Sreedhar Bevara - The Roaring Lambs: A Fable about Finding the Leader in You

For Murali
My elder brother, mentor, guru, father figure and a true leader

I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep;
I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.

Alexander the Great

Contents

H ow many were killed in the attack today? asked Fursa, the senior sheep, flanked by his surviving peers. They surveyed the bloodstained East African grassland where the lions had gone on a rampage, now scattered with the shattered bones of their friends and families. Despair hung thick in the air.

How does it matter? asked the hurting lamb Misaada, tears showing his anguish. For the record, twenty-four are dead and several injured.

It was the third such massacre within a fortnight by the lions who lived across the mountains. Their once large and flourishing flock of sheep was now dwindling. They lived in constant fear of the big cats who wreaked havoc on their weakest members. They came from nowhere, seemed to know the flocks whereabouts and mercilessly murdered them in dramatic numbers.

We belong here. Our forefathers have lived here peacefully for centuries and called this place their home, cried Misaada. But now we live in constant fear of being butchered by these beasts, he ranted. We seem so weak and powerless. How did our previous generations coexist peacefully for so long? he asked, wanting to make sense of this spiral of mindless violence. His outcry was met with an uneasy silence from the old guard.

Misaada and his young adult peers were often called lambs by the animals that lived on the grasslands and forests of East Africa.

Originally, Misaada belonged to the bighorn sheep community, which lived in the high and hilly areas. But now they were forced to be on the run because of the frequent attacks.

Our home is the envy of all animals. As far as the eye can see and beyond, the lush green Mau Forest shines like an emerald, enchanting the whole of East Africa, said Misaada to the growing crowd that was now hanging on to his every word.

Unlike animals in other parts, we have an array of plants to feed on, our ponds never run dry, we remain uninfected by disease and we coexist in harmony with other animals and birds, he elaborated.

Whether its the peace-loving elephants, towering giraffes, tough hippos, rough rhinos, wildebeests, wild dogs, monkeys or flocks of birds from across the world, we coexist harmoniously with all in this gifted land. But now we have begun to suffer because of the atrocities of the lions. The lament was palpable in his voice.

Young Misaada, understandably, had grown despondent with the mindless killings. He couldnt resist voicing his opinion. The truth in his words had begun to attract the attention of the senior sheep. Nevertheless, some dismissed his heartfelt appeal, blaming it on his youth.

Everything seems possible when youre young. Then life happens, remarked Fursa, giving a knowing look to the elders.

Not missing the sarcasm in Fursas tone, Misaada retorted in a similar vein. For sure! We have here several bigwigs who thought exactly like me when they were young. Their sacrifices are showing now.

Misaada, your tone wouldnt be the same had you to encounter such brutality, Fursa responded.

Perhaps, its better to die fighting than live a lie, Misaada shot back.

Dying for a cause isnt as easy as giving a lecture, Fursa retorted, his arrogance flashing through.

There shall come a time when our valour will be tested. We shall see then, Misaada remarked, looking straight into Fursas eyes.

Fursa didnt bother responding. He knew no good would come of arguing with the young lamb.

There has to be a way to protect ourselves. A way to thrive and not live under perpetual threat to our lives. What have we done to deserve this cruel fate? How can they come and maul us to death at will and leave us cursing our luck? continued Misaada.

Every sheep, from the youngest lamb to the oldest ram, was crestfallen hearing the truth. Yet they avoided making eye contact with this earnest member of the tribe. Still recovering from the shock of previous evenings onslaught, none was fit to respond to or address Misaadas concerns.

But Misaada wouldnt stop. He wanted answers. He looked hard at each one. But they had nothing to say.

Its the Law of the Jungle and we have no other option but to abide by it, muttered an old sheep, sounding disgusted by his helplessness.

What law exactly? Need or greed? quizzed Misaada, his irritation evident. The Law of the Jungle holds only as far as it applies to an animals needs. It cant be deemed a law if it crosses the line from the need to greed. What is happening with us is pure greed. Isnt this sheer oppression? The Law of the Jungle doesnt imply that one should go beyond need. It applies purely for survival and coexistence in the jungle, he argued

Hunting when hungry is natural. Attacking another animal when afraid is also fair because its self-defence. Killing when provoked is justified. But what exactly is this heinous brutality about? Misaada continued to implore.

How do they know exactly where we are, despite our careful planning and tactical positions? he wondered aloud.

Does our submissiveness prove that we are powerless? Must we believe were inferior to these meat-eating beasts? I cant. There has to be a way to protect ourselves and compel the lions to respect us and the coexistence inherent in the ecosystem, he emphasized.

Why dont the elephants, giraffes and bears get attacked by the lions? Like us, they too eat plants and grass, Misaada pointed out. We eat from the same places and drink from the same ponds and streams. But they live safely and with dignity, without having their vulnerable members mauled and eaten in front of their eyes, he underlined.

This menace has to stop and someone has to take it up with the kingdom, Misaada concluded.

Dhimsa, an older sheep, surprised himself by cutting in.

If we keep blaming our predicament on the flawed Law of the Jungle and the fate of our species, how are we going to live peacefully in the forest? Why dont you do something about it, Misaada, instead of complaining about it every day?

The wise old bear, Akili, had been listening to the lambs relentless tirade.

Youre right, Misaada. The Law of the Jungle, or the survival of the fittest, doesnt necessarily mean that the ones who have survived are the fittest, or only the fittest must survive. Its neither a competition nor a battle to live, agreed Akili. Abuse of the Law of the Jungle is not new. Nor will it stop in the future. Human beings have shown this time and again. But nature always strives to achieve a balance, either through a torchbearer or by its natural propensity to set things right.

Misaada listened attentively while Akili continued.

To make matters worse, we dont have a true leader among us. A leader who can unify all factions and tribes. One whos acceptable not only to the lions and the lambs but to all the animals in the forest. Thats what ails us, young Misaada, said Akili.

Akili was an old bear in his late thirties. He was regarded for his wisdom and tact and enjoyed the respect of all the denizens of the forest.

Akili had heard the heated exchange between Misaada and the older sheep. He noticed a fervour in the young one. In Misaada, he sensed both the impatience of youth and the fire to bring in change.