Beyond Humanity - Learning what is Mothering

April 1, 2013


The Government of Karnataka had appointed me as one of the members of the district judiciary body for Juveniles, for a period of three years. It was indeed a great honor. I was one of the most sought-after advisors for cases relating to any child in distress in DK district. The police department had great respect for us for easing their work because of the quick response to any emergency rescue operations.

Dec 2007. We were informed about a domestic servant who is just 9 years old who was continuously being harassed. We had set the day and time for the rescue operation with the police. We decided to meet at 6.00 am at the police station and proceed.

I was about to take a U turn at Mangalore RTO circle. I slowed downed my car as I saw an unusual movement of a dog, who quickly followed a jogger, returned and jumped into the dustbin.

I stopped the car and tried to walk towards the dustbin. The dog had curled himself and pretended to be asleep. The dustbin was stinky and surrounded by disposal from the public. I just crossed the road to pick up a newspaper from the nearby shop. The gentleman whom the dog had just followed had taken a u turn from the town hall and was nearing the RTO circle.

The dog suddenly hopped out. Made some funny movements, communicated some message to the man and quickly diverted his path. The man stopped. I was curious.

I saw that the gentleman, whom the dog had just followed, had taken a U turn from the town hall and was nearing the RTO circle.

I said “ Hai”

“Hello, I am col. Martis”

“Sir, I am Geo, nice meeting you. By the way this dog..

“He is my cute little pet. He always follows me. Since yesterday he has disappeared and suddenly he is here now…”

“Sir, I observed that when you moved this way he just hooped out from the dust bin and when you returned again he is drawing your attention to it”

“Oh no., he may be asking me to clean that dust bin which is full”

 We reached at the dustbin.

The dog quietly took several rounds around the bin. Curiosity and the strange doings of the dog made me peep into the dustbin.

“Mr. Colonel,” I shouted as was shocked to see a small hand of an infant, “look at that”

He slightly bent and made way through the garbage, slowly lifted a new born infant may of a day or two days old.

“What !? New born baby?”

“What can we do now?” the colonel was not comfortable.

I grabbed the babe in my arms. I hugged it closer to my heart. Pulled my identity card and showed to the colonel. I requested him to accompany me to the hospital. He said “No. I know the child is in the safe hands of the right official”

My next step was to take the child to Wenlock hospital to provide it with medical care and register the case and report to the police station. The baby had no voice even to cry.

Again out of curiosity, I peeped into the dustbin. What I saw was heart-rending. The dog had taken care of the baby atleast for the past 24 hours. He had curled himself around the baby to provide physical warmth. Several disposal bags were hurled to the bin from moving vehicles without even the least idea of a new born life in the garbage bin.

I looked at the dog and literally saw the tears in the eyes of that dog. The Colonel was petting him, but his gaze was on us; absolutely caring looks. The feeling of separation was inevitable.

I felt slight movements of the baby too as if she was missing the comfortable warmth. The baby might have not felt the pain of separation when her mother slipped her into the bin but now she was signaling the loss. Tracing the mother was not at all my priority now. Rescuing the child, attending to her health and then the legal priorities were upmost in my mind.

The cloths wrapped around the babe were stinking and dirty. A crowd had gathered around us, each one with a different tale. I had to get away from there and got into my car with the baby in my lap.

I was now eager to reach the hospital quickly and finish the formalities. I had just taken the car onto the main road and took the turn to the right, heading to the hospital when suddenly the dog rushed from the embrace of the Colonel and jumped towards my car. A matador speeding to its destination hit the dog leaving it dead on the spot.

A bright new born baby girl on my lap, the dead body of the dog who mothered the child for a whole day and night lying on the road; tears welled up in my eyes. The humane heart of the dog that saved the child from street mongrels touched me. The care and concern of an animal to one unrelated to him; which could have been a sumptuous grub for him, made me kneel before him.

All I could do was to hug the owner with silent words with one hand, and holding the baby near my heart with the other. Arrangements were made to give a decent burial to the dog who I could say was a martyr.

 

 

By Geo D'Silva
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Comment on this article

  • S.NAAGHEASH, INDIAN BANGALORE

    Tue, Sep 09 2014

    I really admire you for identifying the sensitivity in human relations.I want to have your constant relation.my phone no. 9448086138

  • Charles D'Mello, Pangala

    Sat, Apr 06 2013

    We can believe in Dogs more than human beings. They trust worthy and helpful in many ways.

  • B, MUMBAI

    Sat, Apr 06 2013

    That, animals are more trust worthy than ungrateful humans is proved with this story.

  • Daisy, Palimar

    Sat, Apr 06 2013

    Very interesting story.

  • Alfi, sullia

    Sat, Apr 06 2013

    Heart touching article.Every dog lover will feel the depth of it all!!!Dogs...the most loyal being ever made on earth.

  • CGS, Mangalore

    Fri, Apr 05 2013

    Congrats Geo. Very interesting and
    touching narration.Keep writing...

  • Wilfred, Monrovia, Liberia

    Fri, Apr 05 2013

    Very touching and inspiring, penned down nicely.
    Good work Mr DSilva and Thanks for the wonderful message, that God still loves the World and sends His Angles.
    God Bless :)

  • Dony Bajal, Bajal

    Fri, Apr 05 2013

    Gentle animal dog did his duty honstley when the time comes baby in safe hands with the gentle man hand, dog is no more, i salute the dog with high respect.

  • Architha, Dubai

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    Heart touching story....God bless the little baby,I really respect the real hero here the 'Dog'-A man's best friend...true indeed!!

  • Geo D'silva, Agrar

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    Dear editor sir,
    Thank you for publishing the article. I am extremely honored while reading each comment. each word is so enriching, inspiring and encouraging. I bow before the readers and thank you all for your blessings, wishes and support.

  • Carol Furtado, Udupi/Bahrain

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    A well written article by Mr. Geo D'silva.

  • Anita, Canada / Mangalore

    Wed, Apr 03 2013

    It's told there is an angel for every child. This story talked of one such angel. My hindu friend had once told me, every being has a soul that reincarnates into different forms in each life circle until it achieves salvation, this dog must've been one such beautiful soul.
    Thank you, Geo for sharing.

  • sudeep, mangalore

    Tue, Apr 02 2013

    During the initial part of the article I thought the dog will be with Mr.Geo. Both could have been good friends as both have a very good caring heart. But I am shocked after reading the entire article. Just I like there are good and bad humans, there are good and bad animals. If we watch Animal Planet, Discovery Channel, National Geographic channel etc. we can see that animals kill not only for food but also for fun and revenge. There are lots of incidence where dogs have attacked children and killed them. But this dog has a saints heart.

  • Augustine Daniel D'Souza, UDUPI / VASAI / STATE OF KUWAIT

    Tue, Apr 02 2013

    Animals are more faithfull than humanbeing what a touching story of that faithfull caring DOG, what a shame to the MOTHER who gave birth to BABY Girl. Long live and GOD JESUS CHRIST bless that Girl child.

  • Roshan Braganza, Mumbai

    Tue, Apr 02 2013

    Lets Agree. We think ourself as superior species and in some way colonized other creatures. We love some animals such as Dogs or cats just because they are cute and dig for carvings of certain species just becoz they are tasty ( chicken ) ..... I hope one day we understand their pain when humans get colonized by others ( it may happen in future ). Big words won't help , every stuff we have on plate is result of some kind of animal violence. Its a Mockery that we do it often on festivities giving lament excuses ( like its allowed in holy books ) just after the 'peacefull' celebration of mass.

  • ad, mangloor

    Tue, Apr 02 2013

    A heart breaking story. Geo. Thanks for sharing. Only thing makes me to say that he is not a DOG but GOD spirit. Animals are sacred creatures far superior to humans in mother and care. I have seen how animals mother their little ones. Humans can learn from them.

  • sundari ashoknagar, Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 01 2013

    What a shame to call the birth giver as mother? Agle janam me woh kutta banegi. Long live that girl child.

  • Della Rego, Mangalore, Qatar

    Mon, Apr 01 2013

    Thank you Geo D'silva for excellent write up and taking care of the new born from the dust bin. Tears rolled down while reading this article that too when the loving dog met with an unexpected accident and died. Poor dog it saved a life of a human and by human only the poor soul died. Yes...animal are much much better, loving, affectionate and trust worthy than us. I always have the soft corner for all the neglected and stray animals. I have given shelter to 13 stray cats in my house. Me and my family love them all, they are so kind and give the emotional look at us all the time.

  • joegonsalves, Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 01 2013

    What a heart rending episode - looks like a fairy tale. I have read stories about dogs helping in different ways but indeed this dog sacrificed its life to save the child.

    Kudos to to you Geo for saving the life of an abandoned child and indeed the credit goes to the canine friend who mothered the child for almost a day.

    Congrats once again Geo and hope I will have chance of meeting you.

    Joe Gonsalves

  • ANIL THOMAS DSILVA, MANGALORE-ADYAR-AFGANISTAN

    Mon, Apr 01 2013

    heart touching story wat a friendly and caring dog.. ''i can say one thing here,, eak paya aur eak khoya''..

    looking at the picture the dog is far better than the mother of that baby girl who threw the baby girl in to the dustbin..

    love animals..

  • shaan, dubai

    Mon, Apr 01 2013

    look at that animal. far better than human being. we are now doing the work of animal like killing, communalising soceity etc. Only creator know when will learn purpose of our sending this earth. I think if the things move this way, I feel no human being get a place in heaven and the hell no place to fil.

  • L. Andrade, Mangalore / Bangalore

    Mon, Apr 01 2013

    A heart touching article indeed! I feel immense sorrow for the Dog who met with an abrupt end.

    I love animals & cannot tolerate any sort of harm or cruelty to them. This world is not just ours, but of all Animals & Birds too.

    “If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.”
    By James Herriot

    “Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.”
    By Anatole France

  • C K DAYANANDA, MANGALURU

    Mon, Apr 01 2013

    Animals are far superior to human beings as they do the duty entrusted to them by the God, faithfully.

    The human beings consider this earth belonging soley to them and do not respect other creatures.

    Reckless killing of animals should be made a punishable offence.

  • Bollu, Mangalore

    Mon, Apr 01 2013

    Very interesting,inspiring and touching story. Penned-down nicely. Liked it very much as myself a avid 'animal-lover'. Somebody is there around to take care of other's in different 'forms'..if wished to..!!


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