Jugnuma

Jugnu taken by another Jugnu Chirag Solanki

Jugnu (जुगनू), fireflies, aagiyo (આગિયો) Jonaki (জোনাকি), Minminipoochi (மின்மினிப் பூச்சி), Minnaminungu (മിന്നാമിനുങ്ങ്) , Luciole... Different names, one insect.

I love the Hindi word Jugnu. It connects the insect with Jug / Yug (युग), which means centuries, millennia, and more. The insect was here well before I was born. My species, Homo sapiens, came much later.

I love to call it Jugnu. It has a romantic connotation too. When talking about romance, our Jugnu is far ahead. He—not it—blinks in rhythm to attract a female Jugnu. Isn’t it interesting? They blink in unison. Jugnu’s language is light. They send romantic signals through light. Their strength, wealth, and health all can be measured through their blinking light and its intensity.

Last week, we two freinds went to see Jugnus in the interiors of Dang, Gujarat.

After driving a few kilometres, the adivasi boys - our guide Prince and Nanu asked us to switch off the car lights. I stepped out and saw Jugnus dancing on the trees. The trees seemed to have lifted themselves from their roots and were hanging in the air, swinging with Jugnus. I was literally in tears! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

Time stopped. I stopped.  Gradually, the stars seemed to be falling down from the sky, and the Jugnus were rising into the sky.

Then the Adivasi boys made a beautiful dinner on the earth. We returned to earth to eat rice roti, dal, anda bhurji, and Dangi chutney.

Jugnu's Tent

After dinner, we returned to our camp. Right outside our camp, a whole tree was illuminated with Jugnus. Then, gradually, they came closer to us. They touched our hands, legs…face… eyes. They were lifting us towards the Milky Way.

The Milky Way seemed so close to us on that beautiful night.

We entered the Milky Way, and the Milky Way entered us.

As if we were born again.

Even now, every night, every day,  I see those Jugnus all around me. They are still trying to lift me. They can’t, but now they are lifting these words and carrying them towards you.

They are lighting these black letters.