When you call me a donkey

Donkey means not fool but a tool for progress. (Photo courtesy: www.animalpictures123.org)

Till three years before a donkey to me was just an animal having no brain, no commonsense or no readiness to work. In India, my lone encounter with donkeys was while climbing up and down the Sabari hills as part of annual pilgrimage. Then herds of donkeys carrying heavy loads on their back and led by some keepers would be jostling and chocking the pilgrim paths causing disturbance to devotees. Tired of a tedious mountain climb, devotees disdained the donkey population. 

Now for the last three years, I am seeing a different face of donkeys. Ever since I landed Ethiopia, donkeys became more and more familiar. Here not a single day I miss seeing a hardworking donkey.  Donkeys near my home carry everything on their back – it can be vegetable sacks, firewood, grains or even jerrycans of water. They show their stamina also by pulling carts. 

Donkey economy

I could hear that in the suburbs of Addis Ababa, the capital city, many people make a hefty income out of their donkeys. Donkeys toil and moil carrying commodities to the city and back producing money to an extent of 500 ETB (Ethiopian Birr) per day for their owners.  I just googled and found many research papers substantiating the considerable economic agency possessed by the donkey population. Some documents avow the supremacy donkeys enjoy in safeguarding the economy of rural and semi-urban societies through developing societies around the world. 

Donkey beauty 

If I say donkeys have good complexion, don’t be annoyed. Be patient. Enjoy watching its sinewy, skinny bodylines and perfect eyes. To know its devoutness to duty, you should really own a donkey.     If not for me and you, doing one’s duty is the beauty for donkeys. Donkeys are not fools that do not understand what you do on it. With a single kick by throwing its rear legs together upward, a donkey can put an end to a living creature that tries to attack it. Still, in front of its owner, donkeys become synonym to obedience.

Donkey history

In the annals of history, donkeys occupy many coveted thrones. They have been here ever since 5000 BC. Many stories have been jotted down by known and unknown writers. Aesop an author of the yesteryears believed to be an Ethiopian or Greek, has written fables on donkeys. One of his tales is about a father and son travelling with a donkey. As the passersby comment, either father, or son or both together climbs up the animal. Again at the influence of the passerby, they got down and carried the animal together on their shoulders. Both the father and the son had no stand of their own, but obliged what others say. Fed up by this drama, the animal kicks down both of them. I don’t know what prompted Aesop to conclude the story in such a way that the donkey accidentally falls into water and dies. Here, donkey cannot be called a fool for sure. 

Thanks to Prof. M.I. Zuberi who during many morning walks unravelled many truths on the modest animal. Calling donkey is one of the most derogatory addresses to insult a person. “You are a donkey” equals saying that “you are the most obnoxiously foolish, lethargic and idle”. Here is my latest objection. Here in Ethiopia I see the yeoman donkeys that bear unblemished strength, sincerity, obedience and wisdom. Here are the donkeys that serve as money banks for its owner. Here are the donkeys that have earned an inseparable space in the social fabric. So, definitely, next time when you call me a donkey, I should keep a smile.  

- K.P. Sivakumar