top of page

By:

Minal Sancheti

2 May 2026 at 12:26:53 pm

Funeral for animals

Mumbai: On the occasion of National Animal Rights Day, a funeral was held for all the voiceless creatures that humans have killed for selfish reasons. The act was a campaign and was a brainchild of Animal Climate and Health in collaboration with Our Planet Theirs Too. The purpose was to spread awareness about animal cruelty. The campaign took place at Carter Road Amphitheatre and so a crowd of both young and old supported the cause. Speaking about animal cruelty, recently the internet was...

Funeral for animals

Mumbai: On the occasion of National Animal Rights Day, a funeral was held for all the voiceless creatures that humans have killed for selfish reasons. The act was a campaign and was a brainchild of Animal Climate and Health in collaboration with Our Planet Theirs Too. The purpose was to spread awareness about animal cruelty. The campaign took place at Carter Road Amphitheatre and so a crowd of both young and old supported the cause. Speaking about animal cruelty, recently the internet was flooded with a viral video of a group of men at Mira Road taking a piglet to a locality where goats were brought for religious sacrifice. Aparjita Ashish, the founder and director of Animal Climate and Health said, “It is an act of cruelty to kill animals for religious sacrifice but to protest against this they were harassing a baby pig. The poor pig was screaming for his life. So how’s that right? If you want to protest, protest peacefully.” Ashish also comments on the Apex Judiciary’s decision of euthanising terminally ill dogs, “If the dog has a serious illness like rabies and is in a lot of pain, with a doctor’s permission and in a peaceful manner, they should be euthanised. The apex court also spoke about the ABC or animal birth control which if done with correct procedures, can help bring down issues related to the stray dogs. Many times the process is wrong so the animals become subject to cruelty.” She even added that the strays should not be displaced as that will leave them confused. This is also an act of ill treatment. The occasion saw a large number of gatherers. According to the campaigners, being vegan is not just for protecting animals but also for the climate. Ashish explained, “If you see the name of our NGO, it is Animal Climate and Health. So we also talk about the impact of consuming animal products on the environment.” She gives an example of how methane gas is produced because of the dairy animals and how the food and resources to breed animals are so much that it affects the environment. The supporters who participated in the campaign said they also noticed many health benefits of going vegan. Anil Nagpal, a senior citizen and volunteer with the organisation said, “For many years I was going through ill health. I tried every treatment but nothing really helped much. But then someone convinced me to go vegan and since that time my health has improved drastically. After this many people in my circles who used to eat animal products have given up.” When asked what his protein sources are, he said, “I eat lentils and legumes. Vegetables also contain protein.” Ashish claimed that humans have an ego that makes them think they are above animals.

Punjab’s Unbroken Spine

My name is Punjab, the land graced by five mighty rivers. My story is one of resilience, woven deeply into India's fabric since 1947, a year that marked both heartbreak and hope. The trauma of the Partition ripped through me, leaving scars that time has not erased. Yet, I rose from those ashes to cultivate my fields once again. The Green Revolution flourished here, transforming me into the breadbasket of India.


Though I lost my beloved city, Lahore, I embraced change and built Chandigarh, a modern capital designed by Le Corbusier, symbolizing a fresh start after partition. Though my territory shrank and my claim on the five rivers diminished, my people steadfast. Hindus and Sikhs-stood firm. Their courage is etched in the history of the Punjab Regiment, Sikh Regiment, and Sikh Light Infantry, which bravely defended the nation's borders through wars and conflicts


My citizens, though making up just about 2.37 percent of India's total population, have contributed immensely to the nation’s freedom struggle. Sikh freedom fighters, though a small community, bore a disproportionate burden. Leaders like Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh and Kartar Singh Sarabha led revolts, inspired by the Gurdwara Reform Movement and Ghadar movement, fighting fiercely against colonial rule.


My essence is shaped by the spiritual teachings of Guru Nanak and the inclusive faith of Sufis, who taught love, peace, and equality. But today, I ask not for division but for justice, for peace, and a better future for my children.


To facilitate visits from Indian pilgrims to the holy shrine of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan's counter parts on November 9, 2019, coinciding with the 550th Prakash Purab of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. And renewed in 2024, stands as a poignant symbol of connection, allowing Sikh pilgrims from India to visit the sacred Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Narowal, where Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent his last eighteen years. This corridor includes a modern highway and immigration facilities, fostering peace and cultural unity between India and Pakistan.


The principles of Guru Nanak Dev Ji-Naam Japna (focused remembrance), Kirat Karni (honest labour), and Vand Chakna (sharing with others) are not just spiritual ideals they are the foundation of a thriving, harmonious society.


The creation of Haryana from my land and the contentious sharing of Chandigarh as a Union Territory have been painful wounds. The darkest chapter came during two decades of militancy, yet my spirit, called Chardi Kala remained unbroken.


That period was marked by a grim proxy war waged by Pakistan through the Khalistan movement, ravaging my lands with violence and economic hardship. The Centre’s failure to adequately support the counterinsurgency forces left me burdened with debt that will weigh on future generations General Zia-ul-Haq's strategy of “a thousand cuts will bleed India” epitomized the persistent strain placed upon me. The policies of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, initially fostering Bhindranwale and later suppressing the movement, deepened my wounds. The legacy of that period persists, when corruption entrenched itself as a centralized system. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), corruption cases in Punjab rose by 13.2 percent in 2021, following a negative growth of 15.3 percent two years earlier.


But I am Punjab. Through blood and sacrifice, through hardship and renewal, I endure. I call on India to treat me with the justice and respect I deserve. For I am not separate from this nation - I am its heart, its guardian and its undying spirit. I am the land of five rivers, forever flowing strong within the soul of India.


(The writer is a former journalist and Vice-President, Punjab BJP unit. Views personal.)


Comments

bottom of page