Journal of Threatened Taxa |
www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 March 2024 | 16(3): 25016–25018
ISSN 0974-7907
(Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8811.16.3.25016-25018
#8811 | Received 31 October 2023 | Final received 29 January 2024 |
Finally accepted 13 March 2024
Rodent - a part of culture and revolution in India
Hiranmoy Chetia
1 & Murali Krishna Chatakonda 2
1,2 Amity Institute of Forestry and
Wildlife, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201313, India.
1 hiranmoychetia@gmail.com, 2
mkchatakonda@amity.edu (corresponding author)
Editor: P.O. Nameer,
Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur, India. Date of publication: 26 March 2024 (online &
print)
Citation: Chetia, H. &
M.K. Chatakonda (2024). Rodent - a
part of culture and revolution in India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 16(3): 25016–25018. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.8811.16.3.25016-25018
Copyright: © Chetia & Chatakonda 2024.
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows
unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium
by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, Project ID-ECR/2017/000594.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: We would
like to express our gratitude to Mr. Mingkeng Panggeng, Mr. Ojing Ering and Mr. Talem Ering, who accompanied us during our study in Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh. We also thank the funding
agency, Science and Engineering Research Board, Department of Science &
Technology, Government of India for supporting the study.
The term rodent came from the Greek word ‘rodere’,
meaning gnaw (Legendre 2003). Rodents are characterised
by prominent, continuously growing incisors which are present in both the upper
and lower jaw (Waggoner 2000). Rodents fall under the order Rodentia of the
class Mammalia. With 35 families comprising more than 534 genera and
2,652 species (Mammal Diversity Database 2023), they constitute 40% of all
mammals. Rodents are found native to all continents except Antarctica, New
Zealand, and certain other islands (Nowak 1999; Macdonald 2009). They inhabit a
wide range of ecological niches, encompassing terrestrial landscapes and human-constructed
environments. According to their habitat preferences, species may exhibit
arboreal, fossorial (burrowing), saltatorial, or
semi-aquatic behaviour. Rodents play important
ecological roles like seed dispersal and are an important part of the food
chain in maintaining a healthy prey-predator relationship. Apart from being
important to the ecosystem rodents are also responsible for various diseases
and health problems. Rodents are vectors for many viruses and pathogens. The
infamous bubonic plague which claimed 70–200 million human lives was spread
through rodents (Glatter & Finkelman 2021).
India is home to 102 rodent species distributed among 47 different
genera (Srinivasulu & Srinivasulu
2012). Of these, 19 species are categorized as agricultural and commensal pests
(Tripathy et al. 2017). Some species are widely
distributed, while some are locally important (Sridhara
& Tripathi 2005). It is important to note that India suffers a huge
economic loss because of rodents. Different crops like rice, wheat, maize,
vegetables, fruits, and poultry farms face a great threat because of different
rodent species (Singleton 2003; Tripathi 2014).
While there is a prevailing negative perception of rodents, there are
also instances of rodents being an inseparable part of cultures and being
responsible for some important historical events.
Rodents as a part of culture
From Krauncha to Mushakraj
The oldest mentioned and the most famous rodent which is a part of
culture is Mushakraj, the vahana (mount) of Lord Ganesha. As the name suggests Mushakraj
was a rat. Legend has it that Krauncha, a
musician-God, stepped on the foot of Muni Vamadeva,
who in turn cursed Krauncha to become a giant mouse.
Upon recovering from his anger Vamaveda told Krauncha that a day would come when the gods would bow down
to him (Krauncha). One day Ganesha
was invited to the Ashram of Maharishi Parashar. But Krauncha
ended up stepping on the Ashram thereby destroying it. Ganesha
then wanted to meet Krauncha and teach him a lesson.
Upon meeting him, he unleashed his weapon ‘pasha’ which looped around Krauncha’s neck and brought him down to his (Ganesha’s) feet. Krauncha asked
for forgiveness and begged Ganesha to make him his mount. But Krauncha was unable to bear the weight of Ganesha and requested him to become lightweight, to which Ganesha obliged. And thus, Krauncha
became Mushakraj, the mount of Ganesha
(Astroved 2022).
Karni Mata and Rats
In a temple in Deshnoke, Bikaner, Rajasthan,
devoted to goddess Karni Mata, rats are not seen as
pests or vermin but are revered, so much so that it can be called a temple of
rats. The legend is prevalent here is, that the stepson of Karni
Mata, Lakshman, drowned in a pond named Kapil Sarovar when he tried to drink
water from it. Karni Mata then approached Yama, the
god of death, to revive Lakshman. At first, Yama refused, but he then relented,
permitting Lakshman and all the male children of Karni
Mata to be reincarnated as rats; hence, rats are revered in this temple. The
temple is home to about 25,000 Black Rats Rattus rattus
(Lostal 2021).
A dowry of rodent
Within the Adi tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, the Orange-bellied Himalayan
Squirrel Dremomys lokriah,
holds significant cultural importance. In the Adi language, this species is
referred to as “Leiboh/Leipoh.”
It plays a pivotal role in the traditional marital customs of this community (Chetia et al. 2022). As part of the marriage ritual, the
groom is required to present a dowry consisting of two pairs of these squirrels
to the bride’s family.
The Adi tribe has a captivating folklore explaining the rationale behind
using the squirrel as a bride price. According to the legend, in ancient times,
Doying Bote, the King of
Knowledge, fell in love with Kine Nane,
the Queen of Abundance. However, Doying Bote found it exceedingly challenging to persuade Kine Nane’s family to accept
their union. He attempted to send various forms of life to convince them, but
none of these emissaries succeeded.
In the end, it was the turn of Leiboh/Leipoh, the squirrel, to go and mediate on behalf of Doying Bote. Remarkably, this
attempt proved successful, and the marriage was allowed to proceed. As a result
of the squirrel’s pivotal role as an intermediary in the union of Doying Bote and Kine Nane, it has become an
integral and inseparable element of the Adi tribe’s cultural heritage (Chetia et al. 2022).
Rodents as a part of Revolution: The Birth of a State
Until 1987, Mizoram was part of the undivided state of Assam. Mizoram is
home to a type of bamboo known as Melocanna
baccifera, which covers 31% of its total
geographical area. This bamboo species blooms every 45–50 years, leading to a
sudden increase in the population of Black Rats Rattus rattus.
This phenomenon, known as a ‘rat flood’, occurs when the bamboo dies and
regrows from seeds, the rats feed on the seeds, which boosts the size of rat
litter. This surge in the rat population results in widespread destruction of
food sources, leading to large-scale famines. In the Mizo language, this cyclic
famine is referred to as ‘mautam’.
In 1958–59, a mautam event resulted in the
loss of 100 lives and crop and property damage (Goswami
2008). When the people of Mizoram sought assistance from the Assam and Indian
governments, their concerns were not taken seriously. This negligence led to
the establishment of the Mizo National Famine Front (MNFF) by Pu Laldenga, which provided relief to the remote
famine-affected areas. On 22 October 1961, the famine front evolved into the
Mizo National Front (MNF). The armed wing of MNF, known as the Mizo National
Army (MNA), demanded the creation of a sovereign state for the Mizo people on
28 February 1966. On 1 March 1966, they declared independence from Assam by
launching attacks on government offices and security force posts.
Conclusion
Human civilization is deeply intertwined with myth and history, often
influenced by the surrounding environment and cultural elements. In many
civilizations, various animals hold significant cultural roles within
hierarchical structures. The unique reverence for rodents in Indian mythology
and history is particularly intriguing. Nowhere else in the world has there
been a revolution resulting in the birth of a new state, with rats playing a
central role, as seen in India.
Therefore, it’s evident that beyond their ecological significance,
rodents hold immense mythological and historical importance, contributing
significantly to the shaping of India’s culture and history.
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