Will to fight and survive

Today my unsung hero is not a human being but the most dependable friend of humans since thousand years.He is a Mongrel from one of the villages of Bihar and is fighting for justice since years.So why did I plan him to be in my column? It is because ,of his sincerity and will to fight for justice.Do you know how long he has been fighting for justice ?It is since last five years that "chotu" an 8 year old mongrel is fighting for justice going round around courts with his owner "Rajkumari Devi" who treats her like her brother.
Actually it all started when in 2003 when "chotu" bite a neighbour jagdish Das when he was three year old.The Local SDO ordered his shoot but luckily chotu was saved because of public out cry and timely intervention of Maneka Gandhi and animal protection group.But since then the case is pending in the court and chotu is blamed for biting any one going near him.According to Rajkumari who got him as a gift from her mother, chotu is very docile and only attacks while saving her and her things.Rajkumari has very limited income source from few goats and a few area of land.She blames her neighbours having an eye on her property.She further explains that if it would not have been chotu she would have lost her property to her greedy neighbours.
As chotu sits down near the court room he looks a perfect picture of docile dog with lots of cut mark on his jaws.These marks have appeared by the stones thrown on him by jealous neighbours.Even the executive magistrate was amazed by his docility and he commented that had chotu been an aggressive dog than he would have attacked many on court premises.Perhaps Mr SDO should come and check himself before passing such judgments.
One interesting calculation: The seven human years are considered as one year of dog.So it means that Chotu is fighting his case since last 35 years.Any one is listening in the judicial premises.......

Like Father Like Son

When I started to write blog on this topic the very first name came into my mind was Baba Amte.In fact I had decided to write about him as my first entry on this topic but than found out about few others so thought to write about him as my next entry.But yesterday when I read about his son and daughter in law who also have led a life of self less service for the tribals of Madhya Pradesh, I decided to name them as my next unsung heroes.

In fact we all are familiar with the works of Baba Amte but do we know that his son and daughter in law have continued his work .I only came to know about them by reading the newspaper yesterday . Reading about him made me feel that we are nothing in front of them and our country is running high because of their good works.
In India they say that an able son should carry his father's work forward and that is what Dr Prakash Amte has done exactly.He has taken the mantle from his father and 35 years ago set up his first hospital for the Madia Gond Tribals in the forest regions of gadchiroli district of Maharastra .
The decision to work for these tribals was taken when he visited them along with his father while he was studying.He encountered their poverty ,suffering to health care.It was than and there he decided to work for them after getting the medical degree.I salute to Dr Mandakini who also joined her husband in this mission and the newly wed trudged 50 km from Alapalli to reach Hemkalasa where Baba Amte had put up a hut.
Life was very tough for them earlier.the place used to be cut off for six months with no bridges on river.The tribal dialect was difficult to communicate as those people did not speak any other language.The most difficult thing was that these tribals were suspicious of outsiders and resistant to the idea of visiting the Amtes for treatment.
Besides working for these tribals ,Prakash is known for his love for wild life and nature.He has set up a virtual zoo at his Hemkalasa camp and calls it "Animal Orphange".In fact two years before e was beaten by a viper ,which almost pushed him to death.The snake now is the member of his zoo.
Now after so many years he got a recognisation, when he along with wife got the Magsaysay award for his work in the category of community leadership.His father had won the same award in 1975.
That is why my post says"LIKE FATHER LIKE SON"