The sun and cock
Numit amadi Yenba
Fungawari Singbul by B. Jayantakumar Sharma

Translation by Nganthoi Lourembam *

An illustration of Folk tale 'Numit amadi Yenba' by Nganthoi Lourembam

When the earth was first created, all the living beings were very upset with the sun when it appeared as a ball with extreme heat. They even complained for the sun to not appear again. Though the sun was angry hearing the criticism against him, the sun continued to do his own duty.

Once, all the living beings gathered and protested against the sun 'to not appear again' and from that very moment the sun disappeared. It never came out of the hell. The entire earth was covered with darkness. For some period of time the living beings were happy to get no disturbance in their sleep. But no one bothered to think of the dire consequences of not appearing the sun again.

On the third day of the Sun's disappearance the living beings realised their mistake. They all regretted why they had complained against the sun for being extreme hot or cold. When darkness continued for a longer period of time all the living beings started feeling thirsty and hungry. Other than some living beings that had stored extra food earlier began starving. Every living beings started suffering and blamed each others for their deeds. They only fought with each other but no one was able to find a solution.

Considering the possible disaster in future all of them decided to send someone and request the sun to appear again. Representatives of human beings, animals, birds, etc., respectively were sent to the sun, but the sun refused and replied furiously, "Look, according to the law of nature I give light and heat to you all. Despite of all odds I followed my own duty. What have you all done for me? Instead of appreciating my work you are complaining the heat of my light. I am not coming back, as you all wanted me to disappear. You all must be happy for being cold now. Do whatever you want but do not get me involved in your matter."

All the living beings remained speechless and came back without uttering a single word. They highly regretted for their obstinate action. On the other hand the sun never appeared and all of the living beings became tired day by day. Representatives of human beings, animals and birds with melodious voice could not become successful in making the Sun appear again.

The sun replied, "Among all the living beings on earth, human beings are the luckiest and the leader. But naturally you are selfish, do not possess the quality of donating and you talk too much. So I cannot trust you and I won't listen to your words." Failing to please the Sun all the living beings especially the representatives of human beings returned back with a disappointment.

After some days, every living being decided to send the cock as their representative in another attempt to please the Sun. All the living being chose 'cock' as their representative because of its unbiased, good looking, well mannered, good presence of mind and politeness qualities but the cock replied, "My seniors such as human being, tiger, deer etc., could not succeed in making the sun appear again, how could I make the Sun agree to appear again? I am a foolish living being; don't really know how to talk well. I think it's a wrong decision to select me as the representative. But since I have been told to, I think it won't be a harm to try my luck."

The following day, the cock took a clean bath. Keeping himself neat and clean, with all his best to make the sun appear again the cock came to the Sun to try his luck. As soon as the cock reached near the Sun the cock said, "The tallest and biggest of all kinds! You are the biggest creation of God! The most merciful and generous owner! You are very kind who doesn't think for oneself but worries for others.

Little kind of living being like us, are very foolish that we don't care for the future. If our foolishness has upset you, is it true from your side to punish us? If we are sensible, would we have said dear mighty sun to not appear again on earth? Now, all living being has realised their mistakes. They have regretted a lot for their stupid thought.

And one more thing, when they complained for you to not appear again, small living beings like us did not take part in it. They didn't listen to less populated living being like us. Now-a-days our population has become very less since wildcats are catching and eating all the hen and chicken. Therefore, dear mighty thing called sun! If you do not appear again all living being, small and big, will all die.

Representing every living being on earth, I inform you that we will never complain. Instead, every day when you rise I'll announce to everyone. I'll notify everyone by shouting that our life creator, the sun has appeared on earth with its brightness. I'll even inform everyone when it's sunset. Hence, you should appear again and end the waits of everyone. When you appear again in the sky there will be droplets of water on earth and giving you a warm welcome the flowers will bloom again."

Listening to the sweet melodious voice of the cock, the cold heart of the Sun which was as hard as a rock got melted. The sun replied, "If there are certain living being like you on earth I would have appeared again; but living being like you are very little in population."

The intelligent cock came to know that the sun has changed his mind and now wants to come back on earth. And hence, wishing to succeed, the cock said again, "Oh, mighty sun, if you do not appear again, less quantity of living being like us, will surely extinct. If you do not appear again, awful wildcats will eat up all the living beings of our kind and will extinct forever; and if you happened to appear again in future we there anymore to see your beautiful nature. We will surely extinct if you hesitate in taking the decision. Hey mighty sun! Everyone has been waiting for you. They are already prepared to welcome you. They have promised to not ever complain for you to disappear."

The sun smiled. In good mode he agreed to appear again from the following day.

The cock returned on earth with joy of success. Every living being became cheerful with the cock's information and their shattered hopes bloomed again. Everyone appreciated the cock for his strength to go alone and convince the Sun to appear again. As promised, the Sun started appearing on earth from the next day.

After getting the Sun's light all living being, which were all dried and parched started rejuvenating. As promised earlier, the cock also started crowing with loud voice to inform the sunrise to all the living being. And thus people say, for this reason the cock crow everyday once in the morning before the sunrise and in the evening before the sunset.


** From Manipur folk tale Book called "Fungawari Singbul" by B. Jayantakumar Sharma