Amala's Heritage

Little Sparrow

As Surendra awoke to the gentle morning light, he peered outside the tent and was met with a heartwarming scene. A man dressed in a vibrant traditional outfit caught his eye, the colourful attire shimmering in the sunlight as he enthusiastically played ball with a group of joyful children. The makeshift court, adorned with a slightly worn hoop at one end and a pair of gently swaying swing sets in the background, echoed with the pure laughter and innocent delight of the children. Moving closer, Surendra was delighted as he realized that the man was none other than Zephyr, his laughter blending seamlessly with the children's as he skillfully dribbled the ball.

In the distance, he could hear the soothing notes of traditional music played on a flute, accompanied by rhythmic chanting in the local language. Zephyr entered the tent. "Good, you are awake," he told Surendra. Lala, who had previously guided them to the village, arrived with a beautifully arranged tray. The tray was adorned with a vibrant array of ripe berries, a pitcher of fresh milk, and a loaf of freshly baked bread. "This is our customary breakfast. Please, feel at home and savour the flavours," she said warmly, her eyes brimming with hospitality.

Surendra felt famished after a long night's sleep. As soon as breakfast was served, he wasted no time and gobbled up his food in record time, leaving Zephyr amazed at his pace. Once they had breakfast, Zephyr and Suri, carrying his video camera, set out towards the village office. The valley was breathtakingly beautiful, with lush greenery and the sweet scent of winter flowers filling the air. As they reached the office, the older man they had seen in their office and a few other elders greeted them and thanked them for coming.

They went to where the diggers were deforesting, and construction was underway for the port. They approached the construction workers and asked if they could provide any documentation approving this construction. They said they had none, but their manager would be here around 6 p.m.

They were devastated as they watched the ancient trees being ruthlessly felled by heavy machinery. The chainsaws echoed through the once-serene valley, and the sight of the majestic trees crashing down filled him with deep sorrow. He took out his phone and started recording videos and capturing photos of the heartbreaking scene of trees crashing to the ground. Each tree that had stood tall for hundreds, if not thousands, of years was being torn down in seconds. The destruction was rapid and relentless, and Surendra knew he had to document this tragic event.

The elder told them that some of the displaced creatures were a group of Suzume, bright and beautiful sparrows. With their natural habitat destroyed, they had nowhere to go, their cheerful songs silenced by the deafening roar of machines. The villagers also held a deep reverence for the trees; Legend had it that, in the distant past, when a particularly ferocious storm threatened to ravage the village, the Kio spirit of the trees had interceded, weaving a protective barrier around the grove that served to mitigate the storm's destructive force. The villagers recounted how, despite the howling winds and lashing rain, the grove stood unyielding, its resilient spirit safeguarding the village from harm.

Now, it was evening, around 6 p.m. The construction manager stormed in, his demeanour intimidating and his voice harsh. "What are you doing here? This area is not meant for villagers to visit and disrupt our work." he barked, glaring at the group. His rude and dismissive attitude sent a chill through the room, and the villagers exchanged uneasy glances as they felt the weight of his hostility.

With a composed demeanour, Zephyr asked, "We would need to see all the permits and documentation for this construction project." The construction officer pretended not to have any, but when Zephyr informed him about his legal rights to access such information, he reluctantly handed over the documents.

As the Zephyr pored over the documents, their worst fears were confirmed. Not only were the forests being decimated, but the construction project also entailed the destruction of farmlands and a pristine lake and the displacement of over 16,000 villagers. The villagers, oblivious to the magnitude of the impending disaster, were shocked to learn that their beloved land, which had been in their families for over a century, was being snatched away from them.

The people of Valley have always held dear their independence and their ability to govern their land in harmony with their customs and beliefs. For centuries, they have safeguarded the verdant forests, pristine lakes, and sweeping meadows from any harm, ensuring that their natural surroundings remain unspoiled and abundant. Despite their persistent efforts to protect their home, the villagers were disheartened to discover that the authorities had heedlessly and cruelly disregarded their welfare by handing over the land to a corporation to construct a port. This development posed a severe threat to permanently changing the landscape and disrupting the fragile ecosystem equilibrium the villagers had laboured so diligently to preserve.

The village elder showed them evidence of their numerous protests, which had been ignored or silenced on more than eight occasions. Despite their persistent efforts and appeals, their voices had been silenced, and their case against the construction had been repeatedly rejected.

Surendra and Zephyr gathered all the necessary documentation and evidence of the disaster, knowing they had to head back home and start working on it. With heavy hearts, they said goodbye to the villagers of the valley who had welcomed them warmly. The journey back was filled with silence as they reflected on the devastating situation they had witnessed.