‘BEING ANIMAL’
‘Being Human’ is overrated- no matter which famous
personality espouses this as a worthy endeavor or no matter how many T-shirts
with those two words emblazoned across the front sell, the fact remains the
same- being human sucks! Let me list the many virtues of ‘Being Animal’…
Animals do not have a boastful bone in their body. They just
go about doing what they are meant to do – survive! A human always has an
agenda – put down other humans to feel powerful. What are the specific areas
that we can laud ‘Being Animal’ more than ‘Being Human’?
PARENTING
Humans just cannot let go. Long past their sell by date a
parent will try to be an integral part of their children’s lives manipulating
the bond under the guise of love, duty and kinship. Learn from an animal – once
it has taught it’s kid the basics of survival it leads its own life and does
not relive the past or flog the future. Be Animal and LET GO! It ensures the
legacy of a better species of Human…
ACCEPTANCE
‘Being animal’ you do not ever pass judgment on one of your
kind. That is uniquely ‘Being Human’. An elephant would never ostracize or
isolate one of its kind because it felt they did not measure up. You have to
only watch Nat Geo or Discovery or any other Nature channel on T.V to realize
that every species of animal live together with one agenda – survival. And,
they do whatever it takes to live in harmony to ensure their common goal.
‘Being Human’, not only are we divided over caste, creed or colour, we also
hone in on petty differences like weight, height, shape etc. Can you imagine a
tiger ‘fat shaming’ one of its kind? Or a zebra counting how many more stripes
another zebra has? Or an elephant comparing the length of it’s trunk? You get
my drift? Superficialities are the bane of a human’s existence…
SUPPORT
If a lion attacks a Cape Buffalo it has to make darn sure
that it picks an isolated or a weak one in the herd. Otherwise it runs the risk
of being trampled or gored by the others which come charging to the rescue of
their stricken brethren. That is ‘Being Animal’ – rushing to the aid of a
fellow creature no matter the personal risk to itself. ‘Being Human’ does not
have such a strict ‘Support your Bro Code’ – it is a random throw of the dice
more dependent on a stray spark of humanity than a strict norm. In recent
times, especially in India, ‘Being Human’ entails cell phones being whipped out
at the scene of an accident and gruesome recordings circulated for viewing.
GENDER DISCRIMINATION
You see the male of the animal kingdom lovingly build a nest
for its mate. Why, some fish even change sex to give birth to their young! The
ostrich will guard the egg with its life, while some male birds will sit on the
egg till it hatches. There are no roles based on gender – whatever ensures
survival is the role that is adopted – whether a provider or a beneficiary,
there is a beautiful coalescing of the core need – to exist as a harmonious
unit. And this transcends across every species of animal on land, sea or air.
‘Being Human’ especially in a country like India (sadly, the unique
distinction, again!) one thing is very clear. The peacock human male struts and
harasses the human peahen trying to denigrate her role into the silent, weaker
half. Have you ever seen a female hippo being eve teased? Or a female giraffe
forced to sit in a corner, hidden from sight, relegated to the role of a cook
and cleaner only? Or the female of any species made to feel inferior, the way
we humans do?
EQUALITY
‘Being animal’ does not relegate you to a role based on
gender. Your role is defined purely by your skill set. In a pride, the male
lion marks his territory while the lioness makes the kill having honed her
hunting skills to perfection. Go figure!
‘Being Animal’ entails accepting your role and being true to
nature. ‘Being Human’ has deviated so far off course that we have to remind
ourselves to BE HUMAN and make it a cause.
This doomsday scenario was beautifully encapsulated in the
verse of a famous poet many centuries ago. He wrote-
‘If this belief from Heaven sent
If such be Nature’s Holy plan
Have I not reason to lament
What Man has made of Man?
And no, I am not going to name the poet. Google it- ‘Being
Human’ has a few advantages….
Nimmou Nilakantan
