spacer
Thrive logo
spacer
spacer Log in | spacer
corner spacer corner
spacer
spacer
corner browseissues corner
spacer
spacer
spacer
corner spacer corner
spacer
corner popularlinks corner
spacer
spacer
spacer
corner spacer corner
corner spacer corner
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
corner spacer corner
spacer
spacer
corner spacer corner
spacer

A Lump Of Flesh
By Dr. Manjiri Prabhu

 

In India, (and perhaps all over the world) street dogs are at constant risk from humans in one form or another, whether it is starving to death, or being considered a menace or a parasitic nuisance in society. Either way, they are condemned to a life of misery and pain.

I would like to recount an experience, which completely changed me.

One fine morning, during the monsoons, I was walking down the street. The rain had lifted momentarily and the weather was hot. Just then a heartrending squeal rung through the air. Startled, I hastened round the corner. A huge vehicle with a long grilled low cage was parked in the street. There were several dogs peering from within the cage. But what I saw made my blood go cold and my heart beat as loudly as a cracker. A man had swung a noose round a bitch and with all his strength was throwing her inside the van. She was thin and weak with a bloated stomach. She was pregnant! The rope cut into her delicate neck, choking her as she was hurled against the truck. If that was not all, another man was prodding a stick into the bulging belly, so as to direct her to enter the narrow grilled door.

She screamed and whined, every time they missed their mark, and fear and anger wrung my heart. Anger burst on me like a blob of water sizzling on a hot pan. The expressions on the faces of the men were cold, their actions mechanical, as if they had done this several times before and their attitude was indifferent. They looked like two men, dead in every possible way. As dead as the dogs would be in some time. So that the streets would remain clean and some humans would feel safe to tread the paths that they had forcefully declared as theirs. So that some humans could enjoy, with their forked sense of morality, the rights of living. Those rights of freedom and existence that they had snatched from the street dogs. These humans were nothing but thieves, I thought. But worse than the dog-pickers, were the people who had gathered to see the fun, idle in mind and thought, careless of the fate of the dogs. Who, with their threadbare sense of ethics, saw nothing objectionable in the inhuman treatment meted out to a dumb creature. And if they did, who could not be roused from their mental lethargy to protest against the cruelty enacted before their eyes.

A child of around seven, was watching the scene with a gleeful expression on his face. His smile widened with every squeal and for a moment, my attention was riveted towards him. He wore a checked shirt and long trousers and his oiled hair was neatly parted and combed. His gaze was fixed on the enactment before him. There was something positively hideous in his totally absorbed stance. Here was a human, a miniature of a man but with the same look as an adult. A strange thought entered my mind. I saw humans as not growing from small to big in size and thought, but in the reverse, as big to small. Reducing in height, over the years, to be dwarfed like a child. Their intelligence, feelings, emotions and sensitivity, narrowing in intensity, their growth not only arrested but getting retarded into an obtuse lumpish form of flesh. And this was how they would look – like this boy. Small, a clean shining face with ironed clothes on a stunted body. But who would gaze at the savagery of humans with a delightful expression on his face. He could only have a stone for a heart. And then he could only be a lump of flesh! With a start, I wondered – had the reversal process already begun?

I stepped forward to argue with the men, but it was as useless talking to them as a street dog shaking off the clinging drops of water in a ceaseless downpour.  Finally, they got into their truck. Innumerable pairs of soulful, defeated eyes stared into mine.  The pregnant dog looked at me accusingly, with pain and anger burning in her eyes. Her hate of all mankind drilled a hole of misery straight through my heart. I felt guilty, almost as if I was responsible for what was happening to her and all the other `fellows’!

It was at that point that I realized that I had to do something for dogs. At least one dog. . .Anything. .Since then, my family and I have tried to reach out to as many homeless dogs as possible. We adopted several dogs, fed them, and got them neutered. We offered pups up for adoption and spread awareness about the importance of adopting street dogs.

I’ve gone through a series of wrenching changes within me—vulnerable, painful, and finally satisfactory. The following story is a perfect example of a sense of achievement.

Some years after the incident narrated above, I went to live in an area with five street dogs, and fifteen buildings.  90% of the people in the neighborhood were either scared of the dogs or disliked them. When I moved into that area with my husband, I noticed at once the antagonism of the neighbors towards these dogs, who were completely harmless and moved from building to building for food and love. I began feeding the dogs, got them neutered, put collars on them and started training them. I printed pamphlets about how to behave around the dogs and how to understand them. Despite all my efforts, one of the hostile neighbors threatened me that he would get the dogs killed. It was at that point that I realized, that trying to change the adults was pointless. They were too rigid, their attitude was formed. If I had to get my message across, it had to be through the kids.

It was then that I formed an animal welfare club with the neighborhood children. I imparted scientific and humanitarian information to them, made them spend time with the dogs, playing, feeding and cleaning them. I taught them how to react if a dog chased a bicycle or car, or barked at a stranger. The kids had always been cautioned against the dogs by their parents, instilling a sense of fear in them. But once in the club, they learned fast. Now, they began telling their parents not to fear the dogs and explained how friendly and loving they really were. Six months later, these same kids were making informative posters about street dogs, and enacting skits. Gradually, word spread about the friendly dogs, people began feeding them, and today there are ten dogs in the same neighborhood. These dogs also acted as watchdogs and one night, they prevented a major theft from taking place.

The man who had threatened to kill them, now staunchly defends these same dogs.

Moral of the story? Attitudinal change is possible. And so is preventing the future generations from being mere insensitive lumps of flesh. . .

Manjiri Prabhu Bio:

I live in Pune, India.

I have been a short Filmmaker and Television Producer for several years and a writer for most of my life!

I have directed more than 200 short films for children and adults, for TV as well as the web. And have published two romances, two mystery novels, and a non-fiction book on Hindi films. Bantam/Dell, of Random House (US), has published two of my mystery novels. “The Cosmic Clues” was selected as a ‘Killer Book’ by Independent Mystery Booksellers Association, America. ‘The Astral Alibi’, a sequel, was honored as a Notable Fiction Book 2007 in the Kiriyama prize.

I am also an active animal lover and work for the sterilization and adoption of street dogs. I have worked for street dogs in my own small way for several years and I have come to one solution : ‘The Dogtrine of Peace’, which perhaps I shall explain at some other point in time.

Welcome to my website .

Back to Stories

spacer
COMMENTS (11) | abuse, animal companion, enlightenment
spacer

Comments

11 Responses to “A Lump Of Flesh”

  1. Anonymous
    April 4th, 2011 @ 2:26 am

    Could u pl let me know how to deal with dogs that chase 2 wheelers & cars. we feed about 8 street dogs who regularly accompany me when I take our dog for a walk. Most of the time they lie around near our building but at times they chase scooterists & cars & create chaos on the road when they are with me as if to clear the road for tuffy.am really worried they could cause a accident sometime. PL guide.

  2. Manjiri
    April 5th, 2011 @ 11:56 am

    Hi!
    You have to train your dogs NOT to chase two wheelers, since most of the time it is in fun or if they remember that a particular car/two wheeler tried to hurt them. By training them, I mean you have to scold them every single time they chase a vehicle, punish them lightly and most important if they try to follow you when you go for a walk, discourage them totally. Specially if they walk in a group. Discourage all kinds of behaviour that will help them to gang up, because dogs mostly follow the herd mentality. Also please request your neighbours, the drivers to drive slowly past dogs, as they can chase if they are startled or because of the loud noise. Please ask them not to speed up, just because a dog is chasing them. Insteadm ask them to slow down, the dog automatically loses the fun of the chase and stops. Hope this is all helpful and you can implement it. Good luck!
    Manjiri

  3. Anonymous
    April 6th, 2011 @ 12:47 pm

    Manjiri,
    What an inspiring story. You are a wonderful writer. Keep up your amazing work for our four legged creatures.

  4. Purnima Prabhu
    April 7th, 2011 @ 2:33 am

    Manjiri, you have literally written your heart out and made me live those moments.I think the experience you have shared should reach mainly the non-lovers of strays. After reading this article even if the anti-strays stop objecting to animal lovers doing their bit of role in society,they will be doing a big role in the life of the strays.

  5. Anonymous
    April 7th, 2011 @ 5:59 am

    Moving and inspiring story – keep up the good work!

  6. Moushumi Basu
    April 7th, 2011 @ 10:14 pm

    Hi Manjiri!

    I knew about your efforts for the street dogs, but it was good to read about it in more detail. Your story is inspiring.

    Thanks for sharing this with us.

  7. Manjiri
    April 8th, 2011 @ 12:09 pm

    Thank you all for your encouraging words. . .

  8. Ernest Dempsey
    May 22nd, 2011 @ 11:54 am

    Manjiri, what you wrote here is what has been on my mind for years. More recently, I made small ventures of helping homeless dogs, particularly a dog family that I found nearby (see my blog http://www.digitaljournal.com/blog/10931). But you have done is so remarkable and your success story is so inspiring. It has strengthened my determination to do more for homelsss dogs than just writing about the issue.

    Thank you so much for rekindling the spirit of humanity for us!

  9. Manjiri
    May 30th, 2011 @ 3:56 am

    Thank you Ernest. I’m so glad you found the article useful. . .Ever little action and word in favour of the street dogs helps, believe me. And Good Luck in your ventures!

  10. Lara
    October 9th, 2011 @ 1:28 pm

    Beautiful beatiful beautiful, and so very touching. Thank you and more power to you!

  11. Manjiri
    October 12th, 2011 @ 9:03 pm

    Thank you Lara for your warm words. . .

Leave a Reply





spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
spacer
corner spacer corner
spacer
corner spacer corner
spacer
newsletter
spacer
spacer
spacer
corner spacer corner
spacer
corner comments corner
spacer

    Mike

    My wife is an alcoholic she drinks liquor from the time she gets up until the the liquor store closes.im at the crossroa...
    April

    I have been married to my alcoholic husband for 11 years but we have been together for the last 19 years. We met at a ve...
    Tina

    I have been married for 22 years. Both my husband and I were casual drinkers. As the years went by we began drinking m...
    Amy Weisenburger

    What a beautiful message!! My fur-babies, soulmates gave my life tremendous purpose and meaning. Their paw print...
    Frank Sterle Jr.

    Whenever I observe stress in the facial expression of my mother, a typical senior, I also observe how that stress drains...
    Kim

    This was an excellent blog. I have been with my alcoholic husband for 15 years. I felt like I was losing my mind with th...
    Alice

    Helping someone with this issue is hard. And even more if you love him. I know that very well. We struggled with it for ...
    Union Alarm

    The best way is to leave such a person as it is not worth making your life miserable with such a person. I know this as ...
    Nancy Flora

    I think what you mean is a non-drinking member of an alcoholic family. Alcoholism is a family disease. Just as your husb...
    Amanda

    The family is waking up Sunday AM and my alcoholic husband again makes another nasty comment to me. The things he has sa...
    Angel

    I learned how to detach from my drunk husband! Than my mother passed away. All gloves were off after that. My son gradua...
    Lorraine

    Married thirty seven and a half years to an alcoholic. But he is a good person. And he does good deeds for everyone neig...
    jw

    I have been with my husband twenty one years. We have three children together, ages 5,7, and 9. He is a functioning alco...
    Richard Berman

    A emotional story well written with bright eye ups and sad eye downs. A story I could relate to. My grandparents would...
    Gina

    Love this. Just what I needed to read. Thank you for your courage to share this....
    Tired

    I am struggling with detaching, but still trying. I have been with my other half off and on for 5 years. The offs were...
    Debra Grossman

    Thank you for sharing this beautiful story. It nourishes my soul to learn of such special friendships. We humans must ...
    Jack russell

    Really enjoyed reading the website. I have also have a website about this great dog....


    Thank God for your blog. After 37 years of being married to an alcoholic,I've finally reached my breaking point. Emotion...


    Thanx 4 da truth...
    Sandra

    I am from USA, i am 36 years old, i want to gladly give My testimony of how a spell caster dr.mac@yahoo. com brought bac...
    g

    Thank you for your words. As I navigate through marriage with children (11, 5, 3) and I am a stay at home mom, the idea ...
    Catherine Ellen Pettway

    My husband and I married in 1988. He occasionally drank beer but not everyday. He came from a long history of alcoholics...
    Nic

    Thank you Mike for your honesty and vulnerability. It helps to feel a connection with someone who understands the enduri...
    Robert Goldsmith

    Thank you for sharing that very intimate experience and your story. I'm married to an alcoholic and am having severe pro...
    MANDI

    Is this group still going? I love my husband and I knew what I was getting into when I married him. I knew he like to dr...
    Kelly

    Dear Keith, I hope you are at peace now. You are missed by many....
    Delilah Campos

    Dear LaVora, Thank you so much for sharing this intimate experience. I am deeply touched and encouraged by your experie...
    Mary Ellen Bennett

    Thank you so much. I am married to an alcoholic and I have watched him go through rehabilitation and relapse many times....
    Tracy

    Thank you for sharing your story with me Ivor. I'm so glad you had a loving supportive Aunt to guide you out from beneat...
    Daniel Fontana

    I know those kids,especially Snezana.Please send me their contact information....
    Neyhaaa

    I can't thank you enough for sharing this. Yet, thank you....
    Amy

    My daughter is five and her dad is an alcoholic. I know we need to leave. We both own our house and I can't afford a law...
    CPC

    I think this is among the such a lot important info for me. And i'm happy studying your article. However want to statem...
    online festival

    Every year, people in India find different ways to celebrate the same festival, and perhaps this adds new dimension to...
    Karol

    Listening to all the mother's on here is overwhelming for me. I think about what all of you are going through and I can ...
    Vicki Osheka

    This is my second marriage and I came from a non drinking family. Didn't realize what I was getting into when I married...
    Elle

    Wel written article. My husband is walking around totally beligerant. Where he ends up making messes, he has snowballed ...
    Maren

    Thank you for this! 3rd day on Cipralex and a glimmer of hope....


    I 'gave in' recently. I am more hopeful than ever that things will improve for me after reading this article. It is insp...
    LindaJane Riley

    I apologize to everyone who has commented. I didn't know this story was still active. I would like to invite all of ...
    Rahulbh28

    Dear Members, Please help me. . . I'm sharing my painful moments which my brother and my family members are undergoing ...
    rene

    Yes i too lived the nightmare for 45 yrs..when in my marriage the last. 10 yrs my alcoholic lived in the same house and ...
    Grace

    I typed in Google search, overcoming childhood loneliness because I am paying attention to some habits that I have been ...
    Casadina

    I am so thankful that I found this website. I am like others on here and my alcoholic is passed out snoring again. This ...
    Grateful

    I cannot express how much I appreciate your story. I have been with my alcoholic for 11 years and I do not even know my...
    Vic

    I stumbled upon this beautifully written article because I just "gave in" today. I just picked up my perscription of cir...
    Carol

    I have recently begun to admit that my husband is an alcoholic. My heart is broken... I am pissed... I have so many emot...
    TJ

    Thank you for this article. You are the first person who seems to understand why I am still married to an alcoholic. I...
    sariah

    I wept as I read your story. I am currently learning to detach as well after 20 years of marriage to an alcoholic. Leavi...
    LaVora

    Good luck, N. My experience may not be yours. However, I deeply believe that happiness is our birthright. You deserve th...
    nk

    Lavora, I am exactly here in my marriage - trying to turn it around. Rgds, N...
    Suzanne

    Hi Martin and Cathy. Watched your documentary. You are a wonderful family. Everyone has their struggles, no one is exemp...
    admin

    Thank you for letting us know. The link is now set to the their new WEB page. We have our dog from them....
    Linda Jane Riley

    About a year ago I was forced to take a step back from all things related to alcoholism. My husband, Riley, was not drin...
    SHerry

    Your link to the rescue adoption site is for sale with no other info on the dogs....
    Karen Rago

    I think that Jesse is the most adorable jack Russell terrier dog I love watching his videos to...
    Marleen

    Thank you for sharing your story! That's real inspirating!...
    Julie

    Its 4:50am here. I can hear him snoring in the nursery. I brought the baby to bed with me.. He only snores when he drink...
    ld

    I thought I was suffering alone. The advice and comments make me feel better and gives me the strength to go on. Keep th...
    Sam

    Hi Mike, Very poignant, "There are no grown-ups. We are all children in adult garments" is right on the mark. Sufferi...
    TJ

    Thank You!!! Like "judy" commented above my mind was racing and I felt out of control... My life seemed to be falling a...
    Karunakaran

    It's very nice....
    judy

    Thanks for ur writings... it really help my mind to calm down.... where can i go to talk with alot of nonalcoholics??? N...
    Tanya Sousa

    We certainly do have to change the way we respond, don't we Paul? I'm encouraged though. I do see it happening -- althou...
    Paul Trainer

    Thank you, Tanya, this is all so true. As someone who adores starlings too, I know that it is only when you take the tim...
    Cathy

    In reading I see how difficult it is to be married to an alcoholic husband for 30 years and have now discovered that if ...
    carrir

    You took the words right out of my mouth. Xoxo...
    ceri

    What an amazing story of love between step son and step father...
    Caney Texas

    Hello! I've been reading your site for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out fr...
    julie

    what a wonderful article, she described me to a tee , it was nice to put words to the feelings , I am new to cipralex bu...
    michele

    I am hurting so badly right now, it is taking all the strength and coping ability I have just to get through the day! O...
    denise morini

    PLEASE understand that I do not feel redeemed......still...........getting Lexi DID NOT make up for what I did to Jack, ...
    Carleen Quesenberry

    Denise- It is perplexing that you would write a "feel good" story after you abandoned a dog due to your failure to trai...
    Jon

    While I love the article, I caution those reading the post by "finally AM, me." I was in a relationship for 12 years to...
    Wendy Noer

    I felt like I was there, good story Melodee, keep writing. Let me know when you finish another one....


    thank you...
    Sandi

    This is great, Mel! Congratulations! I hope to see more of your writings - especially the novel you're working on......
    Katie

    My name is Katie. I'm 40. I have only visited your website, haven't purchased your book yet. I've been diagnosed bi-...
    Kaylee

    Your story helped convince me to start retaking my cipralex! Thank you!...
    gautam khanal

    Love actually does not have any boundary of Cast,Religion,Profile,Species,Class etc........
    Nayanna Chakrbarty

    Dear Kalpana, Thank you for your kind wishes. I do agree with you, when you think you are all alone that's when He ma...
    Kalpana

    Dear Nayanna, It' such a pleasure reading your experiences with Ganapthi (as I call him). He is so close to my heart ...
    Haley

    Made my day we have no reason to complain bout anything...
    Melissa

    Sorry typo , thank you again ......
    Melissa

    Thank you , LindaJane; I will consider joining. Thank you against for your response .. Be well Melissa...
    Linda J Riley

    UPDATE -- Since I wrote this story, I have created several support groups: Two on Facebook and one on an independent sit...
    Melissa

    For 20 years that had been my life! This last time was so bad , he attacked me then choked his 19 year old twin daughter...
    Steve Sumii

    Joe, What a beautiful story. I visualized the whole story. The ending where you walk with your dad was especially moving...
    JW

    The story now the subject of a documentary aired on Knowledge Network. Video can be seen online at: http://knowled...
    http://tinyurl.com/kovalane39421

    I really would like to book mark this blog, “Turning Trash Into Beauty – Kat Nicotera’s Unique Art Therapy | Thri...
    joybells

    wow. i am going through the same journey! thanks for helping me & assisting me with that journey!...
    Noelle Sterne

    Fangfang-- You have been blessed with a husband and parents who understand that nothing is wasted. And you have learn...
    Fangfang

    Wow ... what a strong and passionate article!! Really?? Nothing is wasted?? I am feeling like I have wasted my life for...
    Pushpa Rawat

    sooo lovely and feel of very true friendship forever...
    Tanya Sousa

    Hi Diane! I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I was so blessed to have her in my life AND to have the parents I had. Also, gr...
    Joyce

    Billie, I found your story very interesting and well-written. Some people would have been judgemental about the conditio...
    Diane

    Shiri, your article is very interesting and brought tears to my eyes. I have been a dog parent/companion to many wonder...
    Diane Schachter

    Tanya, I so enjoyed reading the story of your dog sister. I love how you describe your adventures and relationship with...
    Acamea

    Thank you James. :-)...
spacer
corner spacer corner
spacer
Copyright 2010 thriveinlife.ca. All rights reserved. | Privacy Statement
spacer
spacer