India has historically produced a number of world renowned Blattologists. The nation’s preoccupation with it is well known. It has ardent practitioners both in the acclaimed and closet domains. The entire gamut from judiciary to cine artists are part of it. Their brotherhood is more like that of the famed Freemasons, rarely discussed in public domain. However, a recent sociopolitical movement has disconcertingly and suddenly put this self-contained realm into the glare of intense limelight.
True to tradition, all Indians, seem to have suddenly come unto their own. They have voiced their opinion, be it the trained Blattologist or otherwise. Of course, it has re-affirmed the faith in this ancient science and praxis. Many Studies have been conducted on it, some are mentioned here as illustrations: – Experiments have proven that these beings tend to use just two pieces of information to decide where to go 1) how dark it is 2) how many other fellow beings are there. A study also proved that once there are enough numbers in a place to form a critical mass, they accepted the collective decision. They also have few special adaptations, and may be among the most primitive living Neopteran beings. They are found throughout the world especially in the tropics and subtropics. Because during experiments, some individuals have shown certain specific changes, some authors suggested that it was a behavioural syndrome.
These effects might have been due either to reduced metabolic and developmental rates in isolated individuals or the fact that the isolated individuals had not had a training period to learn about what others were like via their sensory organs. Most of them in gregarious form display collective decision-making, when a sufficient number of individuals (a “quorum”) exploits a source, this signals to newcomers that they should stay there longer rather than leave for elsewhere. Other mathematical models have been developed to explain aggregation dynamics and conspecific recognition. These are the hardiest of animals. Experiments on some decapitated specimens have shown that a variety of behavioural functionality remained, including shock avoidance and escape behaviour. It is also popularly believed that they will “inherit the Earth”, if humanity destroys itself, in a nuclear war.
They find mention in Literature as well – Aristotle wrote about them in play Peace, Virgil gave them the name “Lucifuga” (one that avoids light), Lafcadio Hearn asserted that they are good in tea form for tetanus. Not many are aware that they have been used for Space tests as well! Even Madonna once famously quoted – I am like them, you just can’t get rid of me. And how can one forget the greatest of Stars to Shine on Filmdom, Mr.Amitabh Bachchan’s one character, who displayed a rare glimpse of the Indian Blattologist side, when he said famously, in the 1991 Movie ‘Hum’ –
There are two types of cockroaches on this planet—one gutter cockroach, one society cockroach. Gutter cockroach biting man falling sick. This society cockroach biting, full society falling sick.
Author’s Note: The article is a piece of humorous fiction. It is not meant to hurt anyone or any section of society.
