Two Hoots

Owl is synonymous with wisdom, as per Hindu mythology, since it is the carrier(vahan) of Goddess Laxmi, it also brings wealth. Two of the most important aspects of life, the other important "Ws" are "women" and "wine" in whichever order you may choose to put them, depending on your sensibilities. But somehow despite such impeccable credentials "Ullu" in Hindi signifies stupid and its progeny the “Pathha”(Son) in Urdu is used commonly to describe imbeciles. That sure is a travesty of justice, brought upon these unsuspecting hooters. 

We the true inheritors of the British legacy adopted Owls as the mascot for Defence Services Staff College in Quetta in pre-partition India, which subsequently settled down in the salubrious environs of Wellington post independence. The mascot was adopted from the British parent Staff College Camberley and was retained, except the motto was changed from its Latin version "Tam Marte Quam Minerva" meaning "To war with wisdom" to "Yudham Pragya" essentially with the same meaning. Contrary to popular perception wars are not all brawn but more of brains, to that extent getting the motto right is a prerequisite, whether we follow it or not, is a different matter. We would like to believe that we have our brains in tact despite the rigorous Drill and Physical Training over the years, "dil bahlane ke liye ghalib khayal achha hai!" (the idea is good merely to keep ourselves amused).  The common refrain remains that a fauji's brains are in his knees, not too far from truth, tongue in cheek! 

Owls are nocturnal birds and quite naturally mankind has not been very comfortable with darkness, as it restricts their perceptions severely, after all, visual connect is the first and probably the most important one in our comprehension and subsequent reactions. Owls and their hoots thus came to be associated with bad omen, many native American tribes associated it with imminent death. Sailors believed it was the foreboding for a shipwreck, even Romans were plagued by this superstition against owls. British author Hilary Rubinstein, however, wrote: "Blessed are the owls, for they shall inherit the mystery and magic of the night." 

The expression, "care two hoots" probably originated in the 19th century America, although the hoots which they referred to were not Owl's but those of ordinary horns. May be, since horns are normally utilised for warning whether they emanate from an automobile, a railway engine or even the good old military horn better known as a bugle. Hooting also got associated with the audience when they did not appreciate an artist on stage thus conveying to him that he better beat a retreat from stage. 

I am not sure whether you care two hoots or not, but this hoot from me is just that a hoot...