My musical preferences

Since I said I will discuss my preferences in music and dance, here is a post on that. Here are descriptions of what I enjoy in music and dance, and what I wouldn't enjoy (or may even find irritating) done in and towards different aspects of music and dance.

Pure dance

Various aspects of pure dance, its structure, technique and possibilities and relation to music in different dance styles of the world.

I am interested in music and dance in general, and while enjoying various styles of these, I also find basic similarities between them to be very beautiful. I will also share some things that I personally like and find interesting in certain styles of dance, and discuss my aesthetic preferences in general.

Musical sounds - 3 - Usage and textures

Various practical aspects of musical sounds, their usage in different kinds of music and musical textures in different musical styles of the world. 

This is the third of a 3 part post on musical sounds in music, for the first part please see here, and for the second part please see here.

Musical sounds - 2 - Tonality and relations

Various tonal aspects of musical sounds, tonality and how it relates sounds in different musical styles of the world. 

This is the second of a 3 part post on musical sounds in music, for the first part please see here, and for the third part please see here.

Musical sounds - 1 - Tuned and variably pitched sounds

Various basic aspects of musical sounds, their kinds and relations in different musical styles of the world. 

This is the first of a 3 part post on musical sounds in music, for the second part please see here and for the third part please see here.

Rhythmic music - 2 - Performance and expression

Various practical aspects of performing rhythm, its performance and related intricacies in different musical styles of the world. 

This is the second of a 2 part post on rhythm in music, please see the first part here.

Rhythmic music - 1 - Organisation and structure

Various basic aspects of rhythm, its patterns and structures in different musical styles of the world.

This is the first of a 2 part post on rhythm in music, please see the second part here. 

Solah Singar gender neutral poem

लिंग निरपेक्ष सोलह सिंगार - कविता

कई महीने पहिले हमने साज सिंगार पर एक कविता लिखी थी। पर वह पारंपरिक बखान और ब्यौरों को लेते हुए भी, थोड़ी - बहुत अपनी कल्पना से ही बनी थी। और अब, हम ख़ुशी से प्रस्तुत करते हैं, पारंपरिक सोलह सिंगार के बूते लिखी हुई एक कविता। इसमें तुक बाँधने पर काफ़ी मेहनत लगी है!

पर पारंपरिक सोलह सिंगार महिलाओं को लेकर है जबकि हमने उसपर कविता लिखकर भी किसी भी लिंग के मनुष्य को बखान समर्पित किया है, क्योंकि समाज के सबसे घिनौने लिंग भेद का विरोध ही होना चाहिए और जिसे जो चाहिए लिंग से निरपेक्ष होकर उसे बेझिझक कर पाना चाहिए।

Different Abhisarika Nayika - 2 metres

अभिसारिका नायिका 

- दो छंदों/लयों में एक ही कविता पर परंपरा से कुछ अलग 

हमने कई दिन पहिले एक छंद या लय में अभिसारिका नायिका, अर्थात पिया मिलन के लिए जानेवाली नायिका पर एक कविता लिखी थी, पर परंपरा से कुछ अलग। उससे कुछ दिन पीछे उसी विषय पर अलग ही लय में कुछ पद सूझे, उसी की उमंग में एकाध दिन पीछे हम पूरी कविता लिख बैठे। दोनों मीठी ब्रज भाषा में है।

Mahakavya - XY pahalwan ka lalitya varnan

XY प्रकार के शरीरवाले पहलवान (चाहे जिस लिंग का हो) की सुंदरता को बरनता हुआ एक लमछुआ काव्य - महाकाव्य! इसे मैंने ब्रजभाषा में लिखा है, और शास्त्रीय ढंग (पुरानी पारंपरिक विधि) में लिखने की कोशिश की है, यद्यपि हिंदी भाषाओं की अपनी अनूठी शब्दावली से भी बहुतेरे शब्द लिए हैं।

Saaj singar (Kavita)

एक व्यक्ति के साज - सिंगार का कविता के द्वारा लिंग निरपेक्ष ब्यौरा - वर्णन

Naav ki neenv (Kavita)

जब अपनी नैया टुकड़े - टुकड़े होकर टूट पड़े, तब मन की भावनाओं के आगे अपनी चतुराई और बूझ को रखना पड़ेगा। तभी बच पाएगा डूबनेवाला। इसी से जुड़ी एक कविता, और हमारी वैश्व दृष्टिकोण.....

नाव की नींव 

कवि - विदुर सूरी

क्या किया जाए जब मझधार में
थपेड़ा नाव को लगे उतारने

बाई झकझोरी हिला - डुलाए
चारों ओर अँधेरा छाए

नाव की हर पटरी लगे टूटने
पानी लगे हर छेद से फूटने

कील बिछड़ें नाव रूप खोए
जल बहके हर खूँट डुबोए

मस्तूल धँसे धीरे - धीरे
आँधी पाल को फाड़े - चीरे

पतवार पड़ गए सागर में
न खेवइया, माँझी है धरने

नभ पे डरावना उथल - पुथल हो
कोई न भनक है कि क्या कल हो

न जाने कब घेरनेवाला जल हो
डर तड़पाता हरेक छिन - पल हो

कोई न साथी, कोई न सहारा
और न दिखे एक भी चारा

कैसे चमके आस का तारा
जो मन ने अपना धीर हारा ?

जिया है पहिला डर का मारा
दूसरा है एक हिया बिचारा

लगे की बखेड़ा नहीं जाएगा टारा
अंदर जलें ज्यों धूप में पारा

तब अंत में किया ही क्या जाए
मिटने की होनी देख जी करे हाय - हाय

कैसे दिल को आस दिलाएँ
सूझे किनारा दाएँ न बाएँ

धर्म से घिन कर, सदा अपने आप पे आदर
अश्लीलता का विरोध, सब लिंग, लोग पक्के से बराबर

कड़ी स्थिति में आप बचाकर
अलौकिकता है अनहोनी, उससे कभी मत दर

बुराई के बढ़ावे, टुच्चे औरों का न दे साथ
स्वाधीनता, कला, भाषा ज्यों सुंदर लाट

हटा अनचाहे आवेग के आघात
समझ, बहुत बढ़कर है जिसकी बात

ज्ञान ले प्यारे अनुभूतियों से, कर काम स्वीकरणीयता की ओर
आत्म सम्मान, प्यार और नेकी को दे सबसे ऊँचा ठौर

मन न माने, और तू न मनाए
समझ से तरने की नाव बनाए

© Vidur Sury. All rights reserved
© विदुर सूरी। सर्वाधिकार सुरक्षित

Alaukik bhavon se mat daro (Kavita)

अलौकिक कल्पनाओं के ख़याल हर मनुष्य के मन में उठते हैं, और समझदार होकर भी केवल भय के कारण व्यक्ति इसमें फंसा रहता है। ये मन के सबसे ओछे विचार ही हैं, इनसे मत डरिए, न कभी भी इनके अस्तित्व में विश्वास रखिए। अलौकिक तत्त्व अनहोनी हैं, इसी समझ से अपने इन सबसे घटिए विचारों को उखाड़कर फेंक दीजिए जिसमें इनकी पहचान ही मिट जाए। इस सुविज्ञ, विकसित, आधुनिक युग में ऐसी सोच और ऐसी घबराहट से छुटकारा पाना एकदम बनता है।  तो चलिए, अलौकिकता के फालतू डर से छुटकारा पाएँ और विकास से पग मिलाते हुए आगे बढ़ें !

और इसी के बारे में एक कविता......

अलौकिक भावों से मत डरो ! 

कवि - विदुर सूरी

भूत - प्रेत, हौआ, राछस, असुर, बेताल, चुड़ैल, पिशाच, आदि
सब मन की नीचतम कल्पनाएँ हैं, मत सोचके बनना अनाड़ी

इन सबकी जड़ है डर और बूझ के बिरुध यही काम करे
मन के भाव जब डर बनें, तब जान छोड़ भय को थाम वह लें

और यही डर जब भी छा जाए मन को कभी न शान्ति आए
किन्तु सच्चाई तो यही है कि अलौकिकता की अनहोनी वह भुलाए

डर के भरमाए मन काँपे जबकि कोई न रुकावट हो
अब वह भी किस तरह कल पाए जब संकट की सदा आहट हो ?

पर क्या वास्तव में कोई अलौकिक भयंकर कोई तत्त्व भी है ?
सच तो यह है की यों कुछ भी नहीं, सब डर के घाते घाव ही हैं

मन पे बस रखना होगा जभी इस अनन्त डर को मिटाना हो
हालांकि डर में थरथराओ, तब भी सोच को बल से उठा दो

सारे सोच - विचार, सूझ - बूझ, भाव - रास रोकें आगे बढ़ने से
फिर भी जब सच है कि भूत नहीं, बरबस ही सही निकलो डर से

जब रास डर का हो, मन की कही मत मानो वरन पागलपन यह लगे
ठोस बनकर ललकारो अलौकिकता की होनी को, डर तुम्हें ठगे

चाहे साँप सूँघ जाए तुमको, इस बात पे ही तुम अड़िया बनो
कि अलौकिक, अतिप्राकृतिक किसी बस्तु की अस्ति नहीं, ठानो

अंत में जब तुम दबाव डाल, बिलकुल भी न मानो कि कोई प्रेत है
भय से अगसरके चतुर बनोगे, अपने किए पर तब न खेद है

© Vidur Sury. All rights reserved
© विदुर सूरी। सर्वाधिकार सुरक्षित

Dharm ki khilafat (Kavita)

एक कविता, धर्म की ख़िलाफ़त करने की अपनी सोच व्यक्त करती हुई। कई अनुभवों के परे होने पर हम धर्म के विरुद्ध अपने कड़े विचार और धर्म की तरफ़ अपनी नफ़रत को एक कविता के ज़रिए बयान कर रहे हैं। पाठकों से अनुरोध है कि वे अपनी प्रतिक्रियाओं में धर्म (धार्मिक मान्यता) का साथ देनेवाले मत पर बल देनेवाले तर्क प्रस्तुत नहीं करें। यहाँ एक मान्यता ही पेश की जा रही है। 

धर्म की ख़िलाफ़त 

कवि - विदुर सूरी 

अय धर्म तू बुरा है, अय धर्म तू बला है 
अब न दग़ा खाएँगे, तेरा पता चला है 

अरमानों पे हमारे, बरबादी को उछारे 
ख़ुशियाँ सभी मिटाकर, ग़म से तू हमको मारे 

दिल को यही है लगता, जब फंसे जाल में कि 
धरम है सही जबकि है जिगर को जलाता 

पेंच हैं तेरे दलदल - से, और लगते हैं जो दिल से
अब ज़ुल्म न सहेंगे, न झेलेंगे मुश्किल से 

जब तू ही है गुनहगार, क्यों हम ख़ुद ही को मानें ?
तेरी है, न हमारी ख़ता, यह बात जानें 

कभी अपने रब्ब की तू भरता है ख़ौफ़ दिल में 
कभी ऊंच बन ढकेले हमें नीचों के बिल में 

जिगर का लहू पीकर, और ठोकरें खिलाकर 
उम्मीद झूठी देकर, निराशा रस पिलाकर 

जब हो यक़ीन तुझ पर, ज़ोरों से ही तू छूटे
मजनू बनाके छोड़े, क़ायदे नेक टूटें 

होश पाएँ सच का लेकिन हम जागें नींद से जब 
पर्दाफ़ाश होता है तेरा तब, ओ मज़हब!

तो अच्छाई के ख़ातिर हम धर्म को मिटाएँ 
उठा नक़ाबे - बद को, हम भूल को छिंटाएँ

है इसी में भलाई कि धर्म से करो नफ़रत 
दुश्मने - जानी और दोस्त में तो तुम करो फ़रक़ 

फिर कौन प्रभु अपना, इसका जवाब सुन लो 
वही जो तुम ख़ुद मानो, जो है सही, वह चुन लो 

गर मानो इसलिए कि हिफ़ाज़त मिल जाए 
गर मानना ही न हो, त्यों ही ग़ुल खिल जाएँ 

पर याद रखना हरदम, कि सच्चा ख़ुदा है यही 
आपस की अपनी ख़ैरख़ाही और प्यार से अलग कुछ नहीं 

© Vidur Sury. All rights reserved
© विदुर सूरी। सर्वाधिकार सुरक्षित

Saphalta sabse madhur maani jaaye - based on Emily Dickinson's 'Success is counted sweetest'

जानी - मानी और आदरणीय अतीतकालीन कवयित्री ऍमिली डिखिनसन की अंग्रेजी कविता 'success is counted sweetest' पर आधारित एक हिंदी संस्करण। यह उन्हीं महती कवयित्री को समर्पित है।  

सफलता सबसे मधुर मानी जाए (Success is counted sweetest)

हिंदी संस्करण - विदुर सूरी 

मूल अंग्रेजी संस्करण - ऍमिली डिखिनसन 

सफलता सबसे मधुर मानी जाए 

सफल कभी न होनेवालों से 

एक अमृत को परखने के निमित भी 

आवश्यकता की आवश्यकता पड़े।  

जामनी रंग के गण में एक भी नहीं 

जिन्होंने विजय ध्वज फहराया 

कर सकते हैं परिभाषा कहके 

कि जीत है वस्तु क्या ?

जब उसने हराया - मरते हुए -

जिसके वर्जित कानों पर 

दूर की जय - जयकार की पड़ी बौछार 

स्पष्ट, संतप्त वह फूटी है आकर

© Vidur Sury. All rights reserved
© विदुर सूरी। सर्वाधिकार सुरक्षित

Man Apnao Sahi Path (Kavita)

परिश्रम से सफलता पाने के विषय पर हमारी एक कविता रचना, साथ ही साथ धर्म के विरोध के अपने विचारों को माध्यम देते हुए। पाठकों से अनुरोध है कि वे अपनी प्रतिक्रियाओं में धर्म (धार्मिक मान्यता) का साथ देनेवाले मत पर ज़ोर देनेवाले तर्क प्रस्तुत बिलकुल नहीं करें। आपको जो उचित लगता है वह आपका निजी उसूल है, पर इसमें प्रकट किए हुए मत का विरोध नहीं करें।  

मन अपनाओ सही पथ 

कवि - विदुर सूरी 


मन अपनाओ सही पथ
मिलें साँचे मनोरथ
बीचो - बीच जीवन की गत
तभी तुम हो पाओ उन्नत

कभी जो लगे धर्म ही अच्छा
ज़ुल्म ढाएगा, मिटाएगा कच्चा
धर्म की बातें कभी न ठीक
घिन करो उससे हो निर्भीक

काम में थककर जब सूझे
कि धर्म की ज़ुल्मों से जूझें
धर्म तो है झूठा सहारा
भद्दा इतना कि नहीं गँवारा

काम थकाए पैरों को
नदिया पार हो, तैरो तो
धर्म जलाए अपने पाँव
मौत से तो अच्छा है घाव

काम न करने को मन चाहे
ज्यों कि उठाकर गिरा दें बाहें
फिर भी सही गैल है काम
जीसी से मिले निज सुख धाम

काम का दबाव लगे निठुर
पथ पर बिछे हैं बहुत अंकुर
पर जब पार हो राह कठिन
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© Vidur Sury. All rights reserved
© विदुर सूरी। सर्वाधिकार सुरक्षित 

Guest post by me - book review of 'Around The World in 80 Tales' by Saviour Pirotta

Iam very happy to say that I have done a guest post at my mother's website. She is my main inspiration and encouragement to blog. This post was part of blog hop where a large group of bloggers sign up and post throughout the month of April, based on the alphabet theme. 26 days for 26 letters of the alphabet, excluding Sundays, called 'A To Z Challenge'. My guest post was a book review of 'Around The World in 80 Tales' by Saviour Pirotta, one of my favourite books, which fit into the letter 'F' for 'Folktales around the world'. I really enjoyed doing it.

Here it is: http://vidyasury.com/2013/04/folktales-from-around-the-world.html

I am excited to share that my book review was also published by the author on his website

 Book cover of 'Around The World In 80 Tales' by Saviour Pirotta

Liebster Award!

I am so happy to say that I have been nominated for a virtual award - the Liebster Award! :)

My sincere gratitude towards Deepa Ma'am for giving me this privilege and opportunity.

 
 Here are the 10 questions with their answers: 

1. Describe yourself in one sentence. 
2. Of all the posts on your blog, which is your favourite? 
3. Of all the books you have read so far, which is your favourite? 
4. Do you have a favourite celebrity? Who is it and why? 
5. What do you dream of doing someday? 
6. If you could go to any place in the world, which would it be? 
7. What’s your favourite part about a train/plane journey? 
8. What is one thing that you do not like about school? 
9. What’s the best gift you ever received? 
10. Share a joke!

 Here are the answers:

1. I am a 15 year old with interests in maths and sciences, arts, cultural studies
2. 'Amirbai Karnataki' - I have managed to put together an organised tribute to a great artiste. But well, I blog only what I love, so I love all that I blog :)
3. It's difficult to say....I have to chose 4 at least. 'Around The World In 80 Tales','Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema', and 'Hindi Film Geet Kosh Volumes I and II'. They are timeless and any day good to read again. The first one is dear also because my dearest grandmother had told my parents to gift me after I requested her. 
4. I adore singers, actors and music directors of 1930s - 1940s Indian films, especially Hindi. All of them have come up through sheer talent, and unique abilities.
5. A researcher in Maths and Science, maybe something of a combination, and an author, illustrator and singer alongside.
6. Hmmm....well, one of the 7 wonders of the world, or Greece, Egypt, or Venice, Italy, which have some modern wonders.
7. When it takes off, and when it lands, and oh - watching the sky through the windows...it's really enchanting.
8. None :)
9. The book 'Around The World in 80 Tales' which I have mentioned above. My parents and grandmother have gifted it to me so lovingly, that I can never forget it, and it's such a fantastic book.
10. What do you call an alligator wearing a vest? An investigator.

Book Review Children Who Made It Big

I recently read this lovely and inspiring book and here is the review. I enjoyed it and strongly recommend it to people of all age groups. This book has already been translated into various Indian languages including Hindi, Punjabi, Assamese, Marathi, Oriya, and Tamil. In fact, some schools are using in their curriculum. The second part is also in the making, I certainly do look forward to reading and reviewing that.

CHILDREN WHO MADE IT BIG

Author: Mrs. Thangamani
Publisher: National Book Trust, India
Pages: 164
Language: English
Price: Indian Rupees 45.00
Illustrator: Mr. Partha Sengupta

Whether you want to learn an academic concept, a new language, an art form, or anything, even if it is something trivial, you need to make an effort. This effort requires interest in your work and a true desire to do that, being sure that you will do it. This quality is determination. You also need to have the passion to continue with something and do it well till its completion. This other quality is perseverance. To be successful at anything, these two qualities go hand in hand, I am sure you'll agree.

What is this book about?

This book tells us in a friendly and exemplary manner how sublime this truth is. There are true life incidents of twelve Indian post-independence era maestros of different fields - most of whom are world famous, many of them being completely different from each other. We realise how these great personalities were once just ordinary people who, with determination and perseverance have achieved great heights, in their respective fields, be it science, industry, arts, social work, judiciary or films. The author has very vividly captured the lives of these greats by actually interviewing them and providing beautiful glimpses of their lives.

Nani Palkhivala, an eminent lawyer and human rights champion, overcame his major stammering problem, which deterred him from reaching his goals, and learnt the importance of sharing and kindness at crucial moments.

Medha Patkar, a voluntary organisation worker, who learnt ideal moral values from her parents but realises that it was up to her to take the initiative and act when a poor old man is ignored by all.

Satish Gujral, the famous artist and painter, who is jeered at and made fun of because of an accident and some other differences but finally manages to make ends meet and achieve great heights.

Justice Leila Seth, who realised the importance of priority and education at a very early age and also the happiness and enjoyment involved in it.

Rahul Bajaj, the heir to the famous Bajaj transport company, who is a good student and excels in all subjects. He learns English as a challenge, and successfully unites Indian tradition with modern technology.

World chess champion Vishwanathan Anand is an excellent example of determination and perseverance, who as a child is unable to win anyone at chess, and goes on to become World No. 1.

Physicist and developer Yash Pal who was very curious from the age of two. This helped him learn many things.  He was very successful at school even if he missed a year because of a disaster. He further facilitated education for all with his inventions.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, a stalwart at Hindustani classical music and the heir to the clan who introduced the instrument Sarod, who had to work very hard to reach basic heights and through sheer perseverance, perfection.

Mrinalini Sarabhai, a member of a family and region which hardly encouraged dance, struggling to learn dance from someone and finally succeeding because of her relentlessness and making a mark in not only Indian dance forms but also Greek dances.

The great writer and poet Ruskin Bond, who had a very harsh and tough childhood, losing his father at a young age.His early works were totally scorned, destroyed and dumped by his mates and teachers, but he finally emerged as a great writer.  

Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, the great agricultural scientist behind the Green Revolution of India, who was very intelligent and dedicated his life to bringing up agricultural genetics and improving irrigation facilities and technology.

Sai Paranjpye, a creative genius and film maker and a very important contributor to various film genres, who learned to respect books since she was very small. She also published a fairy tale book when she was barely eight!

What I liked about the book:

These true - life incidents illustrate the lives of the greats very well. They animate the effect and importance of determination and perseverance. This is the simple truth. We know it most of the time, yet ignore it. This book is a great read for anyone looking for inspiration be it a child dreaming of becoming great things, or an aspiring youngster, an adult looking for a success solution, or even an elderly person, unhappy with the present status looking for new hope.

I personally found the book very inspiring. The book is very well-written and the portraits and biographical illustrations for each achiever has been very well done by the illustrator.

"Children who made it big" is recommended for audiences of all ages. 

I would like to express my gratitude to the author, Mrs. Thangamani for her generosity in sending me a copy of this book.

You can buy this book: at Amazon, or Abebooks, or Flipkart. You can also find it at Google Books here.

Nigerian folktale - the Baboon and the Tortoise

Dear friends, today Iam sharing a lovely folktale from the West African country of Nigeria. Thanks to www.motherlandnigeria.com and the Punchontheweb archive for providing the folktale idea, image courtesy of the above 2 websites and several more with animal pictures. It is a trickster moral story.

Once a baboon and a tortoise were friends. They spent time happily stealing figs from the farmer's tree and daring his gun and fierce dogs. Doesn't this seem like an odd pair? Do you think both of them were happy with this kind of life? No....not so much for the tortoise, well. He didn't like this very exciting kind of life. So he told the baboon that one day they should plant their own fig trees, without worrying about the farmer, his gun and dogs. The baboon agreed happily seeing that the plan was much safer, but he was a lazy fellow and didn't care much about growing his plant. Though, the tortoise earnestly grew his plant, watering it regularly. Naturally, it was he tortoise's tree which grew well with tall branches and green leaves, but the baboon's ignored tree was withering and falling dead.

Finally figs sprouted on the tortoise's tree and the tortoise was attracted to the delicious figs. Being a small animal, he couldn't climb the tree, and asked the tall and tree - inhabited baboon for help, to which he replied, "Oh, sure, why not." But would the baboon be so kind to selflessly help the tortoise. Of course not, he was a trickster. He ate the figs and relished them till finally the tortoise saw its juice dripping out of his mouth. He shouted from below,", Hey, you are finishing off my figs, give me some!" The wily baboon said,"Of course, I'm looking for fully ripe figs for you, wait for a tad more", and so he went on munching. At last, he said,"Oh, sorry, there were no nicely ripe figs to give you", and with a jump, hop and somersault, he went away merrily with a hearty laugh.

Just as the tortoise was looking woefully, a cheerful robin redbreast came that way, and inquired,"Why do you look so glum? What has happened?", and the tortoise told him all that had happened,"Please be kind and give me some figs". Even the robin was not so kind; he offered the tortoise ripe figs, and when he agreed, the robin said there were only unripe ones left. Then, when the tortoise asked for the unripe ones, the robin said there were no figs at all, and flew away with a chirp. Ever since, tortoises are believed to look sad and never have smiled. 

The next day, the baboon gulped down more figs and mocked the tortoise, making him furious. The day after this, the shepherd came, and offered to help the tortoise avenge the mean baboon. He was a kind lad, and after giving some figs to the tortoise, and loading his gun, placed it high in the tree. Tied to its trigger was a long string that hung to the ground. Soon, the baboon came back, and asked the tortoise about the string. He replied,"If I pull the string one way, it will bring down ripe figs, but if I pull it the other way, it brings thunder and lightning in the clouds". The baboon was astounded and pulled it in disbelief. The gun shot with thunderously loud bangs, and appeared like lightning, thunder and clouds. The frightened baboon ran off, and ever since, baboon are said to have been frightened by guns and even looking at one. The tortoise, who was always sad, laughed inside himself. But he wasn't just as innocent and naive, in fact he was so angry with the baboon that he wanted to further punish him.

So, when they met the next time, the tortoise stood listening to a beehive. When the baboon asked him what he was doing, he replied,"I'm listening to the music that is coming out from this hole". But the baboon thought it was too soft and inaudible and was very disapproving. The tortoise said that it was a church and if the baboon wanted a louder hum, he needed to bang the hive with his fist and shake its hole with a nearby stick. When the foolish baboon did the same, the bees hummed louder and angrier, stinging him with rage. The baboon ran away painfully and jumped into a river to escape the bees. But each time he put his head out of the water, the bees stung him, and eventually their anger eased off and they returned to their hive.

The baboon scratched out the stings and baboons are believed to scratch themselves ever since. He was furious and wanted to bite the tortoise, who was now staring at a mango tree. The baboon screamed angrily, but the tortoise replied, though nervous,"I didn't tell you to hit and punch the hive so hard and almost pierce a hole on it. He was staring for so long that the baboon became curious rather than angry. When asked about it, he said,"Iam looking at the delicious mangoes which I wish I would eat". The baboon had swellings on his eyes and didn't realise that the tortoise was actually pointing out to a wasp-hive. The fat-headed baboon tried to pick the 'mangoes' and got badly attacked by the wasps. This made him extremely furious and he wanted to eat the tortoise now. The tortoise defended himself saying that he was pointing out to a mango tree and the baboon had handled a wasp nest, so it wasn't his fault. A cricket came chirping by and, because baboons love to eat crickets, the baboon chased it till it went into a tree-hole.

The baboon boasted that he could catch the cricket and in the attempt, caught a snake by mistake, which bit him. The snake was so angry on being disturbed that he bit the baboon hard. The tortoise was content with his revenge. From that day, tortoises, snakes, wasps and bees are said to have been good friends. And because the bees enjoyed the sweet figs, they have been crazy about any sweet thing and fruit. The snake decided to live on the branches of the fig tree instead of his old tree hole, since he could watch out for any approaching enemy. The baboon is also believed to have changed to a much less active creature. 

This folktale shows us how people may have made folktales, they would have wanted to explain why many things are the way they are (take a look at the 'ever since' - es...) and not knowing a scientific explanation, would imagined up the 'why' as stories which were later verbally passed and cherished by the folks. 

However such explanations may often be evil beliefs superstitions and should never be accepted to be true.