It was ‘sparrow day’ yesterday. How long since you have seen one? Yet, at one time we had only sparrows. Habitat destruction, of course. But again, coming back to the topic of birds, how adaptable they are compared to humans. Trees are being felled in clear precision in my city and yet somehow the birds seem to be lingering. The eagles and kites have merely switched menus and started haunting garbage dumps. We even see sunbirds, parakeets, mynahs, pigeons and the occassional strangers. How sweet is their chatter! My heart, mind and soul are elevated. How long will they stay?
Not to forget the dogs and cats. Belonging to nobody and everybody – the strays. So ready to accept a morsel of love. Have you felt a deep stirring of joy at the wag of the tail of the stray that inhabits your road? Look into his/her eyes ever? You can see pure love, if you are open.
Yet, we are out to sterlise our streets of them. Why? Because they bite and injure people. Who cares if the poor animal was only responding to being stoned? Who cares if the animals are developing a violent strain being fed on garbage we throw carelessly? Nobody cares. Today’s ‘smart’ person believes the planet is meant solely for the humans. We do not care to amend our ways, we will doctor other ways!
Inspite of all the power we today possess to change and alter things, how little joy we experience. The other day, a teacher was asking her group of adult students to narrate the last time in 24 hours they had felt joy. Very few hands went up.
We do not need a Gross National Happiness index like Bhutan has, to know how miserable we are. What is this rainbow we are chasing? What is it worth without joy?
I generally agree, excepting on the point about stray dogs.
Stray dogs are a menace, indeed.
I do not stone them. I do not disturb them. But they have tried to harm me.
They usually exist in packs. And suddenly I have find them running after me. It is sheer luck that I have not been bitten by them.
Once a stray dog chased me when I was riding my bike near Lalbagh; I could not drive fast die to traffic and safety reasons. The dog’s bite missed me by a whisker.
And how many children have been mauled by roadside dogs! Children are playful and are bound to tease dogs.
And hospitals are either expensive or do not have stocks of medicines.
I am for getting rid of stray dogs, in a humane way, of course.
My pet dog, named Hero
Let me tell you at the same breath that I had a pet dog – named Hero – at my home for more than a decade and that fellow was so affectionate that we remember him so very often.
More importantly, he finds a place as my son in the extended family tree I have created. He is the only non-human (sorry, more human) being in the chart. I have also embedded His (note capital H) photograph in the family tree.
generally agree, excepting on the point about stray dogs.
Stray dogs are a menace, indeed.
I do not stone them. I do not disturb them. But they have tried to harm me.
They usually exist in packs. And suddenly I have find them running after me. It is sheer luck that I have not been bitten by them.
Once a stray dog chased me when I was riding my bike near Lalbagh; I could not drive fast die to traffic and safety reasons. The dog’s bite missed me by a whisker.
And how many children have been mauled by roadside dogs! Children are playful and are bound to tease dogs.
And hospitals are either expensive or do not have stocks of medicines.
I am for getting rid of stray dogs, in a humane way, of course.
My pet dog, named Hero
Let me tell you at the same breath that I had a pet dog – named Hero – at my home for more than a decade and that fellow was so affectionate that we remember him so very often.
More importantly, he finds a place as my son in the extended family tree I have created. He is the only non-human (sorry, more human) being in the chart. I have also embedded His (note capital H) photograph in the family tree.
I have heard such experiences/thoughts from others too. My view is that every living creature has a right to this planet, not only humans. Plus I have seen the terrible way some people treat the strays, simply bcos they belong to no one. They exercise their sadism on these animals. No wonder some of the strays have some bad memories and attack bikers.
To me these animals are the epitome of pure, unconditional love.
Packs turning unruly are in areas where garbage is littered and people have a habit of throwing stuff, mostly non-veg.
But as I always say, each to his vieew/opinion.