It was a crowded day in Nasik, India as rickshaws battled for space on the road. They battled for space near College Road in one of India's up and coming cities in the Western Maharashtra state, each driver pointing and chattering away directions to oncoming traffic in an attempt to cross the main intersection. All of a sudden, the hustle and bustle of the city street came to a complete halt. Nobody was moving. Ahead, one driver had gotten out of his rickshaw to stop traffic. The reason: a dog was stuck in the middle of traffic, fearful and nervous, she was disoriented. The drivers waited for a few minutes as the dog composed herself and made the short 10 meter walk to the side of the road into safety. The situation may be unassuming in India, but coming from Egypt, where street animals are kicked by people, shooed away by shop owners and poisoned by the government on a regular basis, this was a welcome change from the status quo. The drivers in Nasik recognized the terror of the animal, allowed her calm herself and regain composure before sauntering off to the side of the road and out of harm's way. This was a sign of what I have come to term “animals ahimsa," or non-violence for animals. Too often we, as human beings, view ourselves as greater beings. This regularly resorts to the slaughter of our animal friends for our plates, the torture for medicine and cosmetics and the wholesale exploitation for our viewing in zoos and “animal parks." This column will regularly explore stories of those who practice, or have practiced, animals ahimsa. Taking the concept from Gandhi's non-violent struggle that removed the yoke of the British Empire, Animals Ahimsa here is an attempt to show that as a human population, how we treat our animals reflects dramatically on how our societies function. Certainly, India has its own problems, with both animals and humans struggling to find a better life, but throughout India, even those who ate meat and in no way supported the animal rights cause, were shocked when I told them of the situation facing stray cats and dogs in Egypt. One web designer in Delhi was simply astonished over the poisoning campaigns against animals in Egypt. He said, “how could they be so cruel. It doesn't make sense." The man, a Christian from Chennai, had the inherent belief that animals, at a basic level – despite his partaking in animal flesh – the right to live. Animals Ahimsa will include stories from Islamic history, the Prophet Mohamed and his love for animals, Buddhism, other faiths as well as secular stories of people simply wanting to assist those who cannot lobby on their own behalf. Ahimsa is among the greatest ideals of our human civilization, and it is time we brought it to a grassroots level in order to support our animals on a daily basis, much as the rickshaw drivers had done in Nasik. Animals, like us, should not live in fear of their deaths. Their fear is immense, and we, as human beings with a voice, can speak out on their behalf, give them a meal every now and again and improve their plight as best we can. This should not be seen as a turn from assisting our fellow human beings, instead a column based in the notion that all animals on this planet deserve to live in a world that is based on non-violence and harmony. Animals deserve safety as much as humans do. This is why the concept of animals ahimsa, a non-violent approach to animals, and their right to live, should be done in a non-confrontational manner that enlightens and tells the positive stories that occur on a daily basis. The dog in Nasik had the chance to live another day, eat another meal and possibly care for her pups. Should we not all want this for any living being on our planet? ** Do you have a story you'd like be included in Animals Ahimsa? If so, send it our way: [email protected]
