By Abdul Basith MA, TwoCircles.net,
Arkad [Tamil Nadu]: The summer is at its peak and many birds are dying out of thirst, being dehydrated due to extreme temperature and long flights in search of food without a drop of water to quench their thirst. The Muslim Students Federation [MSF], the students wing of Indian Union Muslim League [IUML] has started a campaign “Paraivakalkkoru Kudineeru” [water for birds] after the successful accomplishment of “Thanner Panthal” – a programme by which they successfully provided drinking water to thirsty people by setting up purified water in pots and containers at public areas like bus stops.
TK Shanavas, state joint secretary, MSF says “We have been engaged in several social service activities, people were able to communicate regarding their needs and we have tried to fulfil most among those, but these innocent creatures like birds can’t even ask for a drop of water and it is our duty to act in favour of them foreseeing their basic needs. It is a simple act and requires our least effort of keeping a pot of water in the terraces of our houses or in the courtyards and the rewards from the Almighty will be great”.
The organisation so asks the households including flats and villas to keep water in a clay vessel, so that it could put an end to the bird’s fate of endlessly waiting for a drop of water, in front or top of a tap with anxious eyes. And with the temperature creeping up those birds would love to take a cool dip inside this vessel, provided the pot must have a wide opening.
MSF derives inspiration out of their late leader Kaidemillath Ismail Sahib who besides being kind to his fellow beings was compassionate towards other creatures as he found time to feed birds and other animals. Being a Muslim students group, they believe it is their duty to uphold the values which Islam taught, as the religion promotes love and compassion towards other creatures.
Shanavas is well aware of the fact that in Tamil Nadu campus politics, MSF is still in its childhood days but he says, “Though we cannot ask other party people to undertake our campaign, they too will find this cause noble and will be following us soon. Though MSF works in metros like Bangalore and Delhi their functional areas are different and focus will be rather on the basic needs, like Muslim students scholarships and so on, but for us and units in Kerala – we are further more organised and can run campaigns like this, as we are now capable of thinking beyond our basic necessities”.
The campaign has already been launched in areas like Neelagiri, Theni, Ramanathapuram, Vellur, Vaniyambadi and the organisation is planning to take this move to other regions like Arkad as well, very soon.
The campaign has started getting positive results as they find lots of thirsty birds like sparrows, pigeons and crows taking water from the pots at homes. The organisation has emphasised on the need to continue this campaign for a longer time, as they say it is cruel to deny water to those birds which would come to your courtyard or terrace expecting water, which they found there last day. And the organisation has warned the household members to keep a fresh pot or bowl of water each morning to prevent mosquitoes laying eggs and hatching in those water bowls kept close to their household.
The act could very well make ours and our kids hearts compassionate and it will be a feast to our eyes to watch those lively creatures, chirping and waking us up to a pleasant morning.