A life ended abruptly. A member of family lost. A proof of someone's love for his beloved eliminated rather unceremoniously. A caterpillar was trampled and crushed to death ruthlessly under the boot, the day before at my work place- Genetics Farms (where I work with Maize, on a bio-informatics project) . A death sentence it deserved the least. That it dared to binge on a corn leaf was its only crime. A bloody dumb corn leaf, whose existence is insane.

We don't approve of researches which are built on the deaths of innocent creatures such as a caterpillar- a would be beautiful butterfly.

How could we forget a butterfly ? A symbol of freedom and brimming youthfulness. Adding colour to life and injecting freshness. All these expressions have been squashed. An existence undone and brought to nought.

There is this intense, unwarranted love for the corn and constant preaching on how it should be mothered with unprecedented care by my ( you know who !). Undeserving I say !! This obsession and passion for the corn...all at the stake of a caterpillar ?

Corn ? can it ever substitute afore mentioned qualities of a butterfly ? The name provokes instant anger and frustration in me. Corn symbolizes dumbness, rock heartedness and is a god sent species to test our patience; irking us to no ends, yet demanding a royal treatment like that of a new born. Crying for attention.

The place ( addressed as the Genetics Farms on Old 63 South) is vast with budding greenery. Out of the 13,000 odd dumb corn families existing in our field, a mere leaf was a caterpillar’s lunch. In turn it fell prey to my boss' disagreement... triggering a change of attitude. Why this oddity ? If encountered, these caterpillars can be transported elsewhere. But no ! We - 'The Humans', tag these petite lives as insignificant and sentence them to death rather than help their existence. If our codes breached or territory legged, we have the authority and a license to kill.

What right do we have to stamp our authority and script somebody's fate ? I strongly question this approach and criticize such phase shifts in attitudes.

While I helplessly see few more being treated with disrespect in the weeks to come.... bringing an end to one of the most celebrated lives( the butterfly I mean ), I deeply mourn the death of the caterpillar.

Sad that the well being of the corn was/ is being bartered for the death of a caterpillar ! :(