Let
the first post on this blog (after i tried to revive it), be about the animal that is considered as
the representation of Lord Ganesha. This is a slightly modified version
of a post I wrote on FB a couple of days ago.
Many exaggerated ( and s0me totally baseless and fake) news articles about Temple elephants getting tortured in
India, are appearing frequently on foreign news websites / FB pages these days. Being someone
who has spent some time with these Jumbos and attended many of these
festivals, I felt I should write this.
I do agree that domestic elephants in Kerala have their own problems. I am not denying that elephants are chained, paraded in temple festivals, sometimes also used in non traditional festivals etc. But the amount of exaggeration the foreign media does on these stories is alarming and makes me suspect their intention. None of these articles ever cover the positives; they always write only about the negatives. Though all of them want elephants to be freed and not to be paraded in temple festivals, none of them are writing about any alternatives or viable rehabilitation plans for the elephants. I read somewhere a suggestion that all these domestic elephants should be rescued and left free on few acres of land. (Excuse me! its not a cow!!). This shows how educated the so called 'experts' are.. about the animal and its habits.
Elephant capture in Kerala was stopped in 70s itself.. The "import" of elephants from other states in India to Kerala was also stopped long back. As there is no legal means of increasing the number of domesticated elephants in Kerala, everyone knows at some point of time Kerala will be without any temple elephants. This being the fact, a sudden gush of love for Kerala's temple elephants among many in last 2-3 years is something suspicious.
I have a strong feeling that it is not just their love for animals makes them write it. There is something else behind their crocodile tears. Their intentions could be different, but as long as I don't have any concrete proof about it, i will refrain myself from writing about it on a public platform.
I do agree that domestic elephants in Kerala have their own problems. I am not denying that elephants are chained, paraded in temple festivals, sometimes also used in non traditional festivals etc. But the amount of exaggeration the foreign media does on these stories is alarming and makes me suspect their intention. None of these articles ever cover the positives; they always write only about the negatives. Though all of them want elephants to be freed and not to be paraded in temple festivals, none of them are writing about any alternatives or viable rehabilitation plans for the elephants. I read somewhere a suggestion that all these domestic elephants should be rescued and left free on few acres of land. (Excuse me! its not a cow!!). This shows how educated the so called 'experts' are.. about the animal and its habits.
Elephant capture in Kerala was stopped in 70s itself.. The "import" of elephants from other states in India to Kerala was also stopped long back. As there is no legal means of increasing the number of domesticated elephants in Kerala, everyone knows at some point of time Kerala will be without any temple elephants. This being the fact, a sudden gush of love for Kerala's temple elephants among many in last 2-3 years is something suspicious.
I have a strong feeling that it is not just their love for animals makes them write it. There is something else behind their crocodile tears. Their intentions could be different, but as long as I don't have any concrete proof about it, i will refrain myself from writing about it on a public platform.
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| Guruvayoor Padmanabhan |
Sharing a picture of elephant Guruvayoor Padmanbhan having a
cool bath at the Punnathur Kotta where he and all other elephants of
Guruvayoor temple are kept. He is someone who is looked after very well
by temple authorities. This
is just to show the fake elephant lovers in foreign media that they can click and publish such photographs also,
which reflects their relaxed lifestyle when not at temple duties.. along
with the ones which they usually post - where elephants are "crying" or
being paraded for "days" & "without food or water".
Personally I'd support any genuine effort to makes lives of these Jumbos better but not these efforts with possible hidden agenda. Thank you!
Personally I'd support any genuine effort to makes lives of these Jumbos better but not these efforts with possible hidden agenda. Thank you!
