The potency of growth is not determined by the size of the
seed. A small winged seed that was torn away from its parent in its sleep and
thrown down on to the ground in the middle of nowhere , beaten by rain and glaring sun, it clung to the
ground and did not give up. Decades later it stands tall in the middle of
august company, raising its head tall, reaching for the sky majestically, much
above the rest. Yet there was a time when it was competing for survival with
blades of grass ! When it woke up and it's sapling pandiculated it found itself in an endless jungle of blades of grass that wanted to bury it again -forever!
They felt threatened that some day it’s shadow
will engulf and destroy them forever. But others dismissed these fears as groundless for “ when did something that came out
of seed as small as Chilbil's was a threat!” So it survived. It looked
around and found itself in an enclosed lush green compound with some eager , energetic girls and a few
focused women engaged and in learning and teaching! The august company of Mahua
or Indian Butter Tree- , Goolar-. Jamun-, Aam-, Sahjan-, Kachnar-, Ber-, Ashok, Bel- looked down upon
chilbil and refused to embrace it in
their fold! Now Chilbil wanted
to bury itself into the ground out of the feeling of worthlessness! One day, a young girl was rehearsing a speech out side the faculty staff room, recited these lines- “ All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree,
the man... the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.” On the wings of the wind the words reached the Chilbil -it found its
Mentor- the Wind had always been there,
caressing it, nurturing it , often playing with it’s leaves to cheer it up, and even
tickled it to bring Chilbil out of its despondency. But Chilbil failed to see this love in it’s moroseness and failed to acknowledge its love! Yet wind continued to bestow its love on Chilbil
unmindful of its blindness! But , now, hearing these words of the girl, Chilbil
reciprocated with love . Soon it bloomed
and bore fruits . But Alas! While people flocked to the Mahua--- because it’s Bark, flowers, seeds
and heartwood are used in the treatment of inflammation, sprains, epilepsy and
digestive disorders.Its Fruits are considered as aphrodisiac and seed oil laxative
and good for rheumatism. Jamun’s fruition was eagerly awaited and Mango’s fruit
was so much in demand that people didn't even wait for it to ripen. Chilbil Fruit brought only frown and curse from the gardener ,who grumbled-"The entire place
was to swept to get rid of worthless Chilbil Fruit." The young tree was ashamed
of its fruits but was helpless-had to give in to Nature’s way. But it bore only
very few fruits and that too on the highest extremities to escape ridicule.One day the wind gaily came whispering “ Your seeds are
Blessed- who so ever shall have patience to collect them and peel them –and consume them , not less than 21,
will be blessed with wisdom and success- if she kept the information to herself”.
- The Chilbil was all ears! It was elated, but immediately immersed in sadness thinking that now even the wind , its only friend had taken to mockery
and ridicule! The wind reassured Chilbil that every word of her proclamation was
true. All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the man... the
air shares its spirit with all the life it supports-obviously, the omnipresent
wind too had heard the girl’s speech. Riding on the wings of wind…the campus
reverberated with the whispers and gradually one saw stray students
sitting on the benches , under the tree, aimlessly reaching out for the seeds. Soon
the numbers swelled. Then one saw groups of Girls seeking out Chilbil seeds and
counting them before applying themselves to the tedious task of peeling them
for consumption. And thus it became a ritual with more and more girls flocking
around the tree every day! Chilbil was
happy! It basked in in the attention that was being showered on it. But it's happiness was short lived. Riding on the wings of wind
the following words broke his spell of joy-"This year the students are sure to
fail! Instead of studying they waste
their time under that worthless Chilbil tree collecting its seeds and eating
them with such dedication as if it was a panache for Success! Silly Girls! " Chilbil was broken and distraught. It wanted
to be loved and cherished but not at cost of the interest of the students. It
summoned the Wind and blamed it for the mess. The wind denied having trifled
with the future of the students and firmly stood its ground. The things came to
such an impasse that tree refused to have anything to do with the wind. Wind too
screeched and howled at chilbil and they parted ways.
So months passed! They
continued their separate solitary existence, until rains came and took away some
of the heat of hatred and bitterness too! For the students had returned to the campus,
all happy and cheerful, having done exceptionally well in academics! Everyone was
awed by the results! This was balm for his wounds! Chilbil felt elated and
in its excitement called out for the wind that had since started keeping
company with the clouds.Thinking that the tree was in need of some help it rushed
down only to see a beaming chilbil! Excited chilbil tightly embraced the wind immediately
and thanked it profusely. But it was still
intrigued "were its seeds really blessed?” The wind replied “The Real
potential lies buried in each one of us just as you were in that little seed! A genius lies latent in each one of us! We just
have to provide conducive conditions to bring it to the fore! We all know that practice
makes a man perfect, so when those students foraged for your tiny seeds they
learned to identify a goal and to focus on it . When they successfully
collected 21 seeds in that graveyard of dry leaves, without giving up, they
learned perseverance .And when they peeled them they learned to work assiduously,
without getting distracted over a long period of time .And finally when they
ate them they learnt to carry out things to their conclusion and not to give up
midway that is to complete the task without giving up! These are steps one
needs to practice for attainment of success. And they practiced it every day!
So by the time they sat down to study long hours for good exams, they had already
undergone the necessary training!!!! If it seems like Magic so be it! But your
seeds are certainly blessed!In the words of Lucy Stone ‘Hence forth the fruits of the
tree were for women of knowledge, and for the healing of the nations.’
All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the
man... the air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.(Chief Seattle)
Riding on the wings of wind, some whispers reached the Chilbil Tree again. A
fool sees not the same tree that a wise man sees. (William Blake). So one day a group of people came and declared-"The Tree was
too tall for comfort and had to be felled. The measure of a tree is neither its
wood, nor its girth of its worth. Some trees are considered to be mystically
connected with the fortunes of people and places. Just as the Chilbil tree at
Gonda, which sprouted from the tooth-twig of a saint, was supposed to be
mysteriously connected with the fate of the last of the Gonda Râjas , our
Chilbil tree had come to be linked with the fortunes of these girls on the
campus. But alas when it had just discovered it’s worth it was to be felled. Today nothing but a stump remains where once stood a
majestic Chilbil tree whose seeds were blessed. The Chilbil tree continues to empower
girls. They mount on the stump that is now used as a platform to practice declamation, debate
and speeches: To articulate Dream, Desires and Destinations! It is now sometimes a window -to let in the New rays of light of knowledge into their minds and sometimes a Door- to cross the threshold of stereotypes
, to break the barriers of superstition and ignorance and to cross over to
knowledge and wisdom. Thus the Chilbil tree continues to GROW even today and its fruits are still blessed!
