Culture
War between Flying and Walking Creatures: A Mizo folk tale
Current Updates | Culture | Luke Sangkima | 06-Mar-2023
(Chungleng Leh Hnuaileng Indo)
Once upon a time, a tortoise kept watch over the nest of a serpent. One day a barking deer came and challenged the tortoise to compete for jumping over the nest. The tortoise declined the offer saying he cannot risk destroying the nest as it has far reaching implications. But the deer insisted saying, he would protect him whatever the consequences be. Believing in the assurance given by the deer, the tortoise agreed to his proposal for a jumping contest.
As soon as the tortoise accepted the contest, the deer jumped over the nest and crossed it without any difficulty. The tortoise too shouted “pak chheih kha!1” and attempted to cross the nest but failed, and destroyed the nest badly, an act of crime against the serpent. Having realised his precarious situation, the tortoise decided to run for his life since the deer failed to keep his promise. Instead, the deer, with a trembling voice told the tortoise “Tela” I cannot protect you. And so, the Tortoise ran for his life as fast as he could.
Upon reaching a gentle slope, the tortoise ran rolling headlong to pick up some speed. First, he impacted at the houses of a Serow, a Sambar-deer, and a wild-bore one after the other. Each of them was requested to save him from the serpent since he destroyed his nest. However, none of them were prepared to give him protection. He then bumped into the house of a bear with a thudding sound, provoking the bear to anger. He enquired, “Who did this?” With a submission and humbling voice, the tortoise responded, “I am Teltea, people also lovingly call me Tela”. The bear then asked what the reason for his fear that he had to run headlong? The tortoise then narrated the whole story from the beginning saying, the jumping competition with the deer and how he had ditched him failing to keep his promise, therefore, had to run for his life. After listening to his story, the bear also told the tortoise that he cannot protect him. And so, the tortoise continued to run further.
The tortoise then arrived at the house of a tiger loudly smashing against the door. The tiger reacted sharply enquiring “Who made this noise?” The tortoise told the tiger that it was he who made the noise, and continued with a quivering voice how he and the barking deer competed jumping over the serpent’s nest and how he destroyed the nest, therefore started running for his life. He pleaded for protection from the serpent’s attack, but it was to no avail. The tiger too asked him to run further. Tired and exhausted, the tortoise now reached the house of the eagle and knocked the door, and the eagle responded quickly enough enquiring, “Who knocked at the door?” The tortoise replied, “I am Teltea”, and repeated the story to him nd sought his protection. The eagle took pity on him and said, “Do not fear, I will surely protect you” and hid him under his right wing.
The outrageous serpent followed the footprints of the tortoise, determined to catch him at all costs. He enquired from every animal he met on the way about the tortoise, but none gave him a positive reply. As he approaches the house of the eagle there was an unusual sound. The eagle asked the tortoise what that sound was, and tortoise responded that the serpent had finally arrived. Meanwhile, the serpent came to the house and enquired if the eagle had seen the tortoise. He replied, “No, I did not see him coming.” But the serpent was so suspicious and said, “His footprints have just stopped here. So, you must be seeing him. Maybe you are hiding him, therefore, spread your wings”, he demanded. Then the eagle spread his right wing in full and nothing was seen. The serpent demanded that he spread the left wing too, but the eagle tried to avoid saying, “My left wing is hurt since it was hit by the children’s pellet-bow.” Still, the serpent demanded that at least half be opened. When he did so, the tail of the tortoise was seen. And thus, the enmity between the serpent and the eagle began, and the walking creatures led by the serpent ensued.
When the war was officially declared, all the walking creatures came together in one place and getting themselves battle-ready. Likewise, all the flying creatures assembled on the branch of a big banyan tree, ready to attack. As the war finally began, the serpent leaped upwards and broke one of the branches where the birds sat. The frightened birds flew hither and thither, while the walking creatures, however, shouted with joy. After taking a rest for a moment, the serpent again straightened and broke another branch to the loud applauds of the walking creatures. The flying creatures however, were little disheartened and lost hope of winning the war.
Among them was the bat who claimed to be a flying creature because he could fly. But when he fancied the chances of walking creatures winning the war, he wanted to change side, went to them and said, “Brothers, look at me, my head, my tooth and, all appearances resemble you. Therefore, please allow me to be on your side.” Thus saying, the bat defected and joined the walking creatures. When the war was gaining momentum, even a snail was trying its best to break the legs of a bird, while small birds were also fighting with the earthworms. The war was thus fought fiercely.
A moment later, having studied the war strategy of the serpent, the eagle got hold of the serpent’s neck and weakened him. This brought joy to flying creatures that applauded the bravery and the heroic deed of their leader. When the bat saw what was happening, he got an impression that the war was probably going to be won by the flying creatures. He flew up and went to the flying creatures, saying, “Brothers, look at me, as you see I have wings. I belong to you”, and wanted to switch side again.
Meanwhile, the war got intensified with the serpent regaining strength. He began to break the branches of the banyan tree one after another. However, he was soon exhausted because of the hard work he put in. Yet he tried to break another branch, but loss control as he was completely exhausted. He therefore got stuck on the main fork of the banyan tree. Taking advantage of this, the eagle caught hold of the neck of the serpent with his sharp paws and broke the backbone as well. Then the serpent died and the war was won by the flying creatures. The war finally came to an end.
Following this, a treaty was signed and both sides agreed never to enter into war again. The opportunist bat, who kept switching sides during the war, was ashamed of flying in the day time, because he had joined the walking creatures during the war. He hid himself inside the cave during day, and came out looking for food only at night.
End Notes.
pak chheih kha! an interjection use when makes a big physical effort.
Teltea/Tela a pet name for a tortoise.
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(The Author is a retired Professor of History, and Author of Books on Catholic Church history of Mizoram)
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