Thrissur Pooram-cruelty in the name of tradition and God - KVG

[Guest guest]

Sub: Thrissur Pooram-cruelty in the name of tradition and God

- K.V Gopalakrishna, May 2, 2007 and other comments on it.

 

HARI OUM,

 

I fully agree and share the feelings expressed by Gopalakrishnaji.

Also, I am surprised how any real " Bhakta " could disagree with those

feelings!

 

Why should we torture, that too in the name of GOD, a majestic

creature, of Mother Nature, just because it is so sober?

 

Premji had written that " the Pooram organisers had taken enough care

.... this year " . Do you really feel all those were " enough " to make

those creatures comfortable and happy? With due respects to Premji's

piece of advice, " Do not fall to the secularists trap about cruelty

towards elephants... " ; I humbly submit that my feelings on the topic

is what I had felt myself, long back. And so, now I could fully

appreciate similar feelings expressed by Gopalakrishaji as well.

 

I read, re-read and greatly value what Shri Krishnadaya had written,

" Elephant is a sacred animal to Vedic followers since it resembles

Lord Ganesha " . And for me in Mubai the devotion that all Hindus show

towards Ganesh during the Ganapati Festival season is simply

marvelous, tremendous. These Ganesh Utsavas had become an integral

part of our religious and cultural lives in the whole of Maharashtra.

But in the name of Ganesh no one tortures any elephants here. Also,

they come out to protest whenever some elephants are ill treated,

especially in the streets (for begging) – such begging scenes are

almost disappearing from Bombay streets.

 

Krishnadayaji, do you really feel that Gopalakrishanaji, though had

not seen this Pooram in person, other than through the TV, " was

carried away by the distorted propaganda-campaign in the media " ? I

can't think so – at least I was not, believe me. Let us not blame

others when we find it difficult to justify some of our own actions.

 

Krishnadayaji, do you think that elephants were treated in vedic times

in the same way as they are being treated these days? I don't have to

elaborate: tuskers are intentionally under-fed to avoid their going

into their naturally healthy biological stage of " musth " , they are

transported in ill-equipped lorries over long distances, they are not

treated for their major ailments - even if they meet a certified

" natural death " the owners make huge profits from their tusks and

nails! In Kerala, most of the elephants are treated as risk free

'money making machines' by the present-day (invisible) elephant

owners, fully exploiting the tradition and feelings of all devotees

like you and me.

 

And finally, the most appalling fact is that the greedy, blood thirsty

intentions of these present-day elephant owners (who all claim to be

elephant lovers) are almost invisible to the society. The poor

mahouts who are driven by stark poverty to this profession (Ana choru

kola choru) become the wicked villains in every body's views. And one

day when any one of them meets his tragic end no tears, no insurance,

no public sympathy to their hapless families - he was the wicked villain!

 

Shri Keerthi Kumar's write-up on Trissur Pooram was very informative,

at least for a novice like me. Thanks.

 

With warm regards to all,

Yours sincerely, NB Nair.