that's a great point, ramjee. i was going to mention the name change of the kite in my email but later i forgot. for those of you who don't know, the Black Kite was earlier called the Pariah Kite, its name having been derived from the pariahs, the group of south indian people who were previously considered untouchable in the old caste system:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraiyar i think that this name change was important, and now the new name has been accepted as standard irrespective of whether bird-watchers the world over inherited the guilt of the caste system or not. i think the name change of some butterflies is similarly not only ethically justifiable but also essential. At 8:39 AM +0530 12/18/08, Ramjee Gmail wrote: >Dear Friends, > >Vanakkam! Greetings from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. > >I don't agree to the views of Ms Shubhalaxmi. > >I don't think we need to see the discussion between two eminent >members in the group over naming of butterflies as a DISPUTE at all. >It is a simple discussion trying to reason out their views on the >topic. In fact, I appreciate both the parties in their reasoning and >supporting them with references (the sound scientific way of >approaching issues of this kind). It is only through disagreement >and rationalising would one gain greater clarity. > >Only when the discussions get personal, or taking off in tangent we >would have to look at it as a dispute. In fact I am reminded of the >discussions we had in our college on the naming of Milvus migrans >govinda kite as the Black Kite... with no referencing and pure >emotional drama... > >Also, a more recent one with some Foresters over the Tamil names for >Dugong and sea turtles. While there are traditional name among >fishermen as Aavuliya, Alungaamai most forest department officials >in TN refer to it as the Kadal Pasu [literal translation of >Sea(Kadal) Cow (pasu)], and Kazhugu mooku aamai [again a literal >translation for Hawks (kazhugu) bill (mooku) turtle(aamai). Mind >here, Forest officials are often regarded as being MORE educated >than the commoner! > >The above is just my view, as I find myself to learning & >approaching the common names from a different perspective. > >Thank you. > >With kind regards, > >ramjee > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: <mailto:[email protected]>Shubhalaxmi Vaylure >To: <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] >Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:22 PM >Subject: [ButterflyIndia] Egroup not a place for expert v/s expert war > >Dear Friends, > >I am a silent observer of this group but seeing the experts dispute >over Darkie v/s Brownie, I felt the need to raise my concern. World >over experts have a difference of opinion and its a healthy sign, >however the way differences are handled is very important. Egroups >are meant for exchange of information and discussion. A healthy and >pleasant exchange/discussion among the amateurs and experts makes >the whole difference. I would therefore request all experts on this >group to resolve their differences among themselves rather making >other members mute spectators of the whole issue. We may >be interested in the end result though i.e. whether its Darkie or >Brownie. > >I trust none of the group members are here to show their supremacy >in the subject, everyone is here for learning from each other. So >let us continue with the same spirit. My views may not resonate with >others but being moderator of several other groups, I felt >responsible to place my concern > >Happy butterflying > >Shubha >**************** >Dr. V.Shubhalaxmi >Centre Manager >Bombay Natural History Society >Conservation Education Centre >Near Filmcity, Goregaon (East), >Mumbai- 400065. >Maharashtra, India. > >Tel: 91-22-28402946/28421174 > ><http://www.flickr.com/photos/mothlady/>http://www.flickr.com/photos/mothlady/ > > -- Dr. Krushnamegh Kunte Post-doctoral Research Fellow (Kronforst Lab) FAS Center for Systems Biology Harvard University 52 Oxford St Northwest Lab Room 458.40-3 Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. Ph: (617) 496-0078 Cell: (512) 577-1370 Fax: (617) 495-2196 Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Academic Website: http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~kunte/AcademicsHome.htm General Website: http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~kunte/index.htm --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Enjoy -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
