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So i read the outline of the story and came to know that it was about 11 American tourists who mysteriously went missing in Burma while they were on a journey along the famed Burma road.. And the more interesting part was that the story was revealed by a spirit of a lady by the name of Bibi Chen who was an art patron in San Franscisco. This was the lady who planned out the journey for the 11 American friends. But she mysteriously dies before the trip begins and thus her spirit follows them through out the journey. The details of the missing people and the events were recorded under "Automatic Writing" , descriptions of archived "messages from the unseen world" in various languages reportedly transmitted to people who had no knowledge of the received language. These entries were found in a library of an American society for physical research by a person named Karen. She discovers this particular entry on the 11 missing American recorded and thats how the story begins.
It was really interesting to read a story narrated by a spirit instead of a living person...for a change :)
So i bought the book and just finished reading it. It was quite an experience being in China and Burma with those tourists and to witness many interesting encounters along the way. But the most interesting part of the story was about saving fish from drowning ! Here i wish to share the part that explains the title :-
Just crossing the border into Burma, the tourists stops at a village..
" I thought this was a Buddhist country," Heidi said. " I thought they didn't kill animals." A few yards to the right was the bloody carnage of a dead pig.
" The butchers and fishermen are usually not Buddhist," Walter said. " But even if they are, the approach their fishing with reverence. They scoop up the fish and bring them to shore. They say they are saving fish from drowning. Unfortunately ...." the fish dont recover."
Saving fish from drowning? Dwight and Heidi looked at each other and guffawed. Was he joking?
Heidi was unable to speak. Did these people actually believe they were doing a good deed?
"No worse than what we do in other countries," Dwight said.
"What are you talking about?" Moff said.
"Saving people for their own good,"he replied. "Invading countries, having them suffer collateral damage, as we call it. Killing them as an unfortunate consequence of helping them."
ahhhh....now i see what the title means !! :)
Though here they have mentioned the wars as an example of saving fish from drowning, i felt that we are all doing that at some point of our lives without realising it !
Families, especially in an Asian culture are SO good at this ! :) hahahha...well i know we Asians have very strong family sentiments and stay connected no matter what ...i dont deny that part of it...but then very often we do more harm to each with the good intention of "helping out".
Parents and children relationship can be the most complicated of all. followed by uncles, aunties, cousins and distant relatives who can ALL play a big role in what happens in your most personal life. Everyone gives their opinions and advise to you and the problem is they all give different ones. You end up more confused then before and most of the time settle in for one of it out of desperation. Then you go pretty far in that path and suddenly realise thats not what you wanted ! And begin to wander how on earth you decided to something like that ...then it occurs to you ...ohhh it was suggested by this person ...and you were convinced by them then !
Followed by the family, is the culture you belong to. Culture throws you a neverending list of what you can and cannot do so you would fit into that society.
For example , Indian families never encouraged girls to become dancers or singers. To perform in front of an audience is shameful they say. Made me wander, how many beautiful dancers and singers have the world missed because of this culture ! The very same society who believes in Goddess Sarasvati who blesses children with such talents also forbids them from bringing the talent out of the person. I dont understand. You worship the goddess who gives those talents but disgrace the talent itself at the same time ! why ?
Culture, tells you how you should dress, but it doesnt tell you how to see others beyond the physical appearance. All temples in India have the most scantily dressed female figures in sculptures and paintings. But worshipers who enter the temples know how to SEE it. As divine, as and art, as a beauty and as nature. Then as they walk out of the temple they judge a lady who is not "appropriately dressed" Why ? If you know how to see the beauty beyond the physical sculptures and paintings in the temples why cant you see it outside the temple? What has changed now ? What changes is what we choose to see.
"When a dancer is performing...watch the dance !! Be one with the soul of the dancer and the music. And you will not see what she/ he is wearing. I have danced Indian classical for about 20 years of my life and i can tell one thing for sure..by the time we get on the stage we have been through so much pain during practice and rehearsals that your only intention on stage is to perform well and be indulged in the music. No dancer will even think of seducing the audience with her dressing. If that is her intention she would be dancing in a very different kind of place where she will not have to memorize 1000 steps according to the beat or endure the pain caused by long hours of practice ! So culture need to teach people how to know the difference ! To respect and see art as ART and nothing else !
Just like that, culture has created so much restrictions and rules that blocks many possible paths a person can take. I am definitely one person who do believe in culture but what i believe is a culture which teaches a person how to CHOOSE & SEE the right thing. And not blindly follow something whether or not it makes any sense.
So again, culture too is saving fish from drowning ....
Well there many more examples...like keeping birds in cages and justifying that we feed them everyday and it saves its life... :) i dont know about you...i would rather die flying then to live forever in a cage.
So, Have you saved any fish from drowning ?? :)
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