge there to turn one such place an idyllic haven. The earliest to make the call is "chok gelo". Right from the predawn, this bird is also highly insistent to repeat the same tune at a high pitch like classical music's high notes at a fast pace. One's soul is transposed to an wonderland when several other birds also join it to make a chorus of twitter all around. Or, maybe, where one has ended, another takes over to sing its part, then another and then yet another.

What else can be more divine than such a world of chirping where the winged players and musicians never fail a beat! Human beings need a host of musical instruments but here the musicians do not need any and they can pour honey into the ears of those who care to listen. The air is fresh and invigorating. Bliss it is to be among the companies of these feathered friends. Nature is full of joy and happiness.

An invisible special bond is created with these winged companions. If undisturbed, they return in flocks to stay the night on tree tops or in the bamboo clumps. But when guest birds such as lesser whistling ducks or cotton pygmy geese/cotton teals stay back to nest on a palm tree and raise their chicks in that neighbourhood, the story looks like stranger than fiction. But it is true and the lonely human resident there made all she could do to keep the poachers at bay. But once the baby teals made their forays out of the nest into the pond below, a few wicked boys chased those.

Notwithstanding her protective watch almost round the clock, on a fateful day when the resident of the house was briefly away from home, the boys caught two of the chicks from the pond as those could not fly yet. On hearing this, she rescued one to return it to its parents but the other died. The parents with their surviving three chicks then left the area for an unknown destination.

Thus a most amazing bond between birds and a human being ended on a sad note. The mischievous kids who did the damage are representative of human society that is hostile to lives of others including of his own kind. The world could obviously be a better place to live in if children were taught to respect life ---all lives--- in order to abhor hostility and make friendly relations. People who feel the urge for bonding with Nature can never deny the universality and uniqueness of Nature. Once this principle is set, the world can avoid enmity, hostility and strife ---a prerequisite for peace of mind and sustainability of human relations and even civilisation.