Review of "The Sheep of the Lal Bagh," by David Mark

Review of

The Sheep of the Lal Bagh, by David Mark

Four out of five stars

 This simple story is based in a large park in India that is a popular place to relax on a holiday. There are many attractions in the park and one of the most popular is the lawnmower, a sheep named Ramesh. While not fast, this mower cuts the grass very short and is capable of making designs. Ramesh also gives the smallest children rides and is comfortable being petted.

 However, in the spirit of modernization, a machine is purchased to cut the grass and Ramesh is put out to pasture as part of a flock. This made Ramesh very sad and after a time, the people also missed him as well. They were so disappointed that they stopped coming to the park, leading to a desperate move by the mayor. He appoints a committee to go to the flock, find Ramesh and bring him back to the park. Once he is returned, the people come back to the park and Ramesh is happy to once again be a lawnmower in the park.

 While the story is simple, the message is not. Progress often appears to be a valuable thing, only to discover that previously unconsidered consequences make it the wrong thing to do. The machine is of course more efficient at mowing the grass, but Ramesh is much more fun to look at and play with. This is something that children understand very well.