When humans fail to understand the necessity of peace, a pair of bulls proves what real triumph is.
When humans fail to understand the necessity of peace, a pair of bulls proves what real triumph is.
Two countries lay side by side but were always at war with each other. Sometimes one would invade the other, which retaliated with interest. Spies from each country created terror in the other. There was never a moment of peace. Ordinary people lived in constant dread of war. Governments came and went, but the enmity between the two countries never slackened. Traders from distant lands, taking advantage of the situation, incited the two countries to fight so that they could sell arms to both.
The governments of the two countries had no money to buy medicines for their sick but they never lacked means to buy bombs. Millions of people in both countries could not afford even one square meal a day. Both were in the same sorry state; the people were poor but their governments were ready to go to war at the slightest excuse.
Bull-headed
Many years passed thus. Then the Prime Minister of one country had an idea. He wrote a letter to the other Prime Minister that went thus. “Our countries are said to be poor. But are we really poor? We have kept our nations in poverty by always fighting against each other. Our people are starving and foreigners are profiting at our expense. Mr. Prime Minister, let us sit together and decide what should be done to save our countries.”
And so it happened. The two Prime Ministers met and decided the fighting must not be allowed to continue. Neither country would ever win, and the people would become poorer and poorer.
It was agreed that a sturdy bull would be selected to represent each country and the two animals would fight a duel on the border between the two countries. If a bull representing one country emerged victorious, the people of the other country would accept defeat. This way, no human lives would be lost and national wealth would not be squandered on the purchase of weapons. One of the two bulls was sure to win; the battle would be decisive.
The idea appealed to everyone. Democracies depended on representation; if human representatives failed, why not choose animals instead?
The day and time were appointed. The place was decided. Crowds of people from both countries gathered in the fields behind the line separating them. The two Prime Ministers were seated. At the right moment, the two bulls were unleashed.
Oh my god! What enormous beasts! How sharp their horns were! They rushed towards each other like the fearless warriors they were. Who could say what the outcome would be? Hearts stood still as the spectators watched.
The bulls came from opposite sides and met in the centre of the field. Lifted their hands to examine each other. Then turned the heads around to look at the spectators.
But what was this? Instead of fighting, the bulls were licking each other! Breathless minutes passed but the display of affection continued. The bulls looked at the people gathered around them and mooed, as if to say “Look, you foolish people! Dumb beasts we may be, but we prefer peace to war. Learn from us!”
Suddenly, everyone saw the leaders of the two countries walking towards each other. Like the bulls, they met in the centre of the field and were locked together in a warm embrace. A cry went up from the encircling crowd. “Long live peace!”
The people of the two countries came together and took a vow. They would never fight again. The slogan reverberated, “Long live peace!”
All this happened long, long ago. A huge pavilion has been erected in the field where the two bulls came together, and in it is a marble sculpture showing the animals licking each other lovingly. The place is a pilgrimage for the people of the two countries.
Two countries lay side by side but were always at war with each other. Sometimes one would invade the other, which retaliated with interest. Spies from each country created terror in the other. There was never a moment of peace. Ordinary people lived in constant dread of war. Governments came and went, but the enmity between the two countries never slackened. Traders from distant lands, taking advantage of the situation, incited the two countries to fight so that they could sell arms to both.
The governments of the two countries had no money to buy medicines for their sick but they never lacked means to buy bombs. Millions of people in both countries could not afford even one square meal a day. Both were in the same sorry state; the people were poor but their governments were ready to go to war at the slightest excuse.
Bull-headed
Many years passed thus. Then the Prime Minister of one country had an idea. He wrote a letter to the other Prime Minister that went thus. “Our countries are said to be poor. But are we really poor? We have kept our nations in poverty by always fighting against each other. Our people are starving and foreigners are profiting at our expense. Mr. Prime Minister, let us sit together and decide what should be done to save our countries.”
And so it happened. The two Prime Ministers met and decided the fighting must not be allowed to continue. Neither country would ever win, and the people would become poorer and poorer.
It was agreed that a sturdy bull would be selected to represent each country and the two animals would fight a duel on the border between the two countries. If a bull representing one country emerged victorious, the people of the other country would accept defeat. This way, no human lives would be lost and national wealth would not be squandered on the purchase of weapons. One of the two bulls was sure to win; the battle would be decisive.
The idea appealed to everyone. Democracies depended on representation; if human representatives failed, why not choose animals instead?
The day and time were appointed. The place was decided. Crowds of people from both countries gathered in the fields behind the line separating them. The two Prime Ministers were seated. At the right moment, the two bulls were unleashed.
Oh my god! What enormous beasts! How sharp their horns were! They rushed towards each other like the fearless warriors they were. Who could say what the outcome would be? Hearts stood still as the spectators watched.
The bulls came from opposite sides and met in the centre of the field. Lifted their hands to examine each other. Then turned the heads around to look at the spectators.
But what was this? Instead of fighting, the bulls were licking each other! Breathless minutes passed but the display of affection continued. The bulls looked at the people gathered around them and mooed, as if to say “Look, you foolish people! Dumb beasts we may be, but we prefer peace to war. Learn from us!”
Suddenly, everyone saw the leaders of the two countries walking towards each other. Like the bulls, they met in the centre of the field and were locked together in a warm embrace. A cry went up from the encircling crowd. “Long live peace!”
The people of the two countries came together and took a vow. They would never fight again. The slogan reverberated, “Long live peace!”
All this happened long, long ago. A huge pavilion has been erected in the field where the two bulls came together, and in it is a marble sculpture showing the animals licking each other lovingly. The place is a pilgrimage for the people of the two countries.
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