The hour of the hawk

IF there is a certain species of wildlife on the subcontinent that is proliferating faster than rabbits, it is the hawk. Watch these winged creatures as they circle the skies, their cries piercing the air from Pune to Peshawar. Observe them call out from their perches of power as word gets round that the peace process is now formally ripe for the picking. Watch them dive into its twitching carcass and emerge triumphant with bloodied beaks and talons. Watch them cross the great expanse of the Indo-Gangetic plain with several rapid wing strokes followed by a powerful glide as they ride the hot winds of vituperation.

As is the case with other bird species, there are several types of hawks that can be spotted in the windswept hollows of this great land mass. They may vary in size, but they are all characterised by prehensile talons that pick up prey in a smooth action. Their hooked beaks are designed to tear apart any creature that defies their dominance. And, yes, they will do everything they can to ensure that India and Pakistan will forever remain the happy hunting ground for their predatory swoops.

The Hindu Hawk (Trishuler trivirgatus): This is a broad category that includes sub-species like the Shivsena trivirgatus and the Vishwahinduparishad trivirgatus. SIZE: Varies, depending on geographical location and access to power. FIELD CHARACTERS: Excitable and, on occasion, furious creatures, known to swoop down on cinema halls and cricket pitches, and claw and scratch at the work of harmless life forms like artists and actors. In other words, they believe that community honour demands pecking furiously at any one who is not of their kind and national honour demands the destruction of the nation across the border. DISTRIBUTION: Throughout the Indian land mass. Both resident as well as migratory. HABITS: Usually obstreperous with a loud, harsh challenging cry. Some of them, having eased themselves into ministerial positions, wield exceptional influence.

The Islamic Hawk (Jehadi badius): This has various sub-species like the Lashkar-e-toiba badius or the Jamaat-e-Islami badius. SIZE:Varies, depending on funding from state and foreign sources. FIELD CHARACTERS: Very devout, prays five times a day, and follows up such moments of calm by pulling out AK-47s and mowing down the unsuspecting. In other words, they believe that community honour demands waging an endless jehad against the infidels. National honour, to their mind, demands the absolute destruction of the nation across the border. DISTRIBUTION: Scattered throughout the Pakistan land mass. Both resident and migratory, closely linked with groups in the Central Asian region. Their numbers are often augmented by extralimital migrants. HABITS: Usually obstreperous, they takes pains to sponsor armed batches of their kind to hunt amidst the unsuspecting across the border, wreaking carnage in calibrated doses.

Military Hawk (Generalum virgatus): This is a species that is inordinately fond of the medals pinned on their puffed up breasts and believes that the only conversation worth having is through the exchange of gunfire. SIZE: Fattened on huge defence budgets, they are presently thriving thanks to the fact that they have a firm hand on the levers of power. FIELD CHARACTERS: Very chauvinistic would ideally like to have a free hand to destroy the nation across the border once and for all. Impatient with any namby-pamby moves to make peace.

Foreign policy Hawk (Diplomatis virgatus): A very sophisticated and ambitious breed which can, when required, resort to verbal calisthenics with telling effect. Fond of vague and meaningless verbal constructions such as: ‘‘the talks were held in a cordial, frank and constructive manner’’, they desire nothing more than to shape the foreign policy thinking within their respective establishments since they perceive themselves as keepers of the nation’s honour. SIZE: Modest, but wields an influence far beyond their actual numbers. FIELD CHARACTERS: Very chauvinist, very jingoist, they perceive hostility between India and Pakistan as a personal vocation, realising that they themselves would be rendered redundant if peace were to descend. Once retired, very fond of appearing on TV talk shows. DISTRIBUTION: Located largely in decision-making centres of both nations.

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