Sumatra

The Wind has started it's ominous growl from the east this morning. We know that it will lay a trail of disaster when it finishes this time and it will take another huge toll on our will to continue. But it is the same wind which brings in the clouds for quenching the thirst of mother earth whose fertile soil keeps mouths filled with food. It is so ironical but the human mind is limited when confronted with the paradoxes of nature. Yet another time the theists and agnostics will bow down to nature only to survive and stand up for one more time.

The Transformation - Do not break the Cocoons

Do not break others' cocoons

When ever i look at butterflies, i see the miracle of transformation happening. This "miraculous transformation" happens in a time span of 2 weeks.

                                                    The science term used for this transformation is Metamorphosis. We see a not so beautiful, tiny and weak(thought to be so) crawling creature breaking free from it's cocoon to show up as a dazzlingly beautiful, soft but strong, colorful flying insect. But behind this miracle lies the laborious struggle of the caterpillar. It feeds gregariously on leaves nearby and the entire food tract is geared to build the structure which will enable the butterfly to survive in the future. After a while the caterpillar (shed its skin - molting) attaches itself to a twig and starts getting en webbed itself into a chrysalis (Pupa) within a few hours. The butterfly finally emerges from the now transparent chrysalis. It inflates its wings with the help of the pool of blood which it stores in its abdomen. When it is done the butterfly pushes out any excess fluid left and waits for the wings to dry. Once the wings stiffen they push against the chrysalis and burst open into the space for its maiden flight.

                    If at any phase of this breaking free if the butterfly is helped by an external force, it will not get the strength to fly and will drop on the terrain from which it cannot regain its ability to fly. So it very critical for the butterfly to try on its own and struggle against its own chrysalis so that it gains the strength and vigor to go on. Similarly as friends, parents and teachers we should understand that there is a limit for extending the protective cover on somebody close to us beyond which if support happens it will itself be a barrier for freedom and development.

So always remember not to break others' cocoons.........

Vasanth Che