Lilly the sweetheart of Shanti (M-918929307936) a caregiver died an untimely death on the first day of Navratri and that too right in front of a temple of Goddess Durga. Lily was just a small puppy who had been relocated by some nasty person near the temple about three years ago in a colony in East Delhi (Pic in the post). It was Shanti who rescued her and named her Lily. Had Shanti been not there Lily would have been attacked by other dogs and died. It was Shanti who helped Lily to befriend other dogs and settle near the temple. Although, getting a new dog adjusted to an unknown territory is not an easy task but Shanti did it.
Navratri is a nine day festival where nine forms of Durga, the Goddess of courage is worshipped. Lily stayed near a temple of Goddess Durga. Right in front and on the right side of the temple there is a road which is quite busy. All types of vehicles like cars, scooters, taxi, buses etc. ply on the road. In the past many dogs and puppies have been crushed by reckless and ruthless drivers under their wheels. It was poor Lily's turn this time. Shanti got a call around midnight of 2nd April that Lily has been crushed by a vehicle. It was a painful and untimely death for Lily who was just four years old.
During Navratras all devotees of Godesss Durga seek blessings from her for a long life full of happiness and prosperity. But what about these voiceless souls who die almost daily and in large numbers on roads due to accidents.
Shanti has been running from pillar to post to get a speed breaker made on the roads of the temple so that the speeding vehicles slow down and the chances of a street animal being hit is minimized but till now no success.
Many cows and their calves too meet with road accidents in India but the government doesn't seem to see it. By turning a blind eye to such accidents the govt has given the uncompasionate, reckless and cruel Indians the freedom to crush street animals on road without any feeling of guilt or without any fear of legal punishment.
There are no punishments for such crimes and no awareness about our responsibility towards these street animals while we are driving on the roads. Why is that so?
The least our govts can do is put up hoardings and signs on the roads telling people to be careful while driving on the roads. To show compassion towards street animals who may be crossing the road, walking on the road or lying on the road.
Just recently Nissan in collaboration with the ministry of transport did a campaign on road safety in Delhi. It called its campaign 'Blind Spot'. The aim of the campaign was to find those spots on the roads of Delhi which have no street lights, have holes in the road or have some issues with roads which might turn fatal for humans driving or walking on the roads. Why can't Nissan and companies like Nissan do such campaign for street animals?
Kuhu Roy a humane and responsible citizen of India has started such a campaign for street animals on change.org. She calls her campaign "Give Animals a BRAKE - A global traffic awareness campaign to reduce animal road hits".
Wonder when will such awareness campaigns be done for street animals by the Govt of India, the state Govts? Don't they find animal's life precious?
Why can't the ministry of Road transport and highways of India, the traffic police and the rmunicipal corporations of every area put up signs for drivers which says to look for street animals and not hit them and to be kind and compassionate towards them while driving on the road.
In Hinduism every God and Goddess has an animal companion. Goddess Durga has tiger, Lord Bhairav has Dog, Lord Ganesha has mouse, Lord Shiva has snake etc....Hinduism reveres animals as it makes no difference between humans and animals.
Lily was a beautiful soul who for sure was equally close and loved by Goddess Durga as any human child. Will the person who crushed Lily so ruthlessly on the first day of Navrari be blessed by Goddess Durga? Will his or her prayers be answered? Does he or she deserves happiness, long life and prosperity in his or her life?
Shanti is crying for Lily since yesterday. She was like a baby to Shanti. The memories of Lily are haunting her and bringing tears in her eyes.
Well it is definitely Shanti, Kuhu and people like them who are true devotees of Goddess Durga and not those who merely visit temple and turn a blind eye to the pain and suffering of the street animals of India.
1 Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India
Twitter- @OfficeOfNG
Email id- nitin.gadkari@nic.in
2 Minister of Transport Delhi
Twitter - @kgahlot
Email id - kgahlot@gmail.com
3 Nissan India
Twitter- @Nissan_India
Email - dealer.management@nissan.in