DUMKATI
LT COL NOEL ELLIS
11/IV/2024
We generally tend to remember people by their nicknames. Many are christened due to their special traits. This was very common in our school. We had students who were ‘long’ not tall, ‘Dandu’ who kept showing his teeth, ‘Helen’ who danced well, ‘Budda’ who had greyed too early, ‘Battee’ because his roll number ended with 32 etc.
Mom had a special knack in keeping nicknames. She used to name animals and birds around the house due to their colour and mannerisms. Like Bhoori was a brown bitch, Kali was a black one, Kankati had a split ear, Langroo was a rooster which walked with a limp and the list went on.
There are many people in our colony whom we don’t know personally but have given them nicknames due to their typical deportment. For example ‘Recipe Uncle’, who during his walks, talks non-stop about food and pickle recipes.
Then there is an Aunty whom we call ‘Bak-Bak’ aunty. During her walks she forgets that she has her earphones plugged in. She can give advice to all and sundry at the top of her voice. Sometimes she stands watching our garden while bullshitting someone on her phone. Her tone and tenor is extremely harsh. It appears as if early in the morning she finds a murga to bombard with her Bak-Bak. Once we thought she was telling us to behave as we sat sipping tea in our garden.
Be that as it may, I have a story related to nicknames.
As you would be aware in and around our home, birds congregate for food, a drink, a quick bath, to collect nectar and even nestle. They tweet, cheep, chirp, and squeal while going about their chores. Birds generally arrive at fixed timings. Some have been baptized as have Brownie & Blackie the Sunbirds, Lovey & Dovey the doves, TikTok the Chameleon etc.
‘Babblers’ or Seven Sisters were nowhere in the scene till now. Out of nowhere, a family has arrived. They love to dig worms from the lawn infront of our house, especially when the sprinkler is on. Worms surface before they drown and the sisters get lucky. Their favourite time is mid-afternoon around 2pm. You can time your watch. Some of them bathe, and some hop over to our feeder to enjoy the spread.
These babblers are noisy, boisterous, vociferous, and very loud. Their constant chatter can be heard even through closed doors. These girls however are opportunists. They love to take a dip under the sprinkler or one of our water bowls. They can eat insects, grains, or roti, depending on what is available. By the time they leave, they polish off everything.
In the group of babblers there is one baby. It comes over to our window and pecks on it seeing its own reflection in the window glass. Then it flaps its wings asking parents to feed her right there.
What is unique about her is that she doesn’t have a tail. Where has the tail gone and why has it gone missing is a mystery? However, the absence of it makes it stand out from the rest.
My wife and I sit in the drawing room and enjoy the rat-a-tat-tat the ‘tailless bird’ makes while pecking at the drawing room window. Like my mother, I have named it DUMKATI, one with a clipped tail? Can you suggest a better name for this beauty? I wonder!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
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