Camouflage...

''Camouflage'' the natural defence mechanism by which an organism ensure its survival from the predator by hiding itself in the natural surroundings similar to its physical experience.

The scientific terminology, I first learnt as a fifteen year old kid. With my growing accademic degrees in the natural sciences, the word camouflage broadened its horizon in my mind. Various examples of it, a weaker prey like butterfly or squirell use the cryptic mechanism to save itself from predators. Even the predator like'tiger'uses camouflage to (hide in the bushes matching its skin colour)hidefrom the preys and attack them more efficiently. Killing or preventing oneself from getting killed, 'Camouflage' makes survival possible. None is exception.

The other day, I was pondering over the camouflage in humans. Homo sapiens, the one known for its sapience. what relevance does camouflage has on the survival of my species? The significance of physical camouflage is probably does not hold much relevance in the 'civilized' society. However, mental camouflage is evident in the behaviour of people. We can often see ourselves camouflaging. Sycophancy is a camouflage. To survive in an organization, a less knowledgeble person A is equivalent to a butterfly or squirel could be found to impress the higher authority B by constantly aligning his opinion with his B. In this case, the opinion held by B represents the leaf similar to the colour of butterfly. 'Cryptic coloration', that is what it is scietifically called.

Women if analysed carefully show an intersting mental camouflage. Being physically weaker than the men, they need some kind of defence mechanism to protect their integrity. Howsoever true may this statement may be, it seems gross to any civilzed men. Our social values ensures to tone down any mishap occurring becuse of this asymmetery in the genders. Ocassionally, we do hear of representation of physical prowess of men. For e.g. rape. A girl eqivalent to butterfly if spotted in a surrounding in contrast to her mental/physical state is prone to attack by a male. The mental harrasment faced by some of the talented women at work place by the opposite gender is also an example of the similar situation. In contrast, a woman who meets the expected social codes camouflages by geling well with the social structure. Even if she is impolite, she would act to be polite.I have seen one of the impolitest woman switching on to the polite behaviour infront of their in laws/boy friends/husbands. That is the survival mechanism. Thus socity becomes nature in figurative sense. Woman is a butterfly camouflaging is the society.

I don't see camouflage in a positive light. If I am a beautiful butterfly, I would like to be seen by all. Crypsis is unacceptable to me. I am extremely positive about progressive evolution of the human society. My appeal to all the women

Let us defeat camouflage. Show your feathers. Beauty desrves to be spotted and not to be hidden.

To be continued.............