Animal Sacrifice – A Letter

Dear Jeyamohan,
I read what you wrote about the Kuntakkudi elephant.
You stated that breeding elephants in captivity is a form of violence against animals.
But you have already mentioned having pet dogs at home. Aren’t domestic animals also held captive?
Elephants have been part of our culture for thousands of years. They shaped our culture. Our temples feature a variety of sculptures of elephants. There are numerous depictions of elephants in our arts. If we abandon elephant breeding, won’t our culture become empty without elephants?
The elephant stories you’ve written contain numerous beautiful pictures of elephants. All are domesticated elephants. Aren’t they dear to men?
You are a meat eater. What significance does the carnivore’s love for animals hold?
Santhanakrishnan

Dear Santhanakrishnan,

These are all typical questions from a particular mindset. Please bear in mind that your caste prejudges, religious fundamentalism and conservative mentalities. I have provided clear answers to these questions, and now I am sharing them with you.

Not only dogs but also cows, buffaloes, and goats can be reared at home. You don’t own a dog, but you’re drinking cow’s milk, correct? Cows, goats, and dogs are animals that were taken from the animal world at the start of human civilisation and continuously transformed by the human endeavour.

They are not wild animals. They cannot survive in the wild. They can’t survive without us. They are pleased to sit with humans. Allowing some species to roam freely may cause them to gradually turn feral. This is particularly true for Indian country dogs, known for their gregarious nature. However, many breeds experience depression and eventually die. (For example, foreign dog breeds, cows)

We have modified the dog’s body itself. For example, the dog’s intestine is different from that of their wild partner. The dog has undergone genetic modification to consume starch. If you leave the dog in a forest, it will die. Dogs have contributed greatly to our culture. Abandoning them is a crime.

However, in the case of the elephant, it is not like that. After hundreds of generations, they are still wild. There is no change in their physical and psychological structure. Even if born and raised in a city, the wild nature of an elephant does not change. Even if it accepts humans and lives with us, it is still a wild animal.

Yes, the elephant is one of the creators of our culture; it is an integral part of our tradition. That is not the reason to enslave it, right?  In the past there was a need for elephants where there were no machines, today they are not needed anymore. Today, we breed them solely for pride and religious purposes. It is a sin. Let the elephant stay in the forest, which is its natural habitat. We can safely go into the forest today and enjoy the sight of elephants in their natural environment. Let our children see a free elephant.

Remember, our civilization was born out of slavery. Caste is a kind of slavery. So can we say that slaves are still needed today as an integral part of our culture?

Elephants are very sensitive and intelligent. Therefore, they have the ability to interact with humans, exhibit kindness, and assume responsibility for our well-being. If they breed among us, even tigers and lions will exhibit similar traits.

I wrote about the patience, knowledge, generosity, and kindness of an elephant. We should not enslave such a wonderful being. What does it mean that the person who is a slave to us has love and knowledge and that he deserves to be a slave to us?

Dear Sir, you kill mosquitoes. You kill the flies with insecticides. You kill cockroaches. You use anticide powder to kill millions of them. Your food claims billions of lives in its process. You kill worms to weave silk. However, you speak of ‘ahimsa’ and condemning others. Think about it; you may get some good answers.

Jeyamohan

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