(IN): Can this tragedy move Madam Mamata?

[Guest guest]

Below is an email sent to the Indian Minister for Railways, Mrs. Mamata Banerjee

on a tragedy that has now become a regular ritual in India - Train Elephant

collisions.

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

________________

 

Kind attention: Smt. Mamata Banerjee

 

Guwahati, Sunday, February 28, 2010

 

Picture this:

 

It is 3am and a pregnant mother is about to deliver a baby on the Railway

tracks adjacant to Deepor Beel (a Ramsar site Wetland near Guwahati) when

powerful steel monster suddenly crashes into her and thrown her off the

rallway tracks into the grown below (about 10meters down a bridge).

 

Despite the double impact the mother deliever the baby despite a hind

fracture and limps off into the Jungle with the Forest department and the

local villagers attempting a challenge of reuniting the new born calf with the

mother.

 

After about 12hrs of a failed attempt the baby is taken to the Assam State Zoo

rescue centre for rehab.

 

But the cries of the mother grips every one present as her countdown to a

painfull death begins.

 

That is just ONE part of the tragedy.

 

The train that hits this mother moves ahead and hits another female adult

elephant just 200meters away. The elephant is knowcked off the bridge and

lies dead in a pool of blood. Her head smashed, her front legs torn apart.

 

I could see 6 (six) mos of bolts on the railway track bent down due to the

impact (see pictures attached), which shows that the train was speeding happily

violating the prescribed speed limit.

 

I would not make a general attempt to appeal to the Hon'ble Railway Minister to

send out an SOS for these elephants.

 

But instead I would like to take this opportunity to recall Madam Mamata's

budget speech in the Parliament, where she took reference of the famous song,

" ae mere watan ke logon....jo shaheed hue hai unki... " sung by Smt. Lata

Mangeshkar.

 

Yes indeed that song moved Shri Nehru ji into tears and so does it to every

patriotic Indian including the Hon'ble Railways Minister who announced so

many good things for the freedom fighters for their valiant sacrifices.

 

Is it not time Mamata Didi that the sacrifices of the Indian Elephant, a Shedule

1 species protected by the strongest Wildlife and Animal laws and the

Constitution of India are also paid back.

 

I can well understand the attitude of the earlier ministers who could allow

'Bholu' the Guard (The Railway Mascot and also an Elephant) bleed painfully to

death with their ignorance.

 

But in you we see the 'Mamata (mother's love)''.

 

For the sake of this 'Mamata' please Madam, should you not play a surrogate

mother to these Gentle Giants who are ripped apart by the Steel Monsters we call

Trains.

 

If someone can tame these monsters, it is you.

 

Please save these Gentle Giants, Please.

 

Azam Siddiqui

 

Master Trainer in Animal Welfare (2001)

 

Animal Welfare Board of India

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http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui