Back to memory lane. I once came across a one-para tidbit in a Tamil magazine about a lady helping injured donkeys in Britain. I wrote to the British embassy saying I would like to write a story about her. The response was prompt. I had Elizabeth Svendson’s address and details within a week. I wrote to her and her response was again brilliant. She sent me her book titled “Down among the donkeys.”
Her arguments: The donkey is not a lazy beast of burden. It is a gentle, patient labourer, uncomplaining, working in slavish solitude and carries enormous loads from fields to his master’s house.
Cruelty inflicted on these innocent animals is beyond description. In a Spanish village, a bizarre event used to be organized. The oldest donkey in the village of Villanueva de la Vers would be martyred cruelly. The fattest man in the village would be put on the donkey’s back. The animal would be dragged through cobbled streets by a rope attached to a heavy noose around the neck.
What struck Svendson during her trips abroad was that there were apparently few donkeys over the age of 11. In Ethiopia, she came across donkeys waiting to carry owners and goods back to villages as distant as 15kms.
I do not know about Svendson now. But I never ever forget her contribution to these wonderful animals.
When someone calls me a donkey, I do not take any serious objection. Hey, does not mean you call me by that name.
BTW, you are aspiring to be a journalist? Beware. Two decades after this full-page report in a Mumbai tabloid, I have not been paid yet.
Some facts about donkeys....it is nice to know that good people like Svendson contribute a lot to these animals and thanks to you to share this with us....unpaid very sad again.
ReplyDeleteDonkeys are very gentle creatures and it is good to know some one showed kindness to these animals.
ReplyDeleteNot paid for the article? I believe you completely.You should ask Sujata about her experience in journalism.
Some donkey tale! thanks for sharing.There has always been a good deal of unpaid work in journalism and it's not limited to journalism...
ReplyDeleteLet me get my license will drive down to Sharjah, Banglorean coffee from a tamil friend is too hard to resist!!Am trying so hard for the license that my brain just goes round and round and round like the roundabouts here.
ReplyDeleteFor all the work that i have done in Muscat as a writer for two organizations, one an ad agency who also has their inhouse magazine, and a for a newspaper(oman tribune) I have not been paid a penny. Have written more than 10 writeups(was promised 40 rials per 1000 words)
first the face pack and now the donkey, well I must say you giving us a lot of SMILES...nice one...keep it up...cheers..
ReplyDeleteGood one. At least someone thinks of them differently. As for the Mumbai tabloid... the less said the better. Do you have a scanned copy or so? I want to read!
ReplyDeleteRamesh and we think that journalists are usually on their power trips and have such a fun life all the time
ReplyDeleteOh. another tip for ME!! Hehe. I feel bad for all animal and humans treated with disrespect and those who are assaulted!
ReplyDeleteOhhhhh. You have the fishes too. I fed them!
ReplyDeleteok ..i will give you some discount...happy now?
ReplyDeleteAnother good post. I have always felt bad for the donkeys.
ReplyDeleteAn eye opener on donkeys and also journalism (without pay)!
ReplyDeleteI am completely agree with Svendson's observation that a donkey is a gentle, patient labourer, uncomplaining, working in slavish solitude and carries enormous loads from fields to his master’s house.
ReplyDeleteI stole some fish from your tank. But how come mine are only orange and yours are so colourful?
ReplyDeleteHave you seen baby donkeys? They are beautiful and very playful.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have heard they are the most abused animals. This is a good article.
You were not paid for this article, after your article was published? Mean people.
Beautiful and sweet story; I agree with you; no one works harder than a donkey.;)) These animals are severely misunderstood.;)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by my place and for your kind words of compliments, that I would like to bestow upon you in return.;)
donkeys make me sad, like no other animal. They look so gloomy. Sad. From now on, i wont mind being called a Donkey. I feel its an honour. hehe :)
ReplyDeleteThere was a lovely tale by Rudyard Kipling ( I guess..) about how donkey became a donkey...It was an animal who tried to copy every other animal and practiced how other animals made their typical noises and went about their lives...at the end of it - the one who tried to be like all and called himself lionocerangotangadinf became a donkey :P
ReplyDeleteI always thought that donkeys were one of the most forgotten and unsung heroes of civilization, they are made fun of in fables from around the world.....your post tells me that I am not the only one. In fact I find the Mentos positively disgusting....
ReplyDeleteTime we gave these uncomplaining animals their due
Nice post. Donkeys have better stamina than horses. That is why they are called desert horses. The current ruling party in USA, Democratic Party's symbol is donkey.
ReplyDeleteVery nice and interesting story. I do not like donkeys that much though they do not harm anybody and they are very much hard-working. But I think after reading your post I will not feel bad to call myself donkey.
ReplyDeleteGod always send someone to earth to take care someone/something in need... God bless her... JOurnalist suggestion was cute... Nice one again.. Keep it up...
ReplyDeleteCheers,
J
God always send someone to earth to take care of someone/something in need. God bless her. Journalist suggestion was cute.. Nice one again..
ReplyDeleteTake care
cheers,
j
well, damn it you took away one of my favourite cursing word, it didn't hurt feelings that much and still I could curse, you now make me realise that I have been actually lavishing people with praises...lol....nice article
ReplyDelete