As the winter sets in the Siberian cranes gets restless, it is time for them to migrate to a faraway land where the summer will give warmth and plenty food to help them to lay their eggs and hatch them.
Group of cranes excited and stretching their wings and then one of them says so its time to go.
Crane 1: where are we going?
Crane 2: we are going to a beautiful land called India.its so beautiful there.The mountains,warm sunshine, a big lake and plenty of food.It is also safe that we can lay our eggs and hatch them and watch our children grow.
As the darkness sets in for the night .The first flock of birds rise to the skies to begin their long journey to India.
Sunrise(next day):A beautiful lake, an old man squinting into the horizon. Three days passes by.
The same old man sitting on the ground and says! Hmmm the birds are late maybe they will come anytime now- night falls.
Next morning:The old man is not alone he has a small gal with him is grand daughter both watching the skies impatiently, and then in the horizon they see the first birds flying towards the lake.
Old man: Look there come my children; from far the first dots of birds flying towards the lake excites the little gal too who jumps with joy.
Little gal: grandpa how many years has it been since you have been taking care of these birds……
Old man: Sighs hmmmm……this is my 40th year my small one…..
Little gal: Who used to take care of these birds before grandpa?
Old man: My father, dear one……wow and now you! wow!
In the horizon the skies filled up with the arriving birds……the tree tops and the skies filled up with cheerful cries of the birds after seeing the lake and the water.
Scene 6: After two weeks:
The old man and the little gal are near the trees:
Old man: The birds have started to lay the eggs look the mothers are not going for feeding. Tonight I will be sleeping here so that I can see that no predators can come to take the eggs away.
Two weeks later:
The little gal wakes up the old man who is sleeping near the trees after a night watch, the sounds of the newly born chicks excites the little gal and she is jumping with joy, grandpa the chicks have hatched.
They move from tree to tree –
Old man:There are many chicks this season so good I am so happy we have to be very careful and alert, from now on. You know chicks can fall from the trees, we have to put them back, there are going to be wild cats, dogs, cats and other predators that can harm them, I will have to get doppa also to help me with watch.
Early Morning:The old man, the little gal and Doppa wakes up. They hear loud sounds of trucks and other vehicles that are driving towards the lake. They are so surprised.
Old man:What is this? There are many trucks and machinery? And they walk towards the trucks. The trucks come to a stop near the lake shore.
Few well dressed men climbs out of the cars and surveys the surroundings.
Meanwhile the old man, the little gal and doppa walks towards them,
Old man: Namaste why are you all here?
Officer: with a sarcastic tone: WHAT?we are here to build a factory, a paper mill, we have bought the surrounding lands and we will be using the waters too, in order to supply water to the factory, first we are going to build a water filter station for which we need to cover a little part of the lake.
Turns towards the other official, could you please get the plan and set the tables lets start work.
Old man: Oh God! what is going to happen to the birds?
Group of men: Laughs out loud.
Officer: WHAT birds, which birds, we don’t care about the birds, they will come and go.
Old man: But they have been coming here since ages this is the place that they come to lay their eggs and hatch them. With all the noise and the disturbance there will be fewer chicks this time. All the noise is going to disturb them and cause stress. Maybe the birds will never come back.He shouts.
Group of men laughs out loudly.
Old man, we have permission from the government, we have the land which belongs to us now, and meanwhile many villagers gather around. There is a big commotion.
Officer:Please be silent.We are also going to relocate all the villagers to a better place and we will build you homes to live.
Evening news:There has been an untold incident in the village 200 Kms from thirunalveli, the protests of the villagers against a 100 crore investment for a paper mill turned violent as they villagers stopped the advancement of the machinery and trucks and one was killed, an old man named Murthy was shot dead by the police who tried to control the protests.It was know that this man since his fathers time has been taking care of the birds and even being on night watch to see that no chicks comes to harm he has been doing this for the past 40 years every year!. The authorities have rushed to the spot, many environmentalists have reacted to this violence, and few have reached the spot.
But the government has stated that there is no going back on this, as this is going to generate a lot of income and provide jobs to many, as of the environment they will take necessary steps to ensure that the lake and surroundings won’t be harmed.
An environmentalist to the Interviewer: But the problem does not end there, the waters are going to be polluted, the air in the nearby surroundings too are going to be polluted, but the worst fears are for the migrating birds which have been visiting the this place since ages, the Siberian cranes fly more than 2000 miles to visit this place to lay eggs and hatch them, what is the future of these birds, does it mean that even the extinction of these birds can happen in the near future as they wont able to raise their chicks.
Two months later:Massive structures rise up to the skies,Huge machines are being unloaded, the terrible loud sounds of drilling machines, the trucks moving in and out night and day,the polluted air and stagnant waters of the lake destroys what was once home of the birds, many chicks die from want of food.There are less fish in the water. The water gets contaminated. Half of the lake is now being reclaimed with soil being dumped, and a huge water purification facility comes there. Most of the trees have been cut down.
Early March next year: Nearing the arrival of the migrating birds:
Near the small patch of land and what ever was left of the lake, on the shore stands that little gal looking into the horizon waiting for the birds to arrive.
Days passes by but there is a not a bird in sight.
Will they come says the little gal’s heart wishing in vain............2008!
“Lets save it, protect it for the Future”
Let’s Save Our Planet
Originally written while, I was working for Toonz Animation – 2004 - 2005
Was Selected for, Tech ‘A’ Break Contest – 2008 for Save the planet Contest.
Story and Script by Kings – 2004
