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Breaking the Cycle
by Ann Mason
© Teaching and Learning for Peace Foundation October 2006
A character leaving an indelible mark upon my psyche as a
child was Rudyard Kipling’s Rikki Tikki Tavi from a story of the same name
in Volume Two of The Jungle Books series. Kipling wrote it in 1894. Not only
did the story delight my senses, by introducing me to a far off mystical and
unfamiliar land and its history, but this narrative about a brave little
mongoose who battled against the odds to protect those whom he loved
involved an endearing theme to which any child would want to connect. I had
no idea then how powerful the story and its theme would become for me
personally.
As if Rikki had entered my dreaming he continued his haunting for many years
and the story remained as one of my most favourites alongside Lewis
Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and the fairy tale Snow White and Rose Red.
These two stories, one with a character being a dutiful loving daughter
while the other involved a magical and exciting dreamlike journey to unknown
places, both similarly enchanted me. I imagined myself being Rose Red and
Alice as their characters were absorbed into my consciousness. But similar
fairy tales and Alice’s magical journey promised happy endings. I found
neither to be a part of my reality as I became an adult. Even though I had
been a dutiful loving daughter and had travelled overseas, I had felt no
magic, no peace. Real life had presented very different scenarios and
resolutions.
In Kipling’s story Rikki Tikki Tavi entered the lives of an English family
who were living in Colonial India. Rikki was discovered half drowned after a
storm and the family decided to keep him. Rikki soon found himself
confronted by Nag and Nagaina, the incumbent cobras, who were intent upon
removing the humans from their garden, their home. But their plans to kill
Rikki’s new family had been interrupted by the little mongoose’s appearance.
This is a typical hero defeating villain narrative, one that has remained
popular even in stories being created today. This same style of narrative is
evident not only in the news stories we share and construct about our
countries’ international problem solving but in the everyday stories we
relate to our families and amongst friends about the happenings in our daily
lives.
Rudyard
Kipling was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1907 and he has
continued to be its youngest-ever recipient, as well as the first English
language writer to receive the prize. His own childhood and love of India
were evident in his stories. As the European colonial empires disintegrated
in the mid-20th century, consequently Kipling's works fell far out of step
with the changing consciousness. Kipling was condemned by many for being
unable to separate his writing from his social and political views, but his
considerable artistry has always been acknowledged. Referring to colonised
peoples as being "half-devil and half-child" in his poem "The White Man's
Burden" definitely labelled Kipling as a racist. But like so many others
Kipling was a product of his times. His thinking still permeates our
thinking and is reflected in the real life stories we share and construct in
the 21st Century.
But our collective consciousness has continued to promote the construction
of real and imagined stories that stereotype those who seem “different”.
Overwhelmed by our xenophobia the associated thinking has defined our day to
day behaviours at all levels of interaction. The news stories reflect this
level of thinking. Stories from Iraq, North Korea and Afghanistan, that
explore our leaders’ actions and their decision making processes, only
perpetuate the conflict and violence and continue the revenge cycle. These
stories are constantly and vividly presented on our television screens and
newspapers for our children to view. But unlike the endearing character of
Rikki Tikki Tavi, the dutiful endeavours of our soldiers and governments
have been unable to keep us safe, and in seeking to protect us, their
actions have instilled no sense of enduring peace nor win-win resolution
possibilities.
In an article ‘Age of Terror Scaring Australian Children’ by Jill Stark
(September 26, 2006) she highlighted research that had been undertaken by Dr
Marilyn Campbell from the Queensland University of Technology, who stated
that children are no more scared today. But Jill stated in her article:
‘BOMBS, burglars and terrorists are among the top 10 fears for today's
children, replacing woes of 20 years ago when a trip to the school
principal, catching germs and falling over occupied their thoughts.’
‘Australian research to be released today shows the age of global terrorism
has shattered the cocoon of childhood, with 58 per cent of six to
12-year-olds scared of bombs — number two on their list of fears.’
Fear has always been intrinsic to the nature of being human but what are the
potential risks of children being fearful of an unsafe world?
Monash researcher, Dr Jocelynne Gordon, in her article ‘Children’s Night
Fears Explained’ (June 23rd) stated that:
‘One in three Australian children attribute their night-time fears to
frightening images on television and film. The results have prompted to
encourage parents to be more discerning about their children’s television
and movie exposure.’
Dr Gordon, after interviewing more than 500 Victorian children aged eight to
16 years about their night-time fears related that nearly 30 per cent of the
children said their fears stemmed from frightening images on television,
videos and movies.
But despite the warnings we continue constructing and sharing the old
narratives that explore violent themes and win-lose resolutions and fill our
television screens, movie theatres and construct computer based games that
all perpetuate the same level of consciousness. The Kipling, no crippling
consciousness has prevailed.
Californian Attorney General Bill Lockyer, in his article ‘Teaching Children
How to Cope in Times of war and Terror Helps Build Skills for Life’ (…) at
least has begun to suggest ways in which we can support our children to lead
happier, more peaceful lives.
‘Adults may sometimes think that young children do not understand what is
happening during times of war and terror. However, new research reveals that
exposure to violence by even very young children can cause stressful
physiological and mental reactions that can harm their future and even lead
to aggressive and violent behavior later in life.’
As I further pondered the impact of Rikki’s character, by comparing him with
peace makers such as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, I considered the
following possibility. What if Rikki had been alive in the late Twentieth
Century? I wondered if he would have sought amnesty from prosecution for
killing both Nagaina and the cobras’ eggs? His solution to solving the
problem involving their dangerous possible on-going presence in the garden
was definitely violent. That loving and dutiful mongoose, who sought to
protect his adopted family from harm, could he have chosen a different way
to solve the problem? Perhaps Rikki’s haunting of my memory could encourage
exploration of the meaning of reconciliation and the power of forgiveness as
possible means of building sustainable peace.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), a court-like body assembled
in South Africa after the end of Apartheid encouraged and supported anyone
who felt they had been a victim of violence. Perpetrators of violence could
also give testimony and request amnesty from prosecution. Its processes were
based upon the Promotion and National Unity Reconciliation Act, No 34 of
1995.
‘... a commission is a necessary exercise to enable South Africans to come
to terms with their past on a morally accepted basis and to advance the
cause of reconciliation.’
Mr Dullah Omar, former Minister of Justice:
‘When we forgive, we do not condone hurtful behavior. We simply realize that
there is something within us that is more important than this wounding
experience.’
Perhaps Nag and Nagaina also may have had a case to present to the
Commission? It was their garden and the Englishman and his family were
intruders. This story parallels so many of the perplexing current days
events in which breaking the revenge cycle seems an impossible task. We do
search for truth and endeavour to reconcile the differences even in our
everyday lives in our own communities.
As Gandhi stated:
I object to violence because when it appears to do
good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.
An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
Inspired by the words of Gandhi I have wanted to redeem Rikki. I chose to
read the story to a class of 10 year old children. We discussed the reasons
why Rikki may have had to choose violence and killing. But could he have at
some stage chosen a different option, one that may have broken the revenge
cycle and perhaps even established a win-win outcome?
At one pivotal point in the original story Rikki chose to destroy the
cobras’ eggs and taunt Nagaina with one he had not broken. It is at this
point the children were directed to transform the story into one that was
peace-building, one in which a transformative decision created a happy
win-win ending and interrupted the revenge cycle.
The following are the resolutions the children constructed in their personal
retellings of the original narrative:
Ellie wrote:
Darzee’s wife told Rikki where Nagaina had her eggs hidden in the melon
patch. Rikki went to the melon patch – although he did not know that Teddy
had followed him. In the melon patch Rikki found the eggs and he almost
killed them if it weren’t for Teddy who said to Rikki that it would be evil
to kill the snake’s eggs and somehow Rikki understood. So instead of killing
them he moved them further down in the melon patch.
He then went to Nagaina and told her he had her eggs. Nagaina said she would
do anything to have her eggs back. Rikki said that if she swore that she
would never kill, tease or scare ever again he would tell her where her eggs
were for he knew that snakes were honourable creatures and she swore. Rikki
then told her where her eggs were and from then on she was a nice snake to
the end of her days.
Rikki was grateful to Teddy for stopping him from making the greatest
mistake of his life. Nagaina went and said sorry to Darzee for her husband’s
bad behaviour and his intentions. Then Nagaina told Rikki she was sorry for
nearly killing him.
Nagaina went and lived with Darzee (though not in the nest, she didn’t have
a head for heights, so she lived under in a snake hole) and never harmed
anyone again in her life. In fact she became one of the nicest animals on
Teddy’s father’s land.
Ellie, an avid reader and seeker of a good story with a happy ending, showed
she was aware of the possibility of a powerful transformative moment, one
induced by Teddy (the Englishman’s son). Rikki responded differently after
Teddy pleaded for a peaceful resolution to the problem. There is truth and
reconciliation in her resolution and the revenge cycle is broken.
Ashleigh wrote:
The next morning Rikki went to the melon patch. He thought about crushing
Nagaina’s eggs but decided not to. He had heard of a flower around the place
he lived. It was called the peace flower. Apparently it was bright blue with
yellow dots. Rikki had heard that it made your enemy your friend and made
peace anyone who ate it. So Rikki went off and found this flower. He picked
five of them. He looked around him and saw an animal. It was dead. It had
been bitten by Nagaina. Rikki shoved the flower into the meat and put it
near Nagaina’s hollow. Then Rikki went away. He ran around the side of the
bush and waited. Finally after a while Nagaina came. She slithered round a
tree and down into a ditch at the edge of her hollow. She could smell the
meat now he thought. Rikki was right; she could smell it and went straight
towards it.
Nagaina looked up and then ate the meat. As soon as she had come, she went
down into her home. Rikki ran to Darzee’s tree and called his name.
“Darzee, Darzee,” Rikki called.
“What do you want Rikki Tikki Tavi?”
“Darzee, I want you to fly out near Nagaina’s hollow and shout out her name,
then when she comes ask her how her day was. She should be nice to you. I
gave her a dose of the peace flower in some meat,“ Rikki told Darzee.
“A dose of the peace flower you say!” Darzee replied.
“Yes,“ said Rikki.
“Why me?”
“Because you can fly away,“ Rikki replied.
“Fine, I’ll do it,” Darzee said and flew off. Darzee came back a bit later.
“It all went smoothly,” he said. “Nagaina talked to me nicely and didn’t eat
me!”
“Good!” Rikki said as she was very pleased with himself for fixing the
problem. “I’ll go and have a chat with her to make sure of it!”
A month later-
Everything in the garden was going well and no longer was anyone scared of
Nagaina. Teddy had a new habit of feeding Rikki an extra lunch and Nagaina
now regretted planning to kill the family as she was given an extra lunch as
well.
Ashleigh’s simple but extremely effective solution hinted at the importance
of a raising of consciousness to one that was more peace-building. It would
be wonderful to have access to such a magical transformative exilir that
could induce a new level of thinking. Maybe with Ashleigh believing in the
possibility of its existence she may just be the one to discover it in the
future. Merely believing peace was possible ensured she was aware of the
importance of working together towards the creation of peace. She also
realised that sustainable peace involved sharing resources.
Jack wrote:
“Do you know where Nagaina keeps her eggs?”
“Yeah just over by the melon patch.”
“Thanks!” said Rikki.
Back at the bungalow Nagaina was waiting until someone spoke or moved.
Suddenly Rikki came back and said:
“I have hidden your eggs somewhere near the melon patch. I will tell you
where they are if you don’t kill any of Teddy’s family.”
“Deal!” said Nagaina.
“OK, listen closely they’re….in the crack of the bathroom.”
“Thanks!” said Nagaina.
From then on Nagaina was one of the most friendly animals in Teddy’s back
garden.
Jack has revealed he appreciated that simply stopping the killing could
considerably impact upon the outcome of the problem faced by Rikki and even
guarantee a win-win outcome. Jack in his own personal problem solving in the
schoolyard had realised the importance of seeking nonviolent resolutions in
order to keep himself safe. His writing has revealed he had internalised the
necessary processes and was valuing the peace-building elements we had
explored together beyond the story of Rikki.
Ben wrote:
Later that day Rikki went to the melon patch. He was going to eat the eggs
when a Hindu god mongoose came out and talked to Rikki and said:
“Don’t do that! You’re killing life! Just because Nag ate Darzee’s young one
doesn’t mean you get back at them. That’s the wrong thing to do!”
“I know! I know! I just want to keep the garden safe for other animals so
they don’t die!”
“But I don’t want you to do it. It’s wrong!” said the Hindu god.
“Okay, I won’t do it! Thank you for telling me. Goodbye Hindu mongoose god.
I will never harm a fly again till the day I die. Firstly I will go to
Nagaina’s den and apologise to her and tell her I am sorry for what I had
done.”
From that day on Rikki and Nagaina kept peace happening in the garden and
learned to solve their problems without violence.
Ben, a natural peace-builder, appreciated the need to simply say “sorry”.
The power of this word has always been underestimated. Ben’s resolution
hinted also at the power of religious teachings in developing a sustainable
peace consciousness especially in relation to developing understandings
about what is right and what is wrongful behaviour.
Tom wrote:
He (Rikki) wasn't about to destroy her eggs when he heard a familiar voice. He
looked around and saw Nag’s spirit and it said:
“Don’t destroy them PLEASE!” and he thought:
“Maybe I shouldn’t and then a picture of Gandhi came into his mind. He took
them to a different place and hid them. Then Rikki heard Teddy’s mother
scream and he ran as fast as he could and arrived at the breakfast table.
Nagaina was wrapped around Teddy’s chair leg and they fought and Rikki won
but it was over yet. Rikki hadn’t killed Nagaina. He had scared her off. The
next day he and Nagaina made a deal that if she would stop murdering people
then he’d give the eggs back. She promised and Rikki happily gave her the
eggs.
As with Ben, Tom revealed his appreciation for the power of a higher
consciousness to lift and transform the prevailing thinking. Tom, in one
playground encounter, wanted to angrily accuse his playmates of cheating.
His transformative moment came when I asked him: “What would Gandhi do?” Tom
walked away from the conflict, refocussed upon what was important, and
happily returned to playing with his friends after seeking a few minutes of
solitude. Winning no longer had the same meaning for Tom. He had learned
that win-win was the best outcome to work towards. It would ensure that
everyone would be happy.
Erin wrote:
He (Rikki) went back to the rubbish heap and saw Nagaina and suddenly
thought of the most brilliant plan. He went back to Darzee’s wife and told
her his plan. It was for her to pretend she had broken her wing and lead
Nagaina away to eat her (but not really). Then Rikki would go to the melon
patch and break all of Nagaina’s eggs while all of that was happening. It
was a brilliant plan. Darzee’s wife did what she was told and it worked.
Nagaina got led away. Rikki got into the melon patch and saw at least 20
eggs. He thought about breaking the eggs but then decided that he wouldn’t.
He thought of the letter the big man was talking about and he didn’t want
another endangered species so he went out to find Nagaina and Darzee’s wife
to stop the killing. He did find them and reasoned with Nagaina and said
sorry. It took a while but eventually two good things happened. The snake
babies hatched and Nagaina made friends.
Erin’s consciousness encompassed an understanding of conservation being
intertwined with her knowledge of peace-building processes. Again the
transformative pivotal moment occurred with the simple saying of “sorry”.
Sustainable peace has always involved three important understandings in
relation to its creation: peace with ourselves, peace with each other and
peace with our environment. These are the intrinsic elements that create
balance and harmony.
Phoebe wrote:
Rikki went to the melon patch and saw the hidden eggs that Darzee had told
him about. Rikki got the eggs and showed them to Nagaina. If she wanted her
eggs she had to live in peace and never do violent things again. Nagaina
agreed and so on Nagaina lived with her cousins and her babies in peace and
harmony. Teddy’s parents had another baby and they named her Beauty. Rikki
Tikki Tavi went back where he lived and saw his family all waiting for him.
While Nagaina married again and they lived happily ever after in peace. But
then two years later Nagaina had sent Rikki some fruit and it had a sorry
letter that she was trying to kill him for the past two years and she told
him how her sons and daughters were going. But then there was a mystery code
and Rikki knew what it meant. Thank you for letting me live in peace and
have a great life. Rikki Tikki Tavi did put his note back and enjoyed his
fruit with his parents and his new life.
Phoebe’s described in detail the transformative actions Rikki could
undertake. Long term peace-building consequences with reconciliation and
enduring peace themes permeated her resolution. It was one that was
reflective of her peaceful, quiet nature and personal desire for everyone to
live in peace and harmony. She has revealed these understandings and actions
in her own day to day encounters with her peers.
Will wrote:
So then Rikki went to the melon patch and then he wanted to kill Nagaina’s
eggs. But a lizard called Rumby came out and said to Rikki:
“Stop!” Rikki was ready to eat one of Nagaina’s eggs. He dropped the egg on
the ground.
“Who are you?” Rikki asked.
“My name is Rumby!” said Rumby.
“I want to help you.” Then Rumby explained. “Please don’t eat those eggs.
Revenge is not the key. It will not solve anything.” Rikki thought for a
moment.
“So you’re telling me not to eat the eggs when the snakes are trying to kill
people who saved me,” he said. “Rubbish!”
“Fine then, for the last time revenge is not going to help your issue.”
Rikki said:
“I will apologise to Nagaina.” With a sigh of relief Rumby ran off and as
quick as a flash he got Nagaina. She was angry but she was also relieved
that Rikki had not eaten the eggs.
“Thank you!” was all she said.
“I am sorry for killing Nag but it was in self defence,” said Rikki. “I knew
you were ready to kill me.”
“Well I am happy that my eggs survived,” Nagaina said softly and in the end
they were all getting along and were becoming good friends. When it was time
for Nagaina’s eggs to hatch Rikki and Rumby were both around Nagaina. When
the first one hatched Teddy saw what was happening and he could see a little
figure. He thought:
“It could be an acorn but when he looked closer it was Rikki. He could not
believe his eyes. There was Rikki with a snake and they were being nice
together. There was no war and no fighting.
Will has revealed his appreciation of the role of a peace mediator in
resolving conflict. He had introduced a new character into his version of
the story to construct his transformative moment. Many times in the
playground Will, himself, has fulfilled this same role and his words simply
indicated his understanding of the processes involved.
Rikki’s haunting of my consciousness therefore has been for a meaningful
purpose. The story I once loved and cherished and wanted to read over and
over again as a child now has many new possible endings, ones created by
young peace-builders. While our world seems intent upon continuing to
construct the old narratives these children have unleashed their own innate
peace-building natures and have revealed their peace-building consciousness
in their creations. They have retold the story of Rikki Tikki Tavi and
presented many magical and transformative possibilities we could all
consider as we construct and share our own stories. I am certain that if
Kipling had lived in the 21st Century he may have chosen similar endings to
those created by the children. A person who could write a beautiful and
insightful poem such as “If” surely would have wanted to positively lift the
level of consciousness to one that is more peace-building, one that seeks
nonviolent win-win resolutions to conflict.
We do have hope…..we have the children…we can learn
from them…
…we can break the revenge cycle.
References
Rikki Tikki Tavi: by Rudyard Kipling 1894 Volume Two of The Jungle Books
series
Read an on-line version:
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs.cmu.edu/usr/mongoose/www/rtt.html
Rudyard Kipling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudyard_Kipling
http://www.almaz.com/nobel/literature/1907a.html
http://www.kipling.org.uk/kip_fra.htm
If (the poem) by Rudyard Kipling
Read an on-line version:
http://www.online-literature.com/kipling/836/
Snow White and Rose Red by Jacob and
Wilhelm Grimm
Read an on-line version:
http://www.childrenstory.com/tales/rose/index.htm
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Read an on-line version:
http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/wonderland/
Truth and Reconciliation Commission:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Reconciliation_Commission
http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/
http://habitat.igc.org/snv-2003/day-45.htm
Gandhi Quotations:
http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/2988.html
Jill Stark: Age of Terror Scaring
Australian Children (September 26, 2006)
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/age-of-terror-scaring-australian-children/2006/09/25/1159036473049.html
Dr Jocelynne Gordon Children’s Night Fears
Explained (June 23, 2006) Monash University Education
http://www.education.monash.edu.au/about/news/childrensnightfears.html
California Attorney General Bill Lockyer
‘Teaching Children How to Cope in Times of War and Terror Helps Build Skills
for Life’
at website: Safe State-preventing crime and violence in California
http://www.safestate.org/index.cfm?navid=321
A special thank you to
the students of 5M at Pulteney Grammar School in Adelaide
who have given
permission for their stories to be shared.
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