Fish as Friend

Fish as a friend

There is a small temple of Lord Ayyappa in our house compound along with other Gods like Ganapati (Lord Ganesh) and Dakshinamurthy (Lord Siva). During my school days, I used to do Pooja at this temple. After the Pooja, I go to the nearby pond to wash the utensils. One big fish along with several tiny fishes comes to eat the rice particles in the utensils and on my hand. When this continued for few days, I used to give all the Nivedyam (Items offered to God during Pooja) whether it is rice or Payasam (Sweet dish) to the fish for eating. Gradually the big fish became my friend. I used to touch him, pamper him and cajole him.  When I show the food items from above the water level, it jumps and picks it. It was an unusual spectacle  as 99% Keralites are non vegetarians, mostly fish eaters and the moment the shadow of a human being is sighted, fishes especially big ones go under the water. However, on the mere sight of my shadow, it comes above the water level. Though it had two trunks, it never used it against me. It stands silently when I touch its body and it appeared that the fish enjoyed my love, affection and care.  

I believe that there is no barrier for friendship. However, many people are under the illusion that they should make friendship with people of same status only. They will befriend with only those people who are of their standard, who occupies similar houses, who hold similar positions, who earns similar salary, who owns similar car, who belong to the same sect etc. Even though they may have friends in other categories just to show off, their friendship may not be sincere. They are nothing but narrow minded and immature people who think that they live in ivory towers. These people are constantly under stress, strain and tension as they are worried about their material things and their personal relation often converts into commercial relation. There are some materialistic people who even give loan to their parents by charging interest. As a token of ‘love and respect’ to their parents and mark of generosity, the interest rate charged by them will be slightly lower than the rate charged from others. When will these people make real friends cutting across all barriers is a million dollar question.  

Having friendship and interaction with wide range of people, will increase information base, knowledge and wisdom of both. Our late President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was a classic example of this. Many artists who performed at Rashtrapati Bhavan told me that he attends the programme with rapt attention. Unlike many other Rashtrapatis, he talks to the artists and try to understand the intricacies and nuances of the art and musical instruments.   No wonder he was a walking encyclopedia. Other categories of people who are reluctant to mingle with people will remain like a frog in the well.