Karma and Katha

I wonder if you believe in the Doctrine of Karma? Or in the concept of boons and curses? Or are you of a more scientific mind and look for the logical, reasonable deduction? The story that unfolds will help you to analyse yourself.

As many of you know Selim Hill Tea Garden was a sick tea garden for many years and even today the family is gently nursing it back to health. When faced with any illness, the first step is diagnosis, finding the true root cause. Economists and chartered Accountants highlight balance sheets, markets, demand, supply, labour issue and many other numerical reasons. But I believe in the katha (the story) of what really happened.

A hundred and fifty years ago, when Selim Hill Tea Garden was established, many trees were felled. The Darjeeling hills were disturbed, yet they forgave as many forests were spared. But within the grounds of the Manager’s Bungalow stood a revered Nagaisuri tree (the Cannonball Tree). Both Buddhists and Hindus held it sacred; it is even said that Lord Buddha was born under such a tree.

As is the nature of Tea Gardens, the manager changed and a new, arrogant, pompous, ignorant fellow came to live at the bungalow. The first thing he did to improve his line of vision was to make a plan to cut down this beautiful, old tree. The birds heard of his plan first, alarm calls rang out, monkeys informed the deer, rabbits ran around with messages from the snakes, squirrels and porcupines informed every leaf and blade of grass until, ultimately the news reached the King of the Jungle. He informed the local humans living at the tea garden. They too were quite incredulous that someone could attempt such a dastardly act.

They went to check with the Manager, who was already sharpening the saw. They begged and pleaded with him but to no avail. He was warned of the consequences in no uncertain terms……if the Nagaisuri Tree was felled, the tea garden would fail and would not see bounty and abundance for at least 50 years.

But the man scoffed. With a puff from his pipe and the stroke of a saw, the sacred tree came crashing down. A foreboding silence followed. The wind stilled, birds fell quiet, clouds vanished. Selim Hill entered the rain shadow area where no clouds came to water the tea bushes. Rains stopped blessing its slopes. The estate faltered, bled, and was sold many times over.

Though Selim Hill has been with our family for three decades, I believe it was only during Covid that we were truly invited back. Nature had reset herself. The curse had run its course. We had been given a Second Chance.

Nature sends us constant reminders in different shapes and forms. On our last visit to Kolkata, a woodpecker followed us. As we sat for breakfast sharing a pot of Dorje Lemon Honey Tea, my attention was drawn by the tick – a – tick – tick sound of a woodpecker. There it was balanced on the window frame pecking away at the wood (this really happened, I am not making it up) reminding me of my promise to plant many, many trees.

Gentle nuances are the building blocks of instinct and katha. Karam, on the other hand, is the intent that breathes meaning into the katha.

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