Riding fast and furious on the expressway of evolution, we, the homo-sapiens, have surged far ahead of those species, which at one point of time in history might have been our close competitors.  While we have already attained preeminence on how to manage or mismanage our home planet- a tiny blue speck, revolving around a nondescript star, in a not so prominent galaxy, tucked in some corner of the Universe- we are now busy preparing the blueprint on how to conquest other worlds.  At the same time, with sheer ruthlessness, and desire to satiate our ever-increasing greed, we have already rendered several species extinct. But picture abhi baaki hai, dostoon!!!! As there is an ever-expanding list of species on our target, forever on the verge of extermination at our blood-stained hands. 

To highlight, and reinforce our firmly entrenched supremacy, we attribute demeaning characteristics to other species, which may or may not be true.  I am equipped to comment on this only from the Indian perspective (I am sure such comparisons are prevalent in other parts of the world also) where such misrepresentations are quite common.

The genesis of these is often hidden in the mists of time and can be assumed to have germinated along with the dawn of civilization and wisdom.  The more common ones are indelibly etched in public perception, and form part of the generic lingo, used by both, the masses, and the classes.  Foremost is the honor conferred on the dumb looking ass, whereby anyone showing remote signs of a weak intellect is referred to as ‘gadha’- the donkey.  That animal lovers take this with contempt and proclaim that the ass is an intelligent animal has not made any dent in this popular analogy.

Then there are the others- cunning like a cat, agile like a cheetah, fast like ‘Chetak’ the horse, faithful like a dog, repetitive like a parrot and so on. While these are all steeped in history, what excited me is being witness to the birth of an analogy that seems new and very innovative.

I first came across it in the national media in 2003, when the famous Punjabi pop singer, Daler Mehndi’s name was allegedly linked to an illegal immigration racket.  The victims of the scam, six gullible Punjabis from rural areas, were referred to as ‘kabootars’ or pigeons, in the reports that emanated on the disturbing case.  At that time, when this article was first penned, but left incomplete, I wondered why those who leave the country as illicit human cargo are equated to pigeons, which like to co-exist with others of the species, bonded together by a quest for sharing.  These traits seemed out of sync with the human ‘kabootars’, who choose to forsake their community, their loved ones and above all, the land of their birth, which, despite all its flaws, some real, others perceived, can still be their El Dorado, for a lonely life, fraught with uncertainty, in unknown, faraway lands.

As I mulled over the genesis of the analogy and commiserated the fate of those who regularly fall prey to the poisonous bait, laced with unreal dreams, I recollected another trait of the pigeon –   its legendary memory, that makes it possible to undertake long trips through unfamiliar lands, in adverse conditions and yet survive. This is fueled by a burning desire to return to where it belongs, its home.

I wish, and pray, that the same wisdom dawns on our ‘desi kabootars’. Insha Allah.

*** The wheels of justice, undoubtedly, move slowly in our country, but certainly, they do move. In 2003, I left this story incomplete. But after nineteen long years, I decided to finish it, when, recently, a Patiala court sentenced Mehndi to a two-year prison sentence, in the so called ‘kabootars’ case. Hopefully, this will serve as an eyeopener to the kabotaars, and those who spread the vicious net and lure them into it…