This is a story that needs to be told.
A long time ago, there was a buzz in the bird-world. Fearful eyes scanned the horizon for messengers of woe. Birds huddled as they spoke in hushed tones, of trouble brewing in bird-land. Away from the Flamingo Lake, the skies above Stork-pur- a mysterious bird commune- had darkened as wings of evil flapped and fluttered, drowning out the misery of imprisoned birds. Stork-pur was ruled by a villainous iron-winged stork who dreamt of absolute power over all birds on earth.
What went on in Stork-pur had never happened before!
Chosen for a secret mission they felt ready to take on, scout doves Lovey and Dovey commit a mistake that plunges them in deep danger. Their feather-raising adventure ends finally in ‘the story of all stories’!
Do you want to know what makes The Golden Eagle a story to read and remember? Find out below!
This story is powerful
Stories have the power to take you on a journey where you learn character building lessons! Shikar, the amiable white-haired squirrel, tells the doves Lovey and Dovey about all that stories can do-
‘Longtail says that we learn from stories,’ went on Shikar. ‘They teach us right from wrong. They give us a sense of wonder, of awe. Stories make us laugh. They make us weep. Sometimes they turn our hearts cold and fill them with dread. But mostly they fill us with warmth and happiness.’
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This story sets an example
Despite the pain of injury and the threat of death, Kabul-the courageous bulbul- chooses honour over life. Kabul’s refusal to bow down to the enemy for personal gain sets an example of bravery-
‘She knows perfectly well that she will die. But she spoke of an honour code that she lives by. I tried to persuade her, but her mind is as unbending as a tree. She would rather die, she says. Execution is acceptable. Breaking the honour code isn’t.’
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This story puts freedom above all else
Times may change but the laws that govern nature must never be forgotten. The doves Lovey and Dovey are aghast at the master bird’s complete disregard for their right to freedom.
‘How can that be? How can your commune make such rules? Birds have absolute freedom to fly. That is the most basic of all bird laws. These worker birds are being held here against their will. They aren’t free. They are slave birds instead.’
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This story teaches us to be responsible
Our failure to act responsibly at crucial moments can set off a chain reaction that can upset the balance of things and take us away from our end goal. The doves learn this lesson and manage to live through the consequences of their actions but the guilt weighs them down-
‘Our guilt weighed upon us. Kabul had instructed us to fly to the skyhole. We had disobeyed her and followed her here instead. We had let her down. Her execution—if it came to that—would be the result of our failure to obey her.’
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This story is about dignity
The age old battle between good and evil teaches us that good must fight for its place in this world. The doves see Stork-pur trampling over the dignity of birds and assertively remind the captive green pigeon Teen to not celebrate trivial advantages when faced with the larger evil of slavery-
‘It’s not about working your feathers to the bone,’ said Dovey. ‘It’s about being forced to work. That is evil. It doesn’t matter how good or bad your job is.’
‘Being forced to work is slavery,’ I said. ‘There’s nothing to celebrate in that.’
In his fourth book in the Feather Tales series, Deepak Dalal creates an action-packed tale which leaves you inspired with the courage and empathy shown by the birds when they find themselves entangled in a web of lies and injustice.
To know how unity becomes strength and bravery begets triumph, read The Golden Eagle with your children!
