Trees Start Walking

There was unrest in Gir forest, the animals were greatly worried. At the Sunday meeting, the animals decided to address and discuss the problem that aroused in the forest. The meeting was venued under the shade of the Great grandpa Banyan,the oldest of the flora community of Gir. All the animals,birds and insects gathered at 2pm after lunch. The king of Gir, Shersurya chaired the meeting

Shersurya: Can someone please explain to me the cause of the unrest in Gir? I am very much tired after the night’s hunting, I need a rest for couple of hours

Chatur, the wolf rises up and says

Chatur: Please hear it from Grandpa Banyan….he can actually explain you the things well.

King Shersurya turns to Grandpa Banyan

Shersurya: Grandpa Banyan, what is the matter? Is something wrong in the forest?

Grandpa Banyan: Yes King, the flora community has gone for a strike, they decided not to participate in any social activities unless and until their demand is fulfilled

Shersurya: Demand? What demand?

Grandpa Banyan: King, the flora community says that they are always neglected and dominated by the fauna community as they have a limitation, they cannot move. They want to move, meet their friends, and learn about the world. They are tired of being at a single place for their lifetime. They say that they also want to move from one place to another like the animals.

Shersurya: What rubbish….how can it be possible… God has restricted their movement….what can I do.

Grandpa Banyan: You are the king of the forest….please solve the problem

Shersuriya could not understand what to do ,so he said

Shersuriya: Fauna friends, there is a problem in Gir, I want your suggestions on the problem. We will meet again tomorrow at the same time, please contribute a way to solve the problem. Taking the best suggestions together, I will conclude the best way to deal with the situation.

Again the meeting was held the next afternoon. The king said

Shersurya: Friends, there is a paper and a pen in front of each one of you...please write your suggestion, fold it and drop it in the big bowl placed before you. Every suggestion will help us solve the problem. Remember! we have to give each tree a pair of legs.

Few animals dropped their papers, others remained silent.

Shersurya: Chatur, read the suggestions

Chatur stands up, picks each paper and starts reading

Chatur: This paper says…”sorry!!”....The next paper says..” give them a magic shoe” The other paper says…” be their eyes”....another paper says “ Give them a messenger”...one more paper said “Take them where they want to go”

After Chatur read the papers, King Shersurya asked

Shersurya: Now friends we have heard the suggestions, can we discuss the implementation of the same. 

Everyone was silent. The king repeatedly asked but no one answered. Everyone was confused. Suddenly Bunny Rabbit said

Bunny Rabbit: How can we give them legs? If we uproot them then they will die.

Hearing him Longman the Giraffe said

Longman: I am tall and smart. I will see far and tell them….but I cannot take them anywhere, my back aches 

Trunkee the elephant immediately said

Trunkee: Not an issue, I can carry them anywhere they want but if I uproot them then they will die

Chirpie, the weaver bird sweetly asked

Chirpie: King will I weave shoes for them as I weave my nest. But I do not know their sizes. Great Grandpa Banyan, can you please give me all the sizes of your people then Me and my friends can start working

Bubbly ,the honey bee said

Bubbly: Don’t be a fool Chirpie, where are their legs? 

The discussion continues. Arguments started overpowering the meeting. Shersurya now got irritated

Shersurya: Stop!!!! Stop this nonsense. If no one has any valid suggestions to give, then we can dismiss the meeting. Now I will myself look into this matter and see what to do. We will again meet in the coming week. Dismiss

Everybody left but Shersurya sat there still. He looked up to the Great Grandpa Banyan and said

Shersurya: Grandpa, I want to do something for the flora community but really do not know what to do...I am the King….if I do not be capable of satisfying my people then I cannot remain a king

Banyan: My child!!! Do not worry, you will surely get a solution.

Days pass but Shersurya could not find any proper way to satisfy the needs of the flora community. He decides to resign from the kingship. One week pass, the day of the meeting arrives. The king wakes up in the morning and comes out of his den. The birds were flying here and there, butterflies fluttering, bees buzzing. Suddenly a strong wind blows and carries many particles with it. Shersurya watches for sometime and smiles

Everyone gathers for the meeting. Shersurya rises up and says

Shersurya: Chatur please tell the wind to be present in the meeting and also send Hawkman, the eagle to tell the clouds to be present

When everyone arrives, Shersurya says

Shersurya: I am not God, I am a king. I also have my limitations, I cannot overpower God’s decision of making each and everyone of us different from each other. The trees can not walk, God had decided not to form them in that way but still they wish to move, see things and be like the animals. Since I am the king I have to satisfy the needs of my people. The flora community has kept certain demands which as a king it is my duty to satisfy.Today I will gift every flora a pair of legs But a king can not do anything without the help of his people. Will you all help me?

Everyone shouted “ Yes, your Majesty”

Shersurya: Birds, butterflies and bees, from today you will be their messengers, tell them everything which you see and hear. Take their messages to whom they want to deliver within the forest. Clouds, please give them the news of the outer world as you give to us and take their messages to their friends and relatives out of the forest. Wind, you are powerful, take their seeds to the place where they want them to grow so that their generations can reach to all the corners of the world.

"Long live the king!!" screamed the flora community. We got our legs. Now we can reach any place we wish. The Flora community was satisfied and withdrew their strike.

From that day, Birds sat on the branches and spoke to the trees, carried their messages to their dear and near; bees and butterflies spoke to the flowers and carried their messages. Winds carried the seeds to different areas of the world during erosion and helped the Flora community to spread themselves everywhere in the world. Clouds gave them messages and delivered the same elsewhere. Trees felt that they can move and reach everywhere according to their wish.

Shersurya could satisfy the demand of the Flora community. Great Grandpa Banyan blessed him with his heart and soul. 

Banyan: Leadership is having vision and responsibility and the wisdom to make things possible. King, you proved to be an excellent leader

Everybody praised King Shersurya. Gir forest turned into a heavenly abode.