Death of a Penguin

I just got back from down under - Australia - before you get down to drawing other conclusions. It was a week of rejuvenation, and no spa was needed. Great weather, fresh air, fabulous food,  amazing people of different ethnicity, fantastic natural and man-made places to see and experience. Now this is what I would call true God's country. No newspapers or TV, not much net surfing either. Just soak in the goodness and do absolutely nothing. Surprisingly, even then a lot got done. I could feel a year added to my life.

Then, I got back home. The first bit of headline news that hit me was the mysterious removal of Cyrus Mistry as Chairman of the Tata Group, and second, the political furore over the death of a penguin. Obviously, the second was more interesting to have made it prominently to the front pages.

In July this year, the Mumbai zoo imported eight rare Humboldt penguins from South Korea at a cost of US$ 350,000 or 3.5 million (as reported in the press) . They were to be put on public display around early December; when the temperature controlled enclosure to house them would have been completed. I must have missed the news then, as it certainly wasn't competing with the news of big boys then. In fact, it was one of the many initiatives of the Cub of Mumbai's first family to shake and disrupt the City's fun and fitness image in more than one way. I fully stand behind him in that endeavour, as this City ranks number 1 in India for the quality of life, and after having experienced the 10th best in the WORLD, I really don't think the No. 1 in India holds any relevance at all. What I can't understand though is that his directions are totally contrary to what are required to set the existing malaise right first. Yes, Mumbai citizens are entitled to a zoo, but one that takes care of its charge and is truly capable of carrying out research, rescue, and protection of endangered species, as well as educating visitors on respect and good care of the living creations of this earth including trees.

Suddenly, one of the eight is dead and it has flared up into a major political issue in the State Assembly and is being debated more vociferously than the death of the farmers or other topics that need the attention of the elected members. Not that the death of a penguin is not important, but many animals in the zoo's care have died for graver reasons, and not a roar or whimper about them by any of our illustriously illustrated leaders.There is a demand that the remaining penguins be sent back to Korea for their own safety. Actually, every animal in the Mumbai zoo needs to be gifted to a zoo(s) that can take better care. This one is too small for most of the creatures it houses.

In the meantime, building of a Statue commemorating a truly illustrious leader that will cost this nearly broke State with broken infrastructure and even more broke ordinary taxpayers some US$ 500 million or more when completed has received the "go ahead" approval. The protests by the fishermen whose livelihood may be affected, and  the utility providers who claim to be unable to provide the required infrastructure at the site has obviously been blind sighted and fallen on deaf ears of our statuesque caretakers.  Incidentally, the zoo is named after this great leader's mother and I hope his statue does not suffer the same fate of neglect as the zoo, once it is completed. I am sure this great leader's soul must be anguished at the disservice, but what can it do now?

I wouldn't be surprised if a "Penguin" party emerges from all this drama or if voices are raised to erect massive statues of the martyred penguin too. Maybe that's not a bad idea. A zoo full of statues, where the poor animals will not have to endure a painfully horrifying jail term to please people disrespectful of life in general.