The Banyan Tree
There are a few old banyan trees in the area where I live. Banyan trees are ungainly, and these old ones are majestic in their ugliness. Their branches span at least twenty five to thirty feet around the trunks. Once in a while, after it rains, the leaves are all clean and its a pretty sight in an area generally bereft of trees.
Generally you would find a fakir camped out by the trunk, the reason being the fact that it is always cooler under the shade of a banyan tree. The two trees I know, have been abandoned by their fakirs. Maybe because its not easy making a living beneath these two.
One of the trees has taken on the mighty CDA by falling smack in the path of the dual road that CDA is proudly building to facilitate the traffic that will be coming to the upcoming army sector. Heck, the Air Force and Navy have a sector of their own, how can the Army not have one? There are grand plans to build a grand palace for the king, among other things. Maybe the army will give up the other official palaces to universities, and the university in a palace must be better than the one in a tiny house. Whatever the reasons are, my ugly friend is in grave danger.
The work has started on the road. Right now they are leveling the ground on which it is to be built. So if you drive by, you can see where the road will be. I haven't seen an alternate path around the tree. So every day, when I drive by, I wonder if my friend will be there. Every day, I want to stop and take a picture, but I haven't yet. And like all regrets of life, maybe this shall happen before I do.
Yesterday, thousands of school kids were protesting against the cartoons. In order to show their anger and resentment against the countries which published the cartoons, they broke into offices, burnt cars, got baton-charged and tear-gassed. And at the end of the day, some were picked up by the police, to be released later on. Since the Interior Minister says they have to take into account the sensitivity of the issue. So they break up and burn down a few buildings and cars, what's important is that they vent their anger, right?
Wrong!!!!
I wonder if anyone will speak for my friend the tree. The powers that be, were justifying cutting down almost 4000 trees for the New Murree Project. What's one tree? And that too for the all powerful army. In Karachi, the trees in front of the Marriott were pruned to look like a petrified forest, because the Corps Commander's security was at risk. This poor tree, if allowed to stand, will create a curve in the road, which will slow down the 30 plus Mercedes and other assorted vehicles that whiz by in mortal terror. Can't let that happen.
Oh poor tree, I will write you an obituary once you are gone, I will praise your tireless work to purify the air and provide shade to stray animals. I will miss you.
PS I am only trying to fool the gods
Generally you would find a fakir camped out by the trunk, the reason being the fact that it is always cooler under the shade of a banyan tree. The two trees I know, have been abandoned by their fakirs. Maybe because its not easy making a living beneath these two.
One of the trees has taken on the mighty CDA by falling smack in the path of the dual road that CDA is proudly building to facilitate the traffic that will be coming to the upcoming army sector. Heck, the Air Force and Navy have a sector of their own, how can the Army not have one? There are grand plans to build a grand palace for the king, among other things. Maybe the army will give up the other official palaces to universities, and the university in a palace must be better than the one in a tiny house. Whatever the reasons are, my ugly friend is in grave danger.
The work has started on the road. Right now they are leveling the ground on which it is to be built. So if you drive by, you can see where the road will be. I haven't seen an alternate path around the tree. So every day, when I drive by, I wonder if my friend will be there. Every day, I want to stop and take a picture, but I haven't yet. And like all regrets of life, maybe this shall happen before I do.
Yesterday, thousands of school kids were protesting against the cartoons. In order to show their anger and resentment against the countries which published the cartoons, they broke into offices, burnt cars, got baton-charged and tear-gassed. And at the end of the day, some were picked up by the police, to be released later on. Since the Interior Minister says they have to take into account the sensitivity of the issue. So they break up and burn down a few buildings and cars, what's important is that they vent their anger, right?
Wrong!!!!
I wonder if anyone will speak for my friend the tree. The powers that be, were justifying cutting down almost 4000 trees for the New Murree Project. What's one tree? And that too for the all powerful army. In Karachi, the trees in front of the Marriott were pruned to look like a petrified forest, because the Corps Commander's security was at risk. This poor tree, if allowed to stand, will create a curve in the road, which will slow down the 30 plus Mercedes and other assorted vehicles that whiz by in mortal terror. Can't let that happen.
Oh poor tree, I will write you an obituary once you are gone, I will praise your tireless work to purify the air and provide shade to stray animals. I will miss you.
PS I am only trying to fool the gods
posted by Xoff at 2/15/2006 04:40:00 AM
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