Monkey Matters – The Hindu

The monkey took away a pair of glasses. | Photo credit: Getty Images

SSome time ago, social media was abuzz with pictures of an encounter MP Shashi Tharoor had with a monkey. An unexpectedly beautiful and peaceful bond between man and monkey became the highlight of the episode, with the MP suppressing his fears to entertain the animal that had chosen him as its host.

As I read these messages, I was reminded of a different kind of bonding between the two species that was taking place on the streets of Vrindavan.

The temple city was crowded. A large number of believers from all parts of the world arrived at its gates. They were instructed to park on the periphery and proceed on foot or hire a rickshaw to reach their destination. There were further instructions: one should not carry edible objects openly in one’s hands, one should not wear footwear after a certain point, one should not annoy monkeys that lived in the area, and one should not remove glasses while in transit. The last directive seemed very far-fetched. However, since the lines echoed throughout the zone in different languages ​​and tones, we decided to follow the rules of thumb as much as possible.

Soon the wide street snaked into narrow streets, which branched off into several alleys and opened into footpaths. Along the congested route, the olfactory senses were busy inhaling a strange mixture of the smell of sweets, fried foods, cow dung and open drains. The jostling crowd, which called out to their traveling companions and accompanied by reverent chants of “Radhe Radhe”, shaped the atmosphere. Just as we were adjusting to the venue’s new normal, a monkey pounced from a power pole, snatched my cousin’s glasses from my hand in an instant and took his position on the transformer.

Before we could even figure out what was going on, a crowd gathered. Everyone quoted a price for picking up the glasses. We hired the young girl who offered to do the work for a hundred rupees. Soon the girl started calling for the monkey, throwing him a roti followed by a banana and strange snacks, begging him to return the glasses. The monkey, however, neglected these offerings and held his prey between his teeth while giving the girl a long, piercing look. A few caresses and admonitions later, the girl asked the rascal if he wanted “Frooti”. The rascal responded with a grin, expressed through a twinkling eye.

The girl promptly grabbed a tetra pack of the liquid from a nearby store and waved it high in the air. She negotiated with the animal to return the glasses in return for the treat. What happened next was a sight to behold. The small cardboard box that was thrown up was deftly caught by the monkey. At the same time there was a spectacle that our heroine captured just as skillfully. It’s a shame it couldn’t be captured on camera.

The money changed hands and the glasses were returned to the relieved owner.

As the incident was calmly recalled, it became clear that the entire operation was perfectly planned. The human-ape connection had expanded into a win-win situation for everyone involved. Not only had the monkey played its part, but it also refused to part with its prey until its specific demand was met.

In our country, monkeys have contributed to human wildlife for centuries as artists and pets. I wish we could work on this unique bond to improve the world instead of abusing the intelligent beasts to achieve our selfish goals!

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