READER'S BLOG

1411 left... and nothing is right!

Siddharth Rawal

A few days back when I sat online and the moment I went to my social networking's homepage, I could see endless posts in which people openly showed their dissatisfaction. It really is shocking to see the tigers now bear the brunt. Tiger poaching is quite common in India and smuggling across the border happens with ease. Blame the security or let's just blame OURSELVES. If our habitat loss wasn't enough to get minds racked, here we face yet another problem... the loss of our national animal, the tiger.

This regal animal is hunted for its eyes, organs and hide. Unfortunately tiger poaching forms the concrete base of an underworld dedicated to this black market. But the tiger has a lot more importance than just beautiful skin. The bones, eyes and organs are supposed 'medicines' that can cure any human disorder or dysfunction. (Yeah right! We believe the myth!) If my facts are not wrong, powdered tiger bones can fetch over $1700 in Hong Kong black markets. Now I guess we can have better ways of earning a few thousand dollars! As a matter of fact, it is scientifically proven that the tiger treatments ARE NOT effective.

People, what is wrong with you? Wake up! We live in the 21st century. We live life sensibly. We are mature, evolved and developed. We want cars which fly! How can we be such dimwits and believe that the tiger's eyes can cure you of pimples! It just simply pains me to see these beautiful animals die such a sorry death. What have they done? The moment they encroach into our territory we shout our throats off and create such a big racket. Ever thought about how much have we destroyed their livelihood? I guess we can only empathize. Readers, for us they may just be mere animals. But in these animals too is a heart, soul and mind which feels, sees and thinks. We have no right to destroy these animals. Tomorrow even though we may rule the world, our conscience will never be clean.

I believe it's time we amend and wash away our sins. Stop believing in false superstitions, for example, eating the tiger's eyes is good for health. Well... IT ISN'T! It's 1411 in India now... I really pray it doesn't get any lesser.

Siddharth Rawal, finalist and Most Popular Participant at Teen of the Year 2009, is a teenager who wishes to change the world with his writings. He believes that his writings will someday make the world realize the change we need in ourselves and in our attitudes.