Bird🐦 - Folktale Week 2021

This illustration is based on a story told by Idu Mishmi Tribe. (From Book: Myths of North East Frontier of India)
.
The Story :
At first, there was no rice growing on earth and men lived like wild animals on roots and leaves in the forest. They passed their days in misery, for there were storms of rain: the Sun was too hot, and they had to live in the forest without any roof over their heads.
But the gods were very kind to the birds and animals. The god of the mountains was Gallan who cared especially for them. He gave the sparrow rice and taught him how to cultivate it. When they saw this, all the men on earth assembled and decided to send a messenger to Gallan to ask him to give them rice also. The sparrow heard the discussion from the top of a tree and said to himself, "As I am a small bird it is going to be very difficult for me to cultivate the soil to grow this rice. On the other hand, if I teach men how to do it, I will have no trouble and will get all I want free. So the sparrow came to the meeting and said that he would reveal the secret of cultivation provided they gave him one gift in return. Men agreed and the sparrow asked them to follow him to the top of a hill nearby. He told them to clear the jungle and ask Gallan for help. Gallan was pleased and sent rain pouring down on the earth.
Men were pleased with what the sparrow had done and told him that he could take much rice as he needed from their fields. This is why you will always see the paddy fields covered with sparrows feeding on the young crops.