By: Klinsa Kurien, Bureau Chief-ICN Kerala
This summer I became like a nature lover in Kerala, adoring it in all its creature- beauty. It was after ages and ages that I pursued my age- old hobby of chasing butterflies. Butterfly- is actually a mouth watering word, the first word makes our mouth really water. They flit about every place innocently and when they reach something pleasant like grass, leaves or small rocks, finally settle down to rest for a while. But there are not many butterflies to be seen due to globalization, cutting down of trees and grass and also converting forest lands into housing colonies.
In my experience gazing and chasing a butterfly gives immense pleasure and happiness. The best part is that the more you try to chase it, the more it escapes. I would slowly and gently tiptoe my way to the butterfly’s path and wait for it to settle on a smooth surface, then while I extend my fingers to get hold of it, alas, its gone. Gone with the wind literally. Then when I finally try to regain my strength to chase it again, lo, again an unsuccessful endeavour!
Butterflies are such agile creatures, but at the same time very cautious too. They have beautiful patterns and stripes on their backs which make them look really appealing and attractive. I slowly start going back in flashback mode and reminisce about the times when I caught many butterflies in my childhood. I would almost crush it to death. Though it was a kind of fun for me, I would later feel bad for having killed it with my own fingers. And it was even interesting to note that something buttery came out from its wings after its death. Perhaps that’s why the name- butterfly!
Sometimes ignorance is bliss. And then my own woes of repentance start for killing such an angelic creature. But even, before I could console myself I see another butterfly and begin my fine activity of chasing it round and round. The same vicious cycle of run and chase follows. But even before long, I realize that it is a wild goose chase for me. But the thrill I experienced by chasing it gave me greater joy. And it is definitely not like the perpetual rat race that we do in our worldly life. To me it was a revival of my hobby but on the other hand a sad reality dawns that countryside life can only be experienced in parts and not as a whole! I wish there were no divides between rural and urban life!
