Just the other day, i had been to Animal Aid, Udaipur. It happens to be Udaipur's only animal rescue and rehabilitation organisation and has been operational for the last 14 years. When we went there, we were taken on a tour of the shelter and the scene was similar to the scene at a cheap, government run hospital (makes me wonder, are there "posh" government run hospitals?). There were dogs with open (but healing) wounds, wandering around; there were cows that were lying in grotesque positions because they had consumed too much of plastic and their stomachs had swelled up crazily. I am usually uneasy to be in places where there is a presence of illness/ailment. I am squeamish when it comes to hospitals.
But.
This place was strangely calming. Initially it was difficult to see the animals in pain that they cannot share with us, but we were told that the animals here are usually happy and in a much better place than they would have been had they not been rescued. Also, i was told that animals have a never die kind of attitude and they get along with life despite the hardest of hits against them or their fate.
But.
What i think was the thing that really made me feel good was the kind of love and attention that the animals were getting from my fellow humans. There was personal connection that the people seemed to share with the animals. One thing that Mr Raj, our guide for the day, kept emphasizing on was that they believe in Love and Affection and Positive Energy. He said that they often sit with the sick animals and not just administer the medicines and leave. Raj had introduced us to a (paralysed) dog who was, in a group of otherwise very friendly (paralysed) dogs, very aggressive and had not made friends with any of the humans at the shelter, yet. He said that he has been trying for the past one week, with not a lot of success, though (Maybe after he was paralysed, he didn't trust humans).
But.
On that particular day, while we were sitting with some of the (paralysed) dogs, Raj managed to make friends with the dog. The news spread and the rest of the employees began to come watch Raj and the dog sit next to each other. The dog's faith in humans was returning.
Love and Affection was what made it happen.
Class six in a particular Government Girls School has always been a class that stays quiet. Despite my repeated attempts, they didn't seem to open up. I ask them to answer my questions. I promise them to not even scold them, leave alone beat them up. I ask them at least ten times if they are willing to come to the board to solve a puzzle. They just stand there. No response. I am astounded. It has been 7 months since i have started coming to this school. I have, perhaps, been their nicest teacher and yet, they did not seem to trust me. What had happened to them that they showed so much fear, hesitation and mute submissiveness? What had paralysed them to such an extent? If this class was the only class, it would not have been such a problem.
But.
This trend is visible in the rest of my schools as well. Girls. Mute Submission.
But.
On that particular day, 7 months after beginning to try and gain their trust, we began playing a game. the class was divided into two teams. Slowly. Ever so slowly, things began to unfold in front of my eyes. The spirit of competition made the girls forget their inhibitions. They began to laugh, to show anger when the other team cheated, to look at me hoping to get justice...And, finally, when i played a 'balgeet' with them, i was Victorious. Finally. Every single girl in the class shed her skin of fear and shame and hesitation, and danced and sang and laughed.With me. The girls' faith in men was, perhaps (hopefully), returning.
Love and Affection was what made it happen.
But.
This place was strangely calming. Initially it was difficult to see the animals in pain that they cannot share with us, but we were told that the animals here are usually happy and in a much better place than they would have been had they not been rescued. Also, i was told that animals have a never die kind of attitude and they get along with life despite the hardest of hits against them or their fate.
But.
What i think was the thing that really made me feel good was the kind of love and attention that the animals were getting from my fellow humans. There was personal connection that the people seemed to share with the animals. One thing that Mr Raj, our guide for the day, kept emphasizing on was that they believe in Love and Affection and Positive Energy. He said that they often sit with the sick animals and not just administer the medicines and leave. Raj had introduced us to a (paralysed) dog who was, in a group of otherwise very friendly (paralysed) dogs, very aggressive and had not made friends with any of the humans at the shelter, yet. He said that he has been trying for the past one week, with not a lot of success, though (Maybe after he was paralysed, he didn't trust humans).
But.
On that particular day, while we were sitting with some of the (paralysed) dogs, Raj managed to make friends with the dog. The news spread and the rest of the employees began to come watch Raj and the dog sit next to each other. The dog's faith in humans was returning.
Love and Affection was what made it happen.
Class six in a particular Government Girls School has always been a class that stays quiet. Despite my repeated attempts, they didn't seem to open up. I ask them to answer my questions. I promise them to not even scold them, leave alone beat them up. I ask them at least ten times if they are willing to come to the board to solve a puzzle. They just stand there. No response. I am astounded. It has been 7 months since i have started coming to this school. I have, perhaps, been their nicest teacher and yet, they did not seem to trust me. What had happened to them that they showed so much fear, hesitation and mute submissiveness? What had paralysed them to such an extent? If this class was the only class, it would not have been such a problem.
But.
This trend is visible in the rest of my schools as well. Girls. Mute Submission.
But.
On that particular day, 7 months after beginning to try and gain their trust, we began playing a game. the class was divided into two teams. Slowly. Ever so slowly, things began to unfold in front of my eyes. The spirit of competition made the girls forget their inhibitions. They began to laugh, to show anger when the other team cheated, to look at me hoping to get justice...And, finally, when i played a 'balgeet' with them, i was Victorious. Finally. Every single girl in the class shed her skin of fear and shame and hesitation, and danced and sang and laughed.With me. The girls' faith in men was, perhaps (hopefully), returning.
Love and Affection was what made it happen.
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