I think that the BIGGEST error most people make is that, for them, a crime/murder committed by a MAN, is ANALOGOUS to an attack/death caused by stray dogs %u2013 that these are comparable situations & are on the same plane. In truth, they are two totally different situations, though there is a victim, a death/immense suffering & a victimizer, in both. No, if someone who is dear to me is killed, I would NOT go around killing all people, because that%u2019s simply not the way to regulate things in human society, AMONGST human beings. But that doesn%u2019t mean that we should give up ritual elimination of stray dogs. I begin by making a strict distinction between HUMAN LIFE, & NON-HUMAN LIFE. People who think that somehow human life is just about as valuable %u2013 or rather, as valueless %u2013 as animal life, cannot be argued with. While they rant against murderers, jihadis, criminals etc etc, they forget that it is precisely THIS attitude: equating the value of human life to that of animal life, that is at the root of all crime, war, genocide & all. For a man like Hitler, the 6 million Jews he killed were no more than rodents in a mass experiment. ANY discussion has to begin with the premise that human life is PRICELESS & SACROSANCT, & that THE RULES APPLICABLE IN DEALING WITH HUMAN BEINGS ARE **RADICALLY DIFFERENT** FROM THE RULES TO BE USED IN DEALING WITH NON-HUMANS. Note the term %u201Chuman animals%u201D coined by animal-lovers: for them, human beings are no better - & in fact WORSE, than animals. ANY discusson is possible only when we realize that Man%u2019s PRIMARY FOCUS has to be MAN %u2013 other things follow that priority.
As for why ritual elimination is necessary, amongst many points, the one I'd like to stress is that stray dogs are a menace EVERYWHERE - in ALL places, - & to people ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. And INCREASINGLY so. Thousands of people get bitten everyday - in all parts of India; children are worst effected - EVERYWHERE - the cases are NOT being reported to the public, & are hushed up. Getting bitten by a stray dog is a very traumatic incident, if not always fatal - and I have had personal experience of seeing several accidents due to their unpredictable & hostile behavior. While you may punish or exterminate a particular dog responsible for a specific death, it has to be grasped that this is a rising trend. And while one may take action against a specific dog %u2013 which is NOT a solution from ANY point of view %u2013 at the same time, another 500 dogs have bitten another 500 people maybe somewhere in Assam or Andaman or Chennai or Kolkata. That, if this situation, which is already out-of-control, %u2013 exacerbates & multiplies, the number of deaths & attacks shall only increase. That while today only one child has died in one city (which is a gross understatement) %u2013 tomorrow TWENTY children will die in 20 other cities. Dogs are the same everywhere %u2013 under all varieties of circumstances %u2013 and there is no way to educate or train or tame millions of them. What we see today, is merely the tip of an iceberg that looms large & dark in an unseen future. There are MANY important points, Vishwajeet, WHY dogs have to be treated ON DIFFERENT PRINCIPLES than human beings. That would require going into a lot of philosophical discussion, which space on this forum doesn%u2019t provide. For example, as to concept of Rights, one has to ask questions like: What ARE Rights? On what basis has the concept of (human) rights been built? What purpose do they serve? WHY should we have rights? What about responsibility & accountability?
I have not forgotten the evil man is capable of: but I am also intensely aware of the greatness man is capable of. Terrorists & murderers do not DEFINE human nature %u2013 just like a rabid dog is NOT a representative of dogs in general. Rather, the truth is the opposite: Man is defined by the HIGHEST he is capable of, NOT the lowest. This is issue which requires EXTENSIVE discussion & debate %u2013 I don%u2019t think any discussion forum provides scope for such exhaustive deliberation. If you want further clarification, & more questions, ask them freely. I would be glad to answer you.
