People ask me, from where do I find subjects to write on. Frankly, they come automatically. From a bird to an airplane flying above can trigger a thought for an article. It could be a scene or situation which touches me deep within also.
Like it happened today. I was feeding the fish, when I noticed a ‘clump of leaves’ clutching a vine. I wanted to shake those leaves away. They could have got entangled with each other. Leaves were stuck very firmly. Which got me thinking. Were they stuck in a cobweb? The mystery had to be solved.
On close inspection, it was an abandoned Hummingbird’s nest. We have seen many nests around our garden. This was a new place. Something must have gone wrong for them to abandon it half built.
As I was wrecking my grey matter many thoughts unfolded. Hummingbirds frequent our home to have a sweet drink which is kept in the hummingbird feeder. They visit till dusk, sipping the drink with glee.
Tactically, it was an excellent source of food close to their nest. Shade and camouflage were perfect and it blended with the surroundings very well. Frankly, the cluster were the most innocuous looking leaves hanging from this vine. Safety considerations must have failed for them to construct a nest there.
From our drawing room and veranda, we have been watching ‘Blackie and Brownie’ the hummingbird pair who consider our home their home and build their nest in our garden/garage every year. We keep a watch on them, till their ‘teeny-weenies’ fly away.
We found them doing prolific reconnaissance around this vine. I told my wife that they would be nesting there for sure. Once they start, in a week’s time, a round and puffy nest comes to existence. This year they started it and left it in between.
The reason was a “Tom Cat”. Tom must have noticed hectic bird activity. This ‘motu’ found the ledge close to the nest as the best place from where he could catch these birds. Once the intentions of that “ruddy tat” came to the notice of the hummingbirds, the nest was declared unsafe and forsook it. Birds are intelligent.
Reminded me of my service in the Chushul sector of Ladakh, where the war with the Chinese was fought in 1962. My salute to those brave men who were found frozen with their hands still on their triggers.
With no offence to their sacrifices, my battalion too used to deploy on those high-altitude icy heights in 1990-91. The scale of those mountains was so huge. People who visit Pangong Tso would understand. Fighting till the last man last round takes guts, courage, determination and will power.
I was detailed to carry out a survey of bunkers which were supposed to be occupied by an infantry battalion. Our task was to check each bunker on the mountain called “Pankha Heights”; inspect them for their serviceability and recommend repairs to the frozen bunkers.
We also had a “communication trench” connected to each bunker. Imagine the ones who would have sighted and constructed those defences for the first time. Digging and moving rocks and boulders with their bare hands in utmost cold, must have been a herculean task.
By the way, for my civilian friends, in high altitude the efficiency of a human being reduces to 1/3rd. Those heights ranged from 14000 to 18000 feet above mean sea level.
As I went up counting for the first platoon, one got confused. Instead of say a minimum number of bunkers X there were 3X bunkers. Which one do you count and which one to leave?
As the threat perception would have evolved, main positions, secondary positions, alternate positions, dummy positions, extra positions must have been identified and a bunker made there covering that approach. If the enemy managed to climb up, he would have found nothing there, instead would have been brought under effective fire from adjoining bunkers. A method of deception.
I got fed up counting but then decided to mark each and every bunker/sangad/pit and position on the map. Finally, the bottom line was to count as many, put most of them under repair due to damage from snow of the previous year. Many times, to open a bunker door, it had to be aired for a month.
We as a battalion were clear how we were going to take on the Chinese in case they ventured again. We ‘abandoned’ many additional rather surplus bunkers.
Circumstances make you shift places. Tactical situation teaches you to be flexible. One has to deceive the enemy; therefore, false fronts have to be created and manned if need be. Life is tough for a soldier as well as Hummingbirds.
Where did the hummingbirds finally build their nest? I wonder!!!!!!!
JAI HIND
© ® NOEL
ELLIS
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