The cat and the bat
- Houdong Sekpi marup ani -
- Animal Fables-
Fungawari Singbul by B. Jayantakumar Sharma *
Art Work - Phurailatpam Banti
Animal Fables:
Funga Wari Singbul: Page 21
Houdong Sekpi marup ani
Once upon a time in a jungle, a cat and a bat were living together.
They were very good friends.
They help each others in the times of needs and were also very honest to each other.
One day a wild elephant came and killed all the five babies of the bat. The bat was crying for her lost when the cat came by.
The cat said, "What happen, why are you crying?"
The bat told him the story of how her babies died because of the elephant and also asked him to take revenge on the elephant.
She promised him a feast with a nice fish curry and fried rat if he kills the elephant.
The cat felt very bad for the bat and promises her that he will kill the elephant.
As the cat came passing through the jungle, he met a beehive.
The cat asked the bees help for killing the elephant and fulfilling a friend’s promise.
The bees agreed to the cat’s proposal and went searching for the elephant.
They found the elephant eating inside the dense part of the jungle and killed him there.
The cat came happily to give the good news to the bat and also for the feast which was promised to him.
But the bat had not made any plan for the feast. She felt so ashamed of herself so she flew away and hide herself.
And then she sat on the tree upside down.
It is said that the reason behind bats sitting upside down on a tree is because they are hiding from the cats.
Motto: We should always keep our word.
* This is a Manipur folk tale translated from a Book in Manipuri "Fungawari Singbul" compiled by B. Jayantakumar Sharma. E-pao.net thanks B. Jayantakumar Sharma for giving permission to be reproduced in this website. Translation done by Team e-pao. This was webcasted on January 05, 2012.
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.