The journey of a Shepherd
'Disheartened, I sat on a rock, believing that I had lost my way.
But then, when I lifted my head and looked around,
I realized the path was new — and so was the destination.'
There was a small village at the lowlands of the Nilgiri mountains. The meadows here were watched over by the pine trees and wildflowers. It was the earth's treat for the grazing flock of sheep and a perfect lap for the shepherds to rest and unwind. Among those shepherds was Badal. A tall boy of seventeen with a loosely tied headscarf with an ever-present pine stick that helped him guide his flock through the pastures.
Badal first came to the meadow at the age of six with the same pine stick in his hand. Apart from the sheep, there was one more fascination he had for coming to the meadow — a potter and his wheel in a quiet corner. The potter, every day, created something new— and little Badal watched him very closely. While the other shepherds nattered amongst themselves, Badal spent his time marvelling at the new vases, statues, and pitchers.
As time flew, he grew up, and that potter died. For many years, his wheel accumulated dust in that same corner.
Badal was followed by many when it came to shepherding. Yet every day, when he came to the meadow, he felt lost. But his goats still kept him occupied — he was a shepherd after all. And now, what he once enjoyed had somehow become an obligation. For the past few visits, he had an uncanny urge to take that abandoned wheel home. None of the shepherds in that village had a clue how it could be used, nor did Badal. Yet, one day, he followed his heart.
After a few days, his cousin brother visited him. He insisted to explore the meadows and thus took the flock for grazing. Badal got the awaited opportunity. He cleaned the wheel, arranged some clay, and started creating something unimagined. He kept following his instincts and recalled the potter's craft. When his cousin returned with the flock, he was left in awe.
A circular-shaped bowl that had irregular pointy edges like a lotus flower was kept near the wheel. Next were candleholders, teapots, mugs that had eyes and ears, and then came the sculptures. He could imitate nature while creating faces. For him, a smile didn't end at just the pull of lips; it stretched the eye muscles too. Sometimes his magnum opuses expressed wrath through protruding veins on the neck and arms. The colossal sculptures looked like immortal gods themselves.
Under a faded headscarf was a geometer, artist, and even an engineer who could breath life into clay.
Badal lost himself to the wheel only to spin a new destiny!
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