The Madukkarai Maharaj's demise has deepened the thoughts of the people of the western ghats, around the district of Coimbatore. This entire episode has embedded a very thoughtful message to the people and the government.
The series of protests made by the locals of Madukkarai area and farmers of the nearby suburbs pushed the forest officials to intervene and plan for capturing the tusker. The protestors made a 360-degree approach in filing petitions and protests. The District Collector, forest officials, MLA, all concerned officials were customarily approached seeking a permanent solution from the lone tusker.
Presently, the same locals are in a deep state of grieve and guilt. The death of the Maharaj has dampened the hearts of the people around the city. A couple of days ago, the locals full heartedly appreciated and extended their support to the mission, to tranquilise and dislocate the tusker.
To the contrary, a few locals of Madukkarai reported that the tusker has been a part of their premise for a very long time and that it has not caused any direct disturbance to the people and that his final rights should be performed in the soil of Madukkarai, the place he belonged to. Locals have stuck obituary posters around the area, lit candles and praying for him to rest in peace.
To sum up, extending our feeling of respect and care at this moment is not going to turn him alive. Maybe, if we would have extended the same respect and care on the pachyderm by not encroaching their getaways, the relationship between man and animal would have enriched. Encroachments leave the elephants with nil option rather than penetrating into the villages and residential areas to find an exit route. It is the nature of any creature to feed itself with the food around, and expecting an animal to think and act, is mindless. ‘Trespassers will be prosecuted’ applies for both human and animal, at present-day we are left with no option other than to say, RIP Maharaj!
The series of protests made by the locals of Madukkarai area and farmers of the nearby suburbs pushed the forest officials to intervene and plan for capturing the tusker. The protestors made a 360-degree approach in filing petitions and protests. The District Collector, forest officials, MLA, all concerned officials were customarily approached seeking a permanent solution from the lone tusker.
Presently, the same locals are in a deep state of grieve and guilt. The death of the Maharaj has dampened the hearts of the people around the city. A couple of days ago, the locals full heartedly appreciated and extended their support to the mission, to tranquilise and dislocate the tusker.
To the contrary, a few locals of Madukkarai reported that the tusker has been a part of their premise for a very long time and that it has not caused any direct disturbance to the people and that his final rights should be performed in the soil of Madukkarai, the place he belonged to. Locals have stuck obituary posters around the area, lit candles and praying for him to rest in peace.
To sum up, extending our feeling of respect and care at this moment is not going to turn him alive. Maybe, if we would have extended the same respect and care on the pachyderm by not encroaching their getaways, the relationship between man and animal would have enriched. Encroachments leave the elephants with nil option rather than penetrating into the villages and residential areas to find an exit route. It is the nature of any creature to feed itself with the food around, and expecting an animal to think and act, is mindless. ‘Trespassers will be prosecuted’ applies for both human and animal, at present-day we are left with no option other than to say, RIP Maharaj!