| gokul |
Posted
on 18-Dec-03 06:38 PM
Snake, Scorpion, and frog
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When I was a child I once read a story about three creatures living in a perpetual fear: a scorpion, a frog and a snake. Each creature was threatening and being threatened by the other. The scorpion was afraid of the frog, which was always fearful of the snake. And needless to say, the snake had reasons to fear the scorpion. Even to these days, I am not sure whether the relationship of fear portrayed in this story is true or not. I have seen a snake eating a frog but I have not yet seen a frog eating a scorpion and a scorpion biting a snake. Perhaps I will see in the future or perhaps not.
This story which was long submerged in my subconscious mind suddenly resurfaced last week. I do not know what prompted it although I believe the current political situation may have something to do with it. Talking about politics, I must confess that I am a complete novice lest the readers should take it seriously. However, I see a link between my childhood story and the present stalemate which I want to share.
While seeking the connection, I think that the frog is our multiparty democracy as its power lies not in its poison gland but in its voice. However coarse and unpleasant the voice may sound at times, still it is what distinguishes life from death. When we lose our voice, we are dead. It took me a while to figure out who the snake is. Taking into consideration its sly movements and cold-blooded demeanors, its unblinking eyes and unmistakable attacks, I identified the insurgency as the slitherine. That leaves only the scorpion which is obvious now.
The snake fears the scorpion and threatens the frog. The scorpion,when left undisturbed in a dark corner, is not as threatening and ominous as the snake is. The frog, in the absence of the snake has little reason to be fearful of the scorpion. The scorpion may hurt the frog but cannot kill it. The frog generally does not threaten the scorpion unless the latter starts showing off its stings to the frog. However, even to these days I am not sure whether the relationship of fear portrayed in this story is true or not. I have seen a snake eating a frog but ....
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