Struggle in Biodiversity Survival

 

       Once upon a time, there were two friends who lived very close to each other. These friends, doob (Cynodon dactylon) and motha (Cyperus rotundus), were living in a farmer’s vegetable field. This farmer was koiri by caste. As is their nature, these two plants are considered to be noxious weeds by the Indian farmers because of these weeds are strongly competitive in using up nutrients and moisture from the soil. Because of this, they are weeded out from agricultural fields to maintain productivity the crops.

The farmer’s field where doob and motha were living was near a mahua (Madhuca latifolia) forest. Koiri caste members are very famous in Eastern Uttar Pradesh for keeping their agricultural fields free from weeds and subsequently they produce high quality vegetables. The farmer who possessed this particular agricultural field had started pulling these weeds from his field.

One day, first the doob grass had been weeded out by the farmer, using a spade, and was stored on the boundary of the agricultural land. After it had dried out, the doob was taken away by a neelkanth bird, to be used for his nest in the mahua tree (Madhuca latifolia). At the same time, every day, the motha was also being dug out by the farmer from his field. However, motha was struggling to stay alive in his original habitat. One day, due to the farmer’s excessive weeding, the motha got frustrated and demoralized, trying to survive in the field. Therefore, he decided to leave. He went out of the field and was passing near the mahua tree, where he met with his friend, the doob grass. As he passed by, the doob grass called out to the motha:

 

What happened, brother Motha and where are you going?

 

Motha replied:

 

What to do Behan (sister)? The farmer of my field has compelled me, through his frequent weeding, to leave the field. That’s why I have now decided to leave this habitat and I will go to another habitat where farmers do not disturb my survival.

 

Then doob responded:

 

Oh brother Motha, you have surrendered before the farmer’s weeding practices. Are you going to lose your real identity, for which you are so well known? Just look at me. I was also weeded out by the same farmer and was taken away by the neelkanth bird to be used in lining his nest. I was laying there in the nest for 6 months and nurtured the eggs and baby birds. A cyclone caused me to fall down on this bund and I was able to re-grow. Now, as you can see, I am fresh and green again. I will soon cover my own original area again.

Motha asked: Then what should I do?………

 

Doob replied:

 

There is nothing to do…, Just return back and keep on struggling to grow and re-grow ……….And maintain your identity as a struggler.  Don’t get disheartened. A day will come when the farmer in your habitat will be defeated by you, and after that you can survive forever in that place.

 

The motha became inspired by his friend doob’s suggestions. He returned back to his original habitat in the farmer’s field. He started again to re-grow, and one day consequently defeated the farmer’s practice of weeding every day. He was then able to survive permanently in that place, where he remains to this day.

This story, reflecting biodiversity, provides an important lesson to us: hard struggles lead to betterment and to the best possibly hopes for survival and success.

 

(Knowledge Provider: This folk story was learned from Late Shri Rambachan Singh (Village: Sonapur, P.O. Sewta-791102, District- Azamagrah, Uttar Pradesh, India) in 1988 and scouted by Dr. Ranjay K. Singh, College of Horticulture & Forestry, Central Agricultural University, Pasighat-791102, Arunachal Pradesh.

Anil K Gupta