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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.

Where Cricket Died, Was Resurrected, and Died Again

Lord’s —The Home of Cricket. A place of tradition, cucumber sandwiches, and polite murmurs of “well played, old chap.” Yesterday? It looked like someone had spiked the pitch with revenge, LSD, and a dodgy batch of swing-friendly weather. Sixteen wickets fell. Sixteen. On Day One. In a Test match. At the spiritual home of the five-day snoozefest. I haven’t seen this many collapses since my last attempt at baking a soufflé.


New Zealand won the toss and, with the wisdom of a man who’s seen too many cloudy English mornings, elected to bowl. Smart move, one must say given the treacherous weather conditions. England’s top order treated the new ball like it was radioactive. By lunch, they were 24/1 after a rain delay, which was basically the universe giving everyone a chance to grab another pint and reconsider their life choices. Then the fun really started.


England managed a grand total of 140. Harry Brook top-scored with 56, looking like the only bloke who remembered this was a Test match and not a village T20 exhibition on a beach. Everyone else? Absolute carnage. The Kiwi seamers, led by the giant Kyle Jamieson (5-62), swung the ball more than a drunken uncle at a village wedding. Jamie Smith and others joined the party. It was less “Test cricket” and more “audition for a horror film called The Pitch That Swung Back.”


But wait! England weren’t done embarrassing themselves – or rather, they were about to redeem themselves in the most chaotic way possible. Ollie Robinson, back after his sabbatical (or whatever he calls two years away), decided to play the hero. He took 4-10 as New Zealand slumped to 61-6. Yes, you read that right. The tourists were 79 behind with four wickets left. Glenn Phillips was left stranded on 31 not out, probably wondering if he should just declare the innings himself and go get a kebab.


The pitch? A green seamer that behaved like it had a personal grudge against batsmen. The ball was swinging like a pendulum on steroids. Commentators were reaching for words like “unplayable,” “diabolical,” and “can we please have a batting track for once in our lives?” Meanwhile, fans on social media were torn between declaring it the greatest day of Test cricket ever and demanding a steward’s inquiry into whether the groundsman had been bribed by the bowling coaches.


Sarcasm aside (who am I kidding, it’s the whole point), this was pure comedy gold. Ben Stokes’ birthday treat? Watching his team get skittled then skittle the opposition. Tom Latham must have been regretting his decision to bowl first by tea – or was he? At 61-6, it felt like both teams had agreed to a secret pact: “Let’s make this the shortest, most ridiculous Test in history so we can all go to the pub early.”


Cricket purists are clutching their pearls, muttering about “the soul of the game.” Mate, the soul of the game showed up, took one look at the conditions, said “nah,” and left after 16 victims. This wasn’t cricket; it was a demolition derby with pads on. At this rate, the match will be over by lunch on Day 3, and we’ll all be left wondering what the hell just happened.


If you’re a neutral fan, congratulations – you just witnessed peak chaos cricket. If you’re English or Kiwi, my condolences (and a stiff drink). Day 2 promises more of the same: more edges, more plays and misses, and probably a few more batsmen questioning their career choices. Lord’s has never been this entertaining. Or this traumatic in its long history.


Roll on. May the survivors (if any) find some dignity. Or at least a straighter bat. With more and more Test matches ending in under three days, it seems more likely that the oldest format of the game may just tip its hat and bow down to the T20 Tamasha version of the game.


(The writer is a senior journalist based in Mumbai.)

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