A reflection

 After two long years, I finally went to the theatre to watch a film-'83'. Certain films are meant to be watched on the big screen and '83' was one of them. I was hooked to the story despite knowing how it would end. I cried hard for a few sequences and was very happy that there was no patriotism being forcefully injected. Everything that I felt in the theatre was something that sprung from the depth of my heart. The songs encapsulated the situation beautifully and we audience were elated to take the roller-coaster ride of emotions. This film, hands down, was one of the best movie experiences I ever had!!

After a week or so, there was an article which popped up on my feed. It stated ‘Pushpa has eaten up the market of 83.’ I was astonished. A movie which was so beautifully written and executed failed to rake in the numbers? Well, no qualms regarding Allu Arjun’s finesse as an actor and the blood and sweat he sheds to prepare for a role, but I still couldn’t digest the fact.  A movie having great reviews and good word-of-mouth, failed to capture audiences’ attention? Shocking, but not surprising.

In general, there are two kinds of audience. First are those who watch movies just for the sake of entertainment and don’t look for logic, and second are those who are very particular with their choices and scrutinize a film very aptly. Sadly, there are very few people who have the mindset of the second kind.

 “Why should we waste a Saturday by watching something serious, something which requires thinking”, is the first question that will strike a moviegoer’s mind. Anyone watching a movie with their friends or family just to pass time would prefer a breezy rom-com over a thriller or a message-oriented film or a biopic.

So, does that mean that no other genre gets a good BO income? That is not the case either. Films having a decent storyline, good songs and supported by a great performance by the main leads are deciding factors to make a movie successful. If a movie- regardless of the genre- satisfies all these conditions, it is sure to become a great film and something that would be remembered for ages.

Frankly, 83’s case is a complete exception. Maybe the hype surrounding Pushpa and Spiderman, killed the excitement for the film? Maybe people did not want to watch it because the audience was tired of biopics? Maybe they did not want to watch it because of the routine rising-from-the-ashes-like-the-phoenix theme? Nobody knows.

At the same time, there was an update that Pushpa would release on Amazon Prime. I was really excited to watch the rugged look of Allu Arjun and the raw, rustic and slick action sequences.

After watching the film, I had a mixed response. No doubt, I thoroughly enjoyed the film and was completely invested throughout the running minutes. But there were a few things that made me very uncomfortable and raised few serious questions in my mind.

Cinema is a very powerful tool. If utilized in the right way, it can make a profound impact on people. It can break old stigmas and start a new wave of universal acceptance. It can highlight our illustrious culture in an enchanting manner. It can transport us to a whole new different world through picturesque cinematography.

Our cinema has evolved over the years. We have broken cliched stereotypes and are showing progressive, real and grounded stories. But there is only one problem I have with today’s cinema-
‘GLORIFICATION’

If we observe, during olden days there was this quintessential hero, the heroine who was always the damsel in distress and the villain who was a psycho and a guy with flaws. This was the common plot for most of the films then.

But, now-a -days, filmmakers are not hesitating to write about a character with flaws. Actors aren’t reluctant to portray complex characters with grey shades and are accepting such roles with open arms. Audience too welcome this change and there is a breath of fresh air in the industry. The notion of the utopian hero has finally broken and flaws are being embraced as natural human tendencies.

Sometimes, a filmmaker might want the public to hate a character for a particular action. With that in mind, a scene is written. The problem arises when in such a process the imperfections are shown to be cool. This in turn glorifies the hero and the audience, instead of reprimanding the character for his actions, go gaga and pour in their full-fledged support. They start justifying the character’s actions and go to any extent to support him.

 What such people don’t understand is that there is a thin line of difference between reel and real. Characters we see in films- don’t always exist in real life.

I have another objection with today’s cinema. When we have such a glorious history and great source material, why don’t filmmakers make movies on that? Why should we remake most of the films when we have a storehouse of ideas? There are stories of gallantry and innovativeness from different parts of the country. We can reach out their stories to the masses. It is not necessary to have an extravagant budget to get things done. A simple story with lots of inspiration will surely captivate the audience.

One should always view the art over the artist. But it is completely opposite in India. The artist is given higher priority over the art. A star’s film is seen through a partial lens and given a clear chit despite lacking a solid story.

The day when CINEMA will stand for something that Captivates Interests, is Neutral, Enigmatic, not Monotonic and is Associative will be the day when this sheer form of art will achieve its zenith.

                                                                                                                   

                                                               -       Anusha Sridhar

 (P.S I can’t fathom the amount of hard work each and every person associated with the film 83 would have done. To get the cricketing mannerisms right, to select actors who resemble the legends is such a mammoth task. 2-3 years of practice, shooting all the matches in actual locations, I mean take a bow!! You guys have done a fantabulous job! This is one of the biggest gifts you gave to all the cricket fans who weren’t born during that era. We could relive that era because of you! My heartfelt thanks!!)

(P.S I don’t demean Pushpa in any way. It is also a good film. The actor’s conviction towards his character is evident in every frame. Big fan of Allu Arjun and his dance. How he managed to dance with his shoulders like that still remains a mystery for me….)

New year wishes

 One year has passed like a spree
Don't know whether to be sad 
or to jump in glee.

Few incidents left permanent scars
Few people turned into overnight stars
We witnessed the true essence of humanity
and walked hand-in-hand to face this calamity.

Sometimes we stumbled
But we never grumbled
We learnt through our experiences
every single day
We grew up to become matured individuals
and understood the roles we'd essay.

It is not wrong to be wrong
It is wrong to not accept we are wrong
We should understand this fact
and change our tact.

Our mistakes should not taunt us
They should teach us
Aim for excellence
Success will reach us.

Every sunset
is an opportunity to reset
Wish you all a happy new year
and a year ahead with no regret!

                        - Anusha Sridhar

(A very happy new year to all my readers who have been a constant support system for me...who have provided me ideas and tips to improve my writing....Hope you keep supporting me throughout this beautiful journey....)

Feminism-A general outlook

If there is something which has gained lots of momentum, support and has divided even the best of minds in the recent years is the debate on feminism. This topic has gained a  lot of popularity in the recent years  and every person has his own opinion about it . Most importantly, this topic is considered to be a double-edged sword and people signing in to express their views in public are considered to be putting foot in their mouth.

Why is there a horrific response given to a topic like feminism whose  purpose is equality for all? Isn't it supposed to be a really simple topic on which we can have open discussions about without getting irked? Sadly, it is not.

Yes, the sole objective of feminism is to give equal rights and an equal pay to both men and women without any discrimination. But this is just a definition that has been coined and  accepted at a superficial level. But there are types of people who believe in 'types of feminism'.  Fascinating right? Well.....not quite.

There are three types of  beliefs or rather three kinds of people we find when we try to start a conversation about this topic. 

1. Feminism=Man hating:
This is something really disturbing which has to be addressed. Many women (pardon me, but this is a fact) think men to be a burden in the society. They feel that men always have an upper hand in everything (well, in some cases it is true, but not always) and even blame their personal failure as something caused intentionally by a man. They are also against any success achieved by a man.

 If someone really supports the practice of misandry and is under the false impression that women are always superior, then I am sorry, your lens is flawed and you are behaving exactly like a misogynist. 

These are the people who think themselves to be the pioneer of revolution, proclaim themselves to be the messiah of the female race and crown themselves as the leader of the feminist movement. What these people don't realise is they are putting the entire feminist movement down and are putting the efforts of people truly striving for equality for a toss.

2.Casually using the word anywhere without knowing its meaning:
This is also something very common which is seen in youngsters in general. Many -a-times, they get fascinated by the word for some reason and decide to incorporate it in their daily conversations. 

If switching words inadvertently and using hard words occasionally  to appear 'cool 'in the friend's circle is being done, it will have a grave impact on their understanding levels, and people will never feel like learning more.

But comparatively, this isn't quite a major problem. It can be solved by intervening at the right time, teaching them the proper usage of such words and educating them as to where and where not to use those words.

3.People who don't believe in the concept of feminism itself:
This is a really dangerous group of people. Few people with such beliefs put out their thoughts in such a convincing manner that for a second even we believe their thoughts and question our ideologies.

These are the people who think that it is not necessary for a woman to work outside. They believe that working is a man's job and serving the family and catering to the needs of the family is a woman's job. They can't accept roles being switched and aren't even interested to give it a try.

These are the biggest hypocrites of the lot. They always say that they worship women- treat them as Goddesses, but they are the ones who curtail the freedom of a woman and always blame her.

It is said that too many cooks spoil the broth. Similarly, too many opinions dilute the gravity of the situation; the subject starts to feel repetitive, boring and unimportant. Rallies hold no significance in the eyes of a common person; for him it is just another group of people bickering about their bad days. 

In such a situation, it is important to make sure that the topic doesn't reach a level of exhaustion. It is important to understand that people's opinions are shaped based on their surroundings, their upbringing and the situations they were exposed to in a young age. Experiences shape a person. Opinions influence them. Keeping this in mind, we should tread the path carefully; should ensure that the idea gets conveyed properly without offending anyone.

Feminism just doesn't mean fighting for equality of men and women. It also means to celebrate the differences that exist between them. Feminism just corresponds to inclusivity; its sole purpose is to make people understand the concept of equality in inequality. 

 A true feminist acknowledges the differences between a man and a woman and fights for equality in places where it is required. He knows that it is not possible to be equal in all manners. He knows where to draw the line. He knows the cause for his fight and to which extent it is applicable. He doesn't have half-baked arguments, he stands firm on his opinion without getting influenced.

"A man and a woman can never be equal." A man goes by logic, a woman goes by emotion. A man is physically strong, a woman is mentally strong. If these differences don't exist, then the idea of feminism itself would be baseless and our society will lose its true beauty.

 The day we look at at both the genders not as two extremes, but as a spectrum is the day when feminism will achieve its true glory.

                                                            - Anusha Sridhar

(P.S This is solely based on my opinion and my intent is not to hurt anyone's views. This is based on my observations and is my take on the topic. The places where the masculine gender is used is even applicable for the feminine gender. No offence intended to anyone.)

The unparalleled feat

 The Indian campaign in the 2020 Summer Olympics has officially come to an end. With 4 bronze, 2 silver and 1 gold medal, India won 7 medals in total, better than the performance in the London and Rio Olympics in the year 2012 and 2016 respectively. We have raised the bar higher with our great performance and hope we continue to do so and bag more medals in the 2024 Summer Olympics. Tears, sweat, determination, mental prowess during these tough times and oodles of confidence in oneself has helped us achieve this magnificent feat. Several players even tested positive for COVID, but they battled it, fought like a tiger and gifted the prestigious Olympic medals to the country.

This year's Olympics is not special just because the country's medal tally rose. It is special because we made history in all the fields. Hockey's lost glory was back as Indian Hockey team won a bronze after 41 years, Ravi Kumar Dahiya won a silver in wrestling after 9 years, Mirabai Chanu won a medal in weight lifting after 20 years, and most importantly, Neeraj Chopra became the youngest player to win a gold in javelin throw, thus giving a stylish finish to the Indian campaign, ending the 121 year wait for the first athletics medal. Milkha Singh's wish to see India win a gold in athletics  and the entire nation's desire to hear the national anthem play and resonate in the stadium was finally fulfilled.

This year for the first time ever, India competed in the sport of fencing; a sport which many weren't aware of. 

PV Sindhu became the only Indian to win two successive medals in the Olympics. Lovlina Boroghain became the third Indian to win a bronze medal in boxing. Kamalpreet Kaur-despite not winning a medal- holds the record of the best discus throw; higher than the qualification mark (Neeraj Chopra too crossed the qualification mark in javelin, thus sealing a direct spot in the finals). Bajrang Punia won a bronze in wrestling thus helping India to equal the 2012 tally of 6 medals. The women's hockey team and Aditi Ashok- both missed bronze by a whisker- but they have become an inspiration for several people across the country. 

This year is also special for another reason. Most Indians, who didn't really show much interest in sports other than cricket, have started to watch all the Olympic matches due to the spectacular performances of our athletes. No offence to the former sport as it has brought us a lot of glory and produced many stars, but it is important to give all the sports equal respect and importance because laurels won in any field only increases the glory of the country. Many people have understood this fact and have placed other sports too on the same pedestal as cricket. 

  Even though we may not know the technicalities of a sport, we truly enjoyed watching all our fellow Indian players making us proud. There may be a few people who will compare the number of medals won and may point fingers at us, but one thing what I am sure of is that this is just a beginning to a glorious start. We have made records this year and we will continue to do so. There will surely be a rise in the tally due to increase in the acceptance of all the sports as game-changers and as something that will take our country to the pinnacle.

With my head high and my heart thumping with patriotism, I salute all our athletes who made our country proud. I thank them for opening my eyes, for making me look beyond only one sport. Once again, I wish them good luck and pray that they outdo themselves next time.

With utmost respect and regards,

Anusha Sridhar

(An interesting fact:  7th August 2021- the day when the Indian National Anthem was played in Tokyo to honour the country's historic win- was the 80th death anniversary of its creator Rabindranath Tagore! Don't know if it is a mere coincidence, but this is something very special which will forever be remembered. Couldn't be more prouder!)

(P.S As a DAVian, I am really proud and super happy that our gold-winning champion Neeraj Chopra and hockey player Hardik Singh are alumni of DAV! You have become an inspiration for the entire nation and of course, all the young DAVians wanting to pursue a career in sports.

 

                                                        

Autism Awareness

We often tend to assume things about people without fully understanding them. We crack jokes, call out names and bully people who are slightly different from us. Even though it is mostly done unintentionally, the impact it has on the person is very grave. By the time we mature, start understanding the stark realities of life and the existence of different kinds of people across the spectrum, it becomes too late. The damage is already done.

It is important to make young people- especially children to understand certain things. It is important to make them realise that not everyone lie on the same page. Different people have different frequencies of understanding and response. You just can't classify people into two broad types based on certain observations and behavioral patterns. This is outright WRONG.

Many a times, in the division of people into intelligent and dull-heads, we tend to leave out the exceptional kind- the disabled. They (the people with both mental and physical disabilities) are mostly labelled as 'dimwits' and are mocked. Generally people with sound mental health and a few physical complications are lesser ridiculed, but people with mental issues such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism etc. are derided the most. Today's blog will majorly focus on autistic people, the trials and tribulations they face in their lifetime and the societal perception about them.

Autism is a neurological disorder which affects the brain, impairs communication skills, obstructs the developmental process and leads to repetitive behaviour. People affected with autism don't like to mingle with others; they like to spend time alone. Silence is solace and sounds are a menace for them. They have a very peculiar conduct, they go ballistic many times and they don't know to control their cascading emotions. 

 Due to such issues, many find it very difficult to take care of autistic people. I agree it is hard to attend to such people (and even harder if it is a teenager who hit puberty) but we must always look at the brighter side. Such children have very few demands. Once you get them adapted to a routine, they will neither forget it nor will falter anywhere. They are very sharp in certain aspects- we must catch that point and help them to improve in that field. Once we bring them into our grip, we can easily help them to maneuver their way. We can't fine tune their brain back to normalcy, but we can surely help them to develop in certain areas. 

The major problem for autistic people is to break a habit. They are very firm in their resolve. So once you get people with autism accustomed to long drives and outings frequently, it becomes very difficult for them to adjust when there is a lockdown imposed. They go into a confused state, there is utter chaos inside their head and they start having anxiety issues. 

 Mostly, autism isn't very fatal during young age. Due to this, many autistic kids tend to join normal schools. The reason why such people are cornered is because they "don't fit in the bracket" and normal standards of an ideal student. They don't make friends easily because they don't achieve proper mental growth required for that age.  Grown-up autistic people also face many issues because their tendencies and nuances are only understood by family members.

Autism can't be cured and even if it is (which happens in very rare cases) a few symptoms still remain. Such people's life may not change drastically through medicines, but surely can get better when they have an external support system. People with autism have shown gradual signs of improvement and change when they were treated with love and care . 

Lockdown has surely made families with autistic kids understand the child's mental temperament and helped them work in a better way towards catering their needs. They have of course faced their shares of lows, but somehow managed to bring a smile on their child's face. The taboo surrounding autism has kinda ended. The social stigma around it is broken. People are now openly speaking about how his/her child got affected due to the disorder. This is a major victory we have achieved but this is not enough.

If we have to understand a situation better, we need to know about it from the root. If we really want to bring a change, we must be the change. We must start educating youngsters and make them know the pain such people go through- the difficulties they have in adapting to the dynamic world. We must encourage them to take part in activities promoting autism awareness like the Light it Blue campaign. We ourselves must take initiative and donate to schools set up for such children. 

Always respect the rights of autistic people, treat them equally without any discrimination and stop pigeonholing them. The day we rise above our narrow walls of thinking and start considering autism- not as a disease- but as a form of neurodiversity is only when the war is truly won. 

Remember that autistic children are also called 'special children' not because they are disabled, but they are referred so because they are the true and pure children of the Supreme Soul with no vice and malice in their heart. They are always genuine and aren't double faced.

So on the occasion of Autistic Pride Day on 18th June 2021, let us take a pledge to accept idiosyncratic people with open arms. Let us hoist the rainbow infinity symbol flag and demonstrate that all of us are equal even though we differ in a certain manner. Let us ensure that this celebration of different and diverse identities mustn't be limited only to a single day or occasion. 

To all my autistic brothers and sisters- be proud of the way you are!! Don't try to fit into the expectations of the society. Create your own space and always standout!

Celebrate difference

Enlighten your conscience

Accept their existence

Act with benevolence

Create a cordial ambience......

          HAPPY AUTISTIC PRIDE DAY!!!!!

Let us light the lamp of acceptance to eradicate the darkness of abhorrence.....

                                             - Anusha Sridhar

 

Dissecting media

India is now the worst hit country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is reporting over 4 lakh cases every day and the death count crossed the staggering 4000 mark. India accounts for over 60% of the world's total cases and is even facing an acute oxygen and vaccine dose shortage. Political parties are just passing the buck; trying to cover their image and are spending lavish money on 'revamping and erecting essential structures' (You know what I mean).

Many states have gone under lockdown, the economy has been hit again and history is repeating itself in a gruesome way. During these grim times and in this sensitive situation, it is important to stand united, accept the mistakes committed and work towards rectifying them at a faster pace. It is important to be mentally strong and positive. It is important to highlight not just the negative news but even focus on a few positive developments happening across the country and boost people's morale. Who is most capable to do this job in a perfect way? It is undoubtedly, the media. 

Media is considered as the fourth pillar of democracy. It is a tool that amplifies and helps people's voice to reach across the globe. It helps the common man to form an opinion and take a stance regarding several issues in the country. It treats everyone fairly; no one escapes under the sharp lens. Everyone is penalized and scrutinized equally for their actions and there is no favouritism.

Newsreaders from the yesteryears have done their job fabulously. They rendered the news in a subtle manner and struck a balance between the news from all parts of the  country and the world. Their half-an-hour to one hour shows conveyed a lot of information- it never seemed rushed and there was no melodrama. The ball is now in the hands of today's journalists and to be honest, thinking that they would do justice to the high standards of journalism set by the olden day reporters is a utopian ideology.

If we keenly observe and compare the strategies of media today and the media 20-30 years ago, we would surely observe a few key differences. In the latter, reporters knew and understood the importance of ethical journalism; there was a good team of experienced staff, writers and editors who never misused the freedom given to them and understood the sanity, importance and the catalytic role news plays in people's life.

Today, the situation is entirely different. Sensationalising news has become very common these days. We can clearly see and understand which news channel is owned by which political party. If a channel is owned by the center, it always points out the opposition and glorifies its own actions and vice-versa. It is now an open secret that media has just become a mouthpiece of the government- showing us only what is being told to them and not the complete reality. The trust and reliability people had on certain channels is completely lost.

A question arose in my mind. Why is there a drastic difference in the standards of reportage from today and to that of 30 years ago?  There was only one channel back then- the Doordarshan due to which there was no competition and no fight for trp.

The emergence of multiple channels and formation of independent news channels with 24/7 coverage is the root for all the mess. Think carefully, how is it possible to have 'breaking news' all the time you tune in to the channel (even in the oddest hour)?

The standard of news today has fallen so much that they are speaking only about certain issues which will please their owners and will keep their jobs intact. The spotlight falls only on one news item and the rest is either ignored or is just shown for 2-3 seconds on the screen, that's all. There is no respect for privacy of a person. For them someone's death is just a mockery- a way to get skyrocketing views. 

Accept it or not, but the fact is that in today's time it is the media that decides the future of the country and the direction in which the public's attention should be. Media whose role was only limited to informing us about what is happening around the world is now influencing our decisions.

Remember, when news loses its credibility, becomes opinionated and everything becomes pre-decided, it no longer remains a news- it turns into a blog post. 

I don't deny the fact that there are many talented journalists who perform their job excellently and make people aware about many interesting developments happening around the world. But why aren't these people receiving support in massive numbers?  Why are we not watching and encouraging news channels that don't indulge in yellow journalism unlike the rest?

According to a research done by psychologists, the human brain tends to respond faster and remember negative news than positive news. Majority take pleasure watching others' sufferings, enjoy fights and hoarse screaming. Using this as a tactic, many news channels started sensationalising news; started naming even the smallest of small news as breaking news just to win in the trp war and ensure that people tune in to the channel.  

Primetime debates have lost its decency and respect as in the name of putting forth the facts and having a good discussion, there has always been mudslinging without offering any solution to the existent problem. Now-a-days, more than the news, the tantrums of the host trend on twitter and are always spoken about. 

Media is the tool; the medium through which our concerns, queries and questions can reach the government. The media is capable of both transforming and destroying lives. It is capable of making a strong-minded person lose his will, as well as is capable of making a frail person full of positivity and hope.

There is a saying in Hindi: 'Jo diktha hai vahi biktha hai.' That is what is happening now. But there is another saying also: 'Jo biktha hai vahi dikhta hai' meaning- what is sold is only seen. The decision is ours. The control is in our hands. We are the deciders of what will stay and what will not. We should stop falling prey to cheap click bait tricks, stop giving views and start supporting sensible and constructive journalism.

I have a small request to the journalists of today. Don't use your power just to spread negativity. Don't feel embarrassed in highlighting even the minute success of the country in any field.  Please understand that your actions can make or break the system. Tread the line of control carefully, always be on your toes and be conscious of how you conduct yourself. Don't become a big joke in the country due to your own paroxysms. Your  profession is a very prestigious one- understand that.

 Don't blame the people; blame the process if there are any flaws. Once you change your method of approach and adapt to this methodology, media as an entity will be treated with high respect and the long-lost trust of people will surely be regained. 

(P.S The views expressed are subjective to perception. I don't mean to defame any channel or political party, but I am just stating the facts; the situations I observed. No offence intended to anyone.)

                                                                      -Anusha Sridhar

Pet Love

 As I sat down lethargically on my couch after a tiring and a hectic day, there was a sudden knock and the door swung open. I was in for a big surprise as my neighbour's pet jumped over me; started cahooting in joy and wagging his tail. I stroked him gently, cuddled him and played with him for about half an hour. After he left, I suddenly left rejuvenated. I lost all the fatigue and got in new energy.

The next day, another incident occurred. I had gone to visit my cousin's pet dog. I had last seen him two-three months ago when he was a baby- when he was not even my palm size. I doubted if he would remember me, but I was in for another surprise, as he did recognize me!!  He was gyrating in ecstasy, wiggling with excitement and jumping on me. We could see the sparkle in those luminous eyes of his- an inexplicable sense of delight. We spent about an hour with him, took many pictures and left.

Both those incidents had a strong impact on my mind. I was completely dumbfounded as I never expected to get lots of love and remembrance from pets. I was never an animal lover at start. I was someone who was really very afraid of dogs- someone who wouldn't even go beside them even though assured that nothing would happen. I was scared stiff of dogs and always maintained a distance of 10 feet from them. But these two pet dogs completely changed my perception about animals and from then on, I was never ever frightened.

                                     

Was it easy to lose fear?? To be honest, it wasn't that easy, but on interaction with several pups near my father's workplace, near my college and in our apartment made it a little easier to accept them and to get close with them. In the start I was apprehensive, but later on started to bond with them effortlessly. I understood that if we give pets their own space, look beyond our fright and think of them as living beings-as children who will obey to our say  if spoken with kindness, then the boundaries will automatically disappear and we will lose our fear.

 If there is someone who can understand human tendencies, their emotions, can give them perennial joy, can stand with them and protect them like a rock from adversities is a pet animal. He can bring in ecstasy on his master's face and can transform a gloomy and melancholic day into a day of delight thorough his playful antics. 

He can bond easily with everyone; can gel with friends, relatives and neighbours and can leave a mark in everyone's minds. Only his presence makes our day complete and his absence creates a void within us. That is how emotionally attached and connected we are with pets- we can't imagine a day in our life without them.

Compared to other pet animals, dogs are the most adored and adopted ones. 33% of people in the entire world have dogs as their pet. I was really curious to know: what was the speciality-the charm dogs have that is dragging people towards them? What ranks them all above the rest?

Dogs are most highly preferred pet animals as they are the embodiment of loyalty, honesty and true love towards their owner. They have an associative memory due to which they remember everyone they meet for long periods of time. Dogs teach many values to humans- resilience, bravery, kindness and most importantly, the willingness to serve their family till their last breath. 

They have all the qualities of a good friend; they stand by your side during sorrow, they become the reason for your happiness, are present in all your happy times and never get angry on you when you scold them because, they know -they are confident that you would never scold them from your heart-and even if you did, it would be only due to your stress and tension over a few issues and nothing beyond that. Due to this mutual understanding, dogs are called man's best friend.

Taking care of a dog and fulfilling his needs is equal to service to God. Dog when spelt from backward reads 'GOD' which is an indirect proof that God himself  has created animals to remind humans about the qualities they once had and had given up over the passage of time. 

                                     

Most people think that having a pet makes them look cool and great among their friends circle. They don't understand the responsibility and commitment that is needed to nurture a pet. They are misguided- they don't know the drastic difference between playing with someone's pet and personally taking up the duty of looking after a pet. They get carried away seeing videos about these pets, end up buying them, not devoting time to them and finally throwing them away on the streets. 

This is not only in the case of dogs, but is applicable for any animal whatsoever. People have to understand that once they bring any pet home it becomes their moral responsibility to take care of them. Owners of pets should know they would be signing a contract of lifelong care, dedication and love towards them if brought home. People must know that they have only two options- either to play with a pet, admire them and not take up the duty or have a pet, raise him to be strong and stay with him till the end. There must be no middle route. Only then all the pets can live a better life.

People are becoming more aware about pet care, the conditions favourable for their proper growth and the kinds of breeds they should have depending on their financial stability. Many government organizations and NGOs that work for pet welfare, rescue and vaccination of these animals have come up. One way this is a good sign of progress, but on the other hand, there is a horrific picture. 

Animals are being treated well only in their owners' house but not in the society. Knowingly or unknowingly, they are being pestered, attacked with stones and are not allowed to walk freely on the roads. Sometimes, people hit them out of fear just to drive them out of their way, but mostly stones are hurled at animals to show human supremacy and for personal entertainment. The fun they have is only momentary, but little do they realise that their actions will have severe repercussions in the future.

Some of you might try to justify the action of throwing stones on animals as an act done to trepidation, but that is not the case. What we don't realise here is that at times animals do run away, but sometimes, our act can provoke them and they can turn more violent.

Instantaneous dread is something that first arises when a stray animal crosses our path. That is very common. But we must also remember the fact that most of the dogs that we encounter in our way are community dogs-dogs being taken care of by people out of their own interests. So, they mean no harm to us until we create a menace. Avert your eyes if you are tensed; avoid giving eye-contact. Follow such small steps and it will be easy to overcome your fright. 

 Every person has their own choice of pets. What you may consider as an ideal pet may not be accepted by others. Some may adore dogs, some may adore cats and some even have wild animals as their pets. So stop bringing a distinction between animals. Consider everyone the same and don't spread hate against any animal. Wild or domestic, every animal has its own lesson to teach humans.

The day when people understand, realise and change their definition of an animal from 'it' to 'he/she' is the day when there will be a true transformation- a day where animals are treated equally with no distinction. People will acknowledge that animals may be mute, may not be able to articulate their feelings but can express their emotions through certain nuances and can sense humans' feelings and reactions.

 So on the whole; I would like to conclude by making a penultimate point. If you can't help, don't hurt. An animal never expects anything from you in return. He only longs for your presence. He comes into your life, makes it colourful and departs after changing you completely. The time he spends with you is very short, but the impact he has on you is very profound. Acknowledge his daily contributions- his catalytic methods to make your day brighter and understand that- 'An animal is someone who ACCEPTS YOUR NATURALITY, INTERESTS, MINDSETS AND LOVES YOU UNCONDITIONALLY.'

                                                   - Anusha Sridhar