A squirrel is a tiny creature, and inspires no fear for larger primates such as ourselves. We laugh at squirrels, and throw them acorns, and call them insignificant.

The world may also laugh at you. It is, in fact, likely that at some point the world will laugh at you, for something.

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Do not allow the laughter of the world to compromise you. Do not resign yourself to giving up, and above all else, do not define your goals by the possibilities that others have chosen for you.

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The bridge, which we have gathered today to discuss, represents a great triumph for those society has designated “insignificant.” While the origin of this set of shoals may be disputed, this place, and its story, deserves a right to exist.

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Long ago, Ravana kidnapped Rama's wife, and brought her to his fortress in Lanka, across the ocean. Rama pursued the demon, but his army was unable to cross the waters. He recruited the local Vanara tribe. With the assistance of Hanuman, Nala, and Nila they began construction on a mighty bridge.

 

An unexpected volunteer appeared on the second day. She was not tall. She was not strong. She was certainly not experienced. But she worshipped her Lord Rama, and found herself willing to do anything to help him.

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Laughter and jeering greeted every effort the squirrel put forth, as the most she could lift on her own was barely larger than a pebble. A sight she made indeed, tediously balancing her tiny stone burden, compared to the brawny Vanaras rushing past with boulders on their backs.

 

But she did not give up, and day upon day she continued her toil. Others like her also arrived, including mice and rabbits, and by the third day a horde of pebble-pushers worked their tiny paws and snouts. The boisterous Vanaras tended to kick them aside in passing, but this deterred only a few, and the remainder continued their work in the areas the Vanaras did not frequent.

 

On the fifth day, a mighty gale arose. Waves crashed around the bridge, and the Vanaras scrambled to hold the construction together. But, to the astonishment of all, no place touched by the squirrels and mice and rabbits crumbled, washed out, or was swept into the waters. Their pebbles, grit, and sand supported the boulders, leaving the bridge structure complete.

 

Rama, who watched the gale in all its force, called for the squirrel. She trembled with nervousness as she approached him. The bears and monkeys watched as she climbed into his outstretched hand. He smiled at the tiny squirrel.

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"Boulders trembled as your pebbles anchored them to shore.

Being large and brave is easy, but you have done more.

To be small yet still stand tall - this should not be ignored."

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With that, he ran his fingers down her back, leaving three white stripes along her spine. He looked up at the gathered army.

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“Vanaras, do not rebuke the weak; do not despise their deeds.  

Measure courage not by strength, but by devotion and love.

Significance cannot be judged by one's shape or size.”

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We still laugh at squirrels today. But without the squirrels our forests could not remain standing; their focus and dedication on their task should be a reminder that all things, no matter how small, can serve a purpose greater than themselves. Behind every doctor, lawyer, scientist, politician, and world leader today there stands a team. Assistants, receptionists, gas-pumpers, gardeners, plumbers, and technicians: these are the people who keep our world turning, and these are the people some are so quick to judge as insignificant. Let the bridge stand, and let the striped squirrel remember her stripes were left by Rama’s hand.  

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Author's Note

This story expands upon the tale of the squirrel's assistance with the construction of Rama's Bridge in the Ramayana. I expanded just a little: the gale which threatened the bridge was not present in the original version. I chose to provide the tale in the context of the Bajuhan Samaj Party as a speaker at a fictional conference arguing against the demolition of the bridge, primarily due to their affiliation with low/no-caste peoples in modern India. I chose this story in part due to the Rama's Bridge historical aspect, but mostly because it is so inspirational. A moral lesson that no matter our size (or education), all of us have the capacity to assist. This is an anti-bullying story of courage, dedication, and the acknowledgement of those values by the highest power the squirrel knows. I also strongly feel America places very little value on the vocational trades (those Vanaras were very proud of what they were doing, and mocked others of differences who wanted to help), and that we will pay a price for this eventually. What happens if we continue to devalue occupations lacking a bright and shiny title, or a fancy set of letters following their job description? 

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Bibliography

"How Squirrel Got Its Stripes" by Laura Simms. Website: Healing Story Alliance

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Image Information: Wikimedia Commons