a rat is a rat,is a rat is a rat

Who has not seen a rat? Right from Nursery/KG  days we are taught  the spelling of the word "rat".It has got a place of prestige with high profile K  for "king" and Q for"queen".A rat is a creature found universally.. Its tragedy is, that it arouses fear and hatred among  majority of the  people specially women.Perhaps its slimy skin, piercing gaze and unbeatable speed ,disconcerts  them. I have personally seen the reaction of some people,when confronted with a rat.My mother,once removed her sari in panic,when a small rat unwittingly  happened  to touch her sari.  Her shrieking had an instant reaction on the poor rat.It ran  with amazing speed for cover. We have all grown up  listening to the fable of  Pied Piper of Hamelin. Everyone tries to drive them away.
In India , a rat has its own worshippers.A rat is believed to be the vehicle of Lord Ganesha. In Lord Ganesha temples ,there is always an idol of a rat. Karni temple in Rajasthan is famous for rat worship. There, rats, in large numbers are found roaming about freely.
 In China ,according to the Zodiac calendar, the first month of the new year is  a symbol of a rat. There ,a person born in this month is believed to possess qualities   such as genorisity,creativity,quick temper, honesty,.and wastefulness associated with rats.
In many countries  rat meat is  eaten by some people as a delicacy.In some South Asian countries  it is treated as staple food.Some people ,even keep rats as pets. The fact ,however remains that it is hated by a  vast population. When a rat dies . there is no one to shed tears ,It departs from the world unsung, unwept  and unnoticed in a heap of  garbage ,even though it leads a luxurious life in cozy corners of our mansions.!!