Man’s best friend

 

Today is Dasara or Vijayadashami. An auspicious day celebrated throughout India. I had bought some loose marigold( zendu) flowers from a street vendor as I walked home from work last evening. This morning I needled them together into a garland and put it on the entrance door of the apartment. 

As I relaxed with my tea I was browsing through my phone and came across a random video of a dog meeting his owner after 3 years. The first thought that crossed the mind was “ 3 years ?! How could someone leave one’s dog behind waiting for you for 3 years?” As the video kept rolling there was this familiar visual of how the ecstatic dog jumped all over the place and kept dancing around his owner unable to contain his joy. I cried watching this video. A whole flood of thoughts came rushing through me.

Two dog lovers came to mind. Mr. Ratan Tata who passed away just three days back and was cremated yesterday. And my dear brother, Milind who left us 25 years back. One could write books about these true lovers of dogs. In many ways both these gentlemen had dogs as their real partners in life. 

Mr. Ratan Tata was once slated to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award in England from Prince Charles. He chose not to attend the event when his dog took ill the previous day because he couldn’t leave him in that condition.  Prince Charles commented that that’s what makes him special and why the Tata Industries have a strong foundation. 

Earlier today I saw another video of Mr Tata’s dog being led to see his body for the last time. It was heart wrenching to watch. I have seen how my brother’s dog didn’t live much longer after my brother passed away. I know Mr Tata’s dog is going to be similarly heartbroken now. 

That brings me to some other thoughts. We always tout the privilege human beings have over rest of living beings. Our ability to think, analyze, do research , achieve scientific discoveries, search for spiritual truths and what not. We have the ability to love other beings. We often exercise that ability in varying degrees. Yet……it is hardly ever so purely unconditional like we see with dogs in particular. 

The way our human society is structured is our biggest barrier in exercising unconditional love like dogs. The ramifications of society are too vast and complicated to even discuss here. But readers would understand what I am referring to. A simple example is that visual of the dog running around his owner not knowing how to stop expressing the emotions. How many of us can do that even if we feel that degree of joy at times? What is our barrier at that time? Societal norms!! 

Today I looked at things very differently. My brother was heartbroken after his divorce. The love of his life just walked away from him as if he didn’t matter to her. Mr. Ratan Tata lived a fuller life in every way, yet he wasn’t very successful finding a life partner. He remained single all his life. From the human perspective these people seem to be unlucky in love. But were they really? 

They had unconditional, unrestricted, unparalleled, unchanging, unadulterated love from their dogs. These dogs literally lived for them and would die for them. So if one looks at it closely the gentlemen were the luckiest in their love lives. Not many of us have such fortune. 

Let’s face it. Whatever the reasons, we humans are just incapable of loving another person like dogs do. Our capacity to feel, express and value love is wrought with limitations. Our currency to measure our wealth is messed up anyways, on many fronts. I realized a new criteria today that shines light on our poverty. 

Already Mr. Tata’s passing had brought profound sorrow for me. I don’t know why I can’t stop crying today as I think of Mr Tata’s dogs, my brother’s life and this whole love affair between man and dog.