One of the charming sights used to be the Boom Boom Ox (பூம் பூம் மாடு)) or the nodding bullock in the streets of Madras, now Chennai. These bullocks are the traditional way of life of a particular nomadic tribal people, who are slowly being encouraged by government and private initiatives to settle down for a better way of life.
Within a couple of decades, the Boom Boom Ox would turn into another urban legend. So it was with a childish delight I spied one such in my street, today. A group of us were chatting about – what else, but the hot weather – when the ox trotted by.
I pulled out my mobile to grab a couple of photos, and the bullock owner acquiesced, as he had already taken some money from a passer by to entertain his grandchild, and he posed the Boom Boom Ox for a couple of snaps. Then came the nodding routines.
First he told the bullock to raise its right hand – and up went the right front leg, and then the left hand too. Next he asked the ox whether the old man gave him money or not, and bullock nodded, signalling an yes. Then he asked whether the ox, would like to give the child a kiss. It nodded yes, came near and kissed the frightened child’s toes..
By this time appeared the neighbourhood killjoy. You know the type - if he sees a sleeping stray, he will chase it. If he spies a feline trying to scoot across, he will demonstrate giving her an anxious ten minutes. He will snaggle a thread to a nest, and tug whenever the crows’ sit down to incubate.
Anyway this pest, just to needle us, started commenting that performing animals are a no-no as per latest Animal Protection laws, and one complaint will land both the bull and its owner in jail. That’s when the Boom Boom Ox showed its true mettle.
Perhaps it was a discreet tug of the restraining rope, some other unseen signal, or the animal really understood Tamil, especially the 'jail threat' to its master. Anyhow the bull charged, and would have gored the pestering fool, but for the suddenly taut restraint. To wrap the story up, the fool scooted away, leaving us to enjoy one more chuckle*.
Within a couple of decades, the Boom Boom Ox would turn into another urban legend. So it was with a childish delight I spied one such in my street, today. A group of us were chatting about – what else, but the hot weather – when the ox trotted by.
I pulled out my mobile to grab a couple of photos, and the bullock owner acquiesced, as he had already taken some money from a passer by to entertain his grandchild, and he posed the Boom Boom Ox for a couple of snaps. Then came the nodding routines.
First he told the bullock to raise its right hand – and up went the right front leg, and then the left hand too. Next he asked the ox whether the old man gave him money or not, and bullock nodded, signalling an yes. Then he asked whether the ox, would like to give the child a kiss. It nodded yes, came near and kissed the frightened child’s toes..
By this time appeared the neighbourhood killjoy. You know the type - if he sees a sleeping stray, he will chase it. If he spies a feline trying to scoot across, he will demonstrate giving her an anxious ten minutes. He will snaggle a thread to a nest, and tug whenever the crows’ sit down to incubate.
Anyway this pest, just to needle us, started commenting that performing animals are a no-no as per latest Animal Protection laws, and one complaint will land both the bull and its owner in jail. That’s when the Boom Boom Ox showed its true mettle.
Perhaps it was a discreet tug of the restraining rope, some other unseen signal, or the animal really understood Tamil, especially the 'jail threat' to its master. Anyhow the bull charged, and would have gored the pestering fool, but for the suddenly taut restraint. To wrap the story up, the fool scooted away, leaving us to enjoy one more chuckle*.
Thanks for chucking the chuckle this way MM. This blog post is fantastic. Such a small package on the outside and so much larger within.
ReplyDelete#humor #history #sociology #philosophy #tardisism
welcome ted. One moment he was docile, eating a banana out of my hand & within 6 seconds, as soon as heard the word 'jail' bristled and charged. I had to backpedal five or six paces to get out of the way, incase he had ideas on others. :-D
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