Bollywood icon considers an elephantine gift to Guruvayurappan

Tuesday, January 23, 2007
ElephantineGift
Sub: Bollywood icon considers an elephantine Gift to Guruvayur AppanSir, It is learned from a source in Guruvayur that one of the well-reputed and respected Bollywood icons is considering to gift an elephant to Guruvayur Appan temple in Kerala, in celebration of his son’s wedding. Guruvayur had already about 60 elephants donated by politicians, businessmen and others. All these elephants are tied up in a small plot of land ad measuring an acre or two, just sufficient to accommodate one or two elephants. Hence, each and every one of them is tightly chained to more than one peg so that it will not turn around and interfere with those around. Before making any such offer in the name of God, I request the devotees to make a visit to this famous(?) Punnathur Kota, a few Kilometers away from the main temple, and see for themselves the condition in which these magnificent creatures of mother Nature, resembling the face of Lord Ganesh, are undergoing life imprisonment. And in Punnathur Kota, please go around, if you dare, and also try to go near to the two ponds in which these 60 odd pachyderms are supposed to be bathed daily.
When our children tie the mangal sutra to enter a happy family life, why should we celebrate the occasion by effectively tying down for life an elephant that loves freedom and community life in the forest, its natural habitat?
Anybody listening this BachaAvo Call?NB Nair, nbnair@gmail.com
Jan 23, 2007.
1:26:25 PM
Posted By Bhaskaran Nair Comments (1) Society
Comments
K.Venugopal Tuesday, January 23, 2007 1:51:25 PM
Since land is insufficient around Guruvayoor, the Temple should request the Government to lease it about a 10,000 acres of land in the Silent Valley or some such place, where the elephants and other animals can roam about freely and still be looked after. Further, this much area of land can be protected ecologically also if a capable team if gathered to oversee the project. Last but not least, the land can be used to cultivate rare medicinal herbs too. Properly managed, this could become a eco-zoological tourist centre in Kerala - the new Vrindavan of Kerala.