KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 13
In the heart of an ancient town of Tansen lies Basantapur where Tiger resides. Naming your pet dog 'Tiger' is not uncommon in Nepal. Every time I visit Tansen, I eagerly wish to witness a glimpse of Tiger's nasty behaviours. Needless to say, he reciprocates my feelings for him. He happily wags his tail on some occasions, but sometimes he shows no reaction at all even when I repeatedly call him by his name.
If you visit the alleys of Basantapur streets, you will normally find Tiger wandering in a pensive mood. One can barely observe Tiger in a jovial mood. An aura of melancholy emanating from his eyes is quite eccentric.
During my recent visit to my hometown, I found Tiger seemingly desolate. He could be seen taking rest in a somber mood. He was lying in a semicircular space at the facade of my mother's shop with a woebegone expression.
Who says animals don't have feelings? I can easily contemplate that Tiger is really broken from inside. During my few days' stay in Tansen, I could easily observe Tiger's forelone figure. Tiger seems to possess a broken soul with a heavy heart and downcast eyes. Maybe there's an element of unassuaged sense of pain biting him from inside. Tiger's sad eyes and dejected look say it all.
Maybe Tiger's aggressive nature might have evolved with his upbringing pattern. The idiosyncratic blend of his aggressive and somber nature is what sets Tiger apart from other dogs.
Everyone talks about animal rights, but in reality, no one really cares about their pathetic situation. Tiger is just a representative character of our society.
Sometimes, not only humans but also animals are at the receiving end of abuse. As the tip of the iceberg seems noticeable, the harsh reality of so many innocent animals goes unnoticed beneath the surface of unjust society.
At times, people in the society wonder why Tiger responds differently to different people. The way Tiger grasps the behaviour, mentality and intention of people from different walks of life says a lot about his bewildering mindset.
While Tiger barks violently at the people with a messy outlook, he doesn't give two hoots to those clad in suit and boot.
Tiger observes passersby for a while before deciding upon whether to react ferociously or not to respond at all. Undeniably, Tiger understands the human psyche, albeit he exists in this planet as an animal. Ironically, people today have failed to realise the sentiments of others. We, as a human being, have so much to learn from this innocent and lovely dog.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 14, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
