Brain Fever Bird v. Koel
The Challenger
Sitting in the open veranda of the colonial residence of my son, I regard and relish a serenity and divinity never felt before. The sprawling campus, covered with thick canopy of tall shady trees and home to scores of bird varieties offer a celestial and soul nurturing peace and profoundness.
Baiju and Tansen
In the early mornings as the monsoon is breaking in this part of the world, the atmosphere is resonant with sonorous chatter of a variety of birds. But the ones that never fail to capture both attention and adulation are the calls of Koel and its close cousin Brain fever Bird. And when the two decide to engage in a call to call match, the effect is electric. The duet is both pure magic and mesmerism. It feels like listening to a concert where the two virtuoso performers are engaged in a competition to display their rich repertoire of melodious notes. I am reminded of the famous scene from the film ‘Baiju Bawra’ where Baiju and Tansen are singing before Akbar; and where Baiju, the novice and the challenger, out sings the maestro Tansen in a musical duel of extraordinary range and depth.
Only here, the upstart Baiju is the brain fever Bird and the veteran master is Koel.
Brain Fever Bird may not be as celebrated as its famous cousin-the Koel- for a voice that charms, captivates and enthrals. And yet, note to note, it not only matches his cousin but when it comes to octaves reaching extraordinarily high pitch, it convincingly scores over its brother and rival. Yes, when it comes to reaching high notes, it beats its cousin hands down.
Koel-The King
That koel has a matchless voice is a cliché, worn out and oft repeated. But how does it fare when pitted against other birds who too possess extra-ordinary skills in producing musical notes.
The King
As the South West Monsoon sets in, the wet, moist and nippy mornings are punctuated by its mellifluous call. It has been the muse of great poets and writers and when it sings the rains acquire an extra ordinary ring of romance and rhythm.
Onomatopoeic
Many birds in literature have derived their names from the sound of the call they make. Such names are called onomatopoeic. ‘Koel’ or ‘Kokila’ in sanskrit is a good example, echoing the rhythmic and melodious call that the Koel makes. Koel, in particular is abundantly mentioned in folklore, myth and poetry. It is traditionally held in high regard for its song and revered in the manusmtiti, with a decree protecting them from harm. The Vedas, surprisingly refer to them as as Anya-Vapa which has been translated as “that which was raised by others” (or “sown for others to reap”. This has been interpreted as the earliest knowledge of brood parasitism. There was a time when it was caged and could survive in captivity for as long as 14 years. Today celebrated far and wide and revered as perhaps the best singer of nature’s soulful music, it is commemorated in many ways including being the State Bird of Puducherry.
The Challenger
The Brain fever Bird (Hierococcyx varius) was named so by an Englishman, whose aesthetic inclinations were highly suspect. The rising crescendo of its call, instead of being appreciated as a musical virtuosity was transcribed as brain-fever in English. Frank Finn, the great English Ornithologist whose work on Indian birds are well regarded has to say this about its note, ‘[H]is note, however, fully entitles him to his ordinary designation, whether from its “damnable iteration” or from its remarkable resemblance to the word “brain-fever” repeated in a piercing voice running up the scale.’
Other interpretations of its call include piyaan kahan in Hindi (“where’s my love”) or in Bengali, chokh gelo ,”my eyes are gone“; and in Marathi paos ala,”the rains are coming“. In Bodo, the call sounds like “haab fisha houwa”, which means dear son, where are you.
Similar in size to a common pigeon, it is a medium sized cuckoo who one can spot anywhere in the Indian subcontinent. Its plumage is ashy grey above; whitish below, cross-barred with brown and a broadly barred tail. Both the male and the female have a distinctive yellow eye ring.
At first glance they can be mistaken for a hawk. When flying they use a flap and glide style that resembles that of Shikra. Flying upwards and landing on a perch, they shake their tails from side to side. Many small birds and squirrels raise the alarm just as they would in the presence of a hawk.
Brain fever Bird may not grudge its cousin the recognition and applaud that is so richly heaped on it. After all, they belong to the same family. But surely it feels sad about not being given even a tiny fraction of credit due to its talents. That it bemoans its lot that has deigned an inferior station consigning it to the side-lines of recognition and applaud, at times gets echoed in its plaintive but soulful strains that emerge early in the morning and lasts till late in the day.
It is during the breeding season that its calls are most pronounced and pervasive. It produces loud, repetitive three note calls that are well-rendered as brain-fever, the second note being longer and higher pitched. These notes rise to a crescendo before ending abruptly and repeat after a few minutes; the calling may go on through the day, well after dusk and before dawn.
Brood Parasite
Brain fever Bird bears a close resemblance to the Shikra, even in its style of flying and landing on a perch. But the resemblance ends there. It, like other cuckoos of its tribe, lay its eggs in nests of other birds, namely the nests of babblers. In this matter it is no different than the Koel who chooses a crow’s nest instead.
A Rare Tribute
Padma Shri Allan Sealy, the Sahitya Academy Awardee and a Booker Prize nominee has celebrated Brain Fever Bird by writing a novel titled ‘The Brain Fever Bird’– a literary thriller of incredibly beauty, bursting with life, dreams, and wonder. It’s a complex and fascinating story of Lev and Maya, two exceptional persons brought together by destiny. The story of the novel does not reveal the author’s mind why he chose this title. Perhaps the intensity of emotions that drew the two characters together in the complexities of their destiny’s twists, may have reminded the author of the desperate and lusty callings of the Brain fever Bird. One would never know.
In any case, the distinction of being named in the title of a remarkable literary work is surely an uncommon privilege for a bird.
A Lingering Note
But I am not surprised. The extra-ordinary feeling of peace and serenity that overwhelmed me that morning is for me a lasting and lingering experience, the kind that continues to nourish and sate my soul.
And the sentiments of Brain Fever Bird as it lustily called for its mate, continues to haunt me, a sentiment that rapturously rent the air with its soulful call.
Nestled deep in the thick foliage I feel a trance overtake me Overcome by tender emotions I yearn for my love. And I call for her Sweet, rhythmic, melodious Rising from notes low My songs reach a crescendo. I hear a matching music As melodious perhaps, but In a tone that betrays anger With a resentment challenging an intruder Oh! This is my cousin, Koel Who can’t withstand a rival That sings as well, though not so recognised Less famous but better organised For hours then, we sing And match note by note Richness and rhythm in unison The nature listens in rapt attention. And then I rise to a determined pitch Notched far above the matching note And I continue and linger As my call reverberates like never A silence descends There is no response Koel has lapsed into a silence Vanquished, fallen to a broken trance. The tress and the bushes The fellow birds and the frolicking squirrels Still in the spell of this divine duet Break into a silent applaud! **********
scribo ad LX 