Dear Editor,
A footprint can be checked and matched to an existing footprint on record. The Indian Army’s claim of “Mysterious Footprints of mythical beast ‘yeti’ near mount Makalu” sounds confusing as there exists no footprint of yeti on record as yet. Then how can it be identified as that of a yeti’s? It would have been better had the Army described the footprints as that of an unknown animal.
Previously, all ‘yeti’ sightings happened to be bear sightings. However, unknown species have been discovered, named and catalogued over the years and it is an ongoing process. It may so happen that the team of the Army has actually discovered a new species of bear other than the Himalayan brown bear, the Tibetan brown bear and the Himalayan black bear. First of all, the photographed footprints need to be matched with the footprints of those bears. If it is not matched then there lies a possibility of finding a new species.
Be that as it may, Sangh ideologue Tarun Vijay’s advice to the Indian Army creates a new problem. He said, “Salutes to the Indian army mountaineering expedition team. But please, you are Indian, don’t call yeti a beast. Show respect for them. If you say he is a ‘snowman'”.
Indeed, we must show respect to Snowman as he can fill a void. Since Hanumanji has been identified as Dalit and Cows as mothers, there is unfortunately no one to represent the upper caste male. The Snowman can fit the bill if the colour of his skin is fair enough.
But a problem will arise if he, as Tarun Vijay says, is not a beast. There is every possibility that he might have come either from Nepal or China. In that case, he has to establish his religion to pass the NRC test to stay in our country. The BJP President Amit Shah said, “We will ensure implementation of NRC in the entire country. We will remove every single infiltrator from the country, except Buddha, Hindus and Sikhs.”
This is going to create a huge problem for the Snowman to stay with us if he does not believe in any of these religions. What will happen if he is an atheist? Can India’s well known atheistic school of thought called Charvaka or Lokayata then be used in his defence?
Sincerely,
Sujit De,
Kolkata