Hidden Agenda behind the Annual Pachyderm Love

By TS Neelambaran in Janmabhumi Daily

The customary events have taken place- just before the traditional festive display of elephants; a section has again ventured into Courts submitting pleas citing public interests. This has been a much observed practice before the beginning of Trissur Pooram. These folks make unfailing systematic declarations to the press and submit public interest litigation, a few weeks before Pooram. And then, as the curtains are drawn down on Trissur Pooram, their pachyderm love vanishes too.

These people have been pointing out two issues, in their annual resurgence of pachyderm love- the first is that elephants are being made to stand for hours in the scorching sun for hours, which mounts to torturing them. The second is the rise of elephants running amok during festive displays and the subsequent escalation of fatalities being caused thus- in a nutshell, seeking to put an end to the cruelties being meted out to elephants.

No doubt cruelties being imposed upon the gentle pachyderms must come to an end. But along with this should end the gruesome torments being inflicted upon other animals as well. It should also be noted that a million times more of torture and torment is being inflicted upon bovines in the slaughterhouses of Kerala. Why is it that these people have maintained a selective blindness regarding the matter? Haven’t they lauded hollow insanity like beef festivals? There is a whole lot of justification being done in the name of cruelties like starving bovines and leaving them as mere breathing bodies and then hacking them to death! The self proclaimed pachyderm lovers must, at the least, raise their voice against this gross injustice being done to the bovines. But sadly, that never takes place.

Ours is a land here animal welfare has as specialized cells. And the laws and legislation that govern them have been flouted quite openly and boldly, paving way for free run of cruelty and torture. But does anyone care? It is here that the hidden agenda behind the selective pachyderm love needs to be exposed.

Trissur Pooram has the distinction of being one of the most aesthetically conducted cultural events in the world. And as years go by, its significance only serves to mount up on the international arena. No doubt, the state of Kerala is always symbolically associated with Pooram. And all this serves to discomfit a section which has nothing but vested interests. They are the ones who have whipped up the passion of animal lovers too.

Now, another side of the same coin- if there is any issue that stands against the welfare of elephants, during temple festivities, it certainly has to be corrected. Remedial measures have to be corrected, not doing away with the entire festivities. Pachyderms should be served enough nutritious food, not be made to stand in the scorching sun nor be made to stand continuously for hours together, their feet be given a regular water baths etc. Those who are in the festive committee should ensure that these gentle giants are not subject to undue and unwarranted provocation. Precaution should also be taken to the handle situation in case an elephant runs amok or if there is pandemonium. Pachyderms should be stalled using strong fetters. All these can be implemented if those associated hold proper discussions. Another matter that provokes elephants is the convivial habit of mahouts. Stringent measures should be adopted to prevent the same. Mahouts who consume alcohol and subject the animal to torture should be suspended from services.

On comparing statistics one sees how road accidents are a million fold more than fatalities caused due to pachyderm provocations. However, no one has yet sought a ban on vehicles. We hear of air crashes and train accidents, but there are no discussions seeking ban on the same.

What we need is a system that seeks to address how disasters can be tackled. Warning systems and preparedness are essential. This can save, to a certain extent, the fatalities and accidents arising hen elephants run amok.

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