Freedom To Crow - Maurice The Rooster

Freedom is precious whether it is for human beings or animals. Human beings have always dominated over animals since the life came into existence. . It is difficult to predict any reversal of scenario.

Writers and activists have not stopped at this. They have in the past and are voicing protest against the force of human beings over animals. Jim Corbet's book , `Man Eaters of Kumaun' is an eye opener. Readers are apprised by the lines in the book that all tigers are not man eaters. So we need not kill all of them at sight. During British Raj hunting was a sport. Several tigers were killed to derive pleasure.

George Orwell (real name Eric Arthur Blair) born in Motihari in Bihar dealt with the subject of animals in his novel, Animal Farm. In his book he imagined that human beings who owned the farm were driven out. The end of the novel is interesting to give a different tale.

To-day there are activists who individually or together are tying to protect animals from human aggression. There are also people who disregard the existence of animals and make fun of all those who are fighting to protect the interest of animals. They are also a part of the supply chain of this universe. Without them the world cannot exist. Asian Koyels are birds who have an appealing way of calling. They denote the advent of spring in West Bengal. It helps to break the monotony and give hope to life. What they are made to be stopped from singing.

On or about 5th September, 2019, the tribunal gave a verdict in favour of the chiken named Maurice. He was the most famous chicken in France. Nearly 1,20,000 people signed a petition in favour of him supporting the stance that he should not be disturbed. In other words his freedom to sing in the early hours in the morning should be allowed to continue. It became a national cause.

Saint- Pierre - D Oleron is an island in France popular with vacationers. In 1880 Pierre Lote wrote about the place, ` simple villages all white washed like Arab villages dazzling and tidy.' While there is small population living in the place. During vacation the population swells. Many have a second home there and come to the place during holidays. Maurice the chicken ( rooster) became a point of conflict. Jean Louis Biron and Joelle Andrieux, vacaitoners filed a complaint with the tribunal against the owner Ms Fesseau after having a conciliation failed. The complainants complained that Maurice the chicken ( rooster) disturbed their sleep in the morning. The complaint recorded that at precisely 6 am with the sun just emerging, he stiffened , raised his head, shook his wattles, opened his beak and let out a low hoarse crow ( `discreet' ). Twenty seconds later came another crow. Maurice stopped thereafter. The complainants said that the place is urban and Maurice has no right to crow.

The case raised much hue and cry. The Mayor of Saint- Pierre- D Oleron said that minority wants to impose a way of life . The Parliamentary Representative of the rural district of Lozere visited the place and said that `rural sounds' were to be protected as `natural heritage'. Opinions poured in in support of Maurice. People said that one cannot stop people from having animals as it was a country side. Trying to send away the chicken ( rooster) was something like trying to stop the church bell from ringing.

The Tribunal in September, 2019 rejected the couple's complaint about early morning crowing and ordered them to pay Euro 1000 to Maurice's owner. The people were touched with the order which meant many things. If this was allowed then pets would not be allowed to call . Dog barks, cat mews and cow moos. Then birds would also be stopped from calling. It would be a situation prevailing at the time of Emperor Auranzeb when music was banned in court.

There was a case in France against ducks who were at the reering site. There was also case against frogs.

In 1995 there was similar case against a rooster ( chicken). A death notice was served on the rooster. A French Appeal Court declared it that it was impossible to stop the species from crowing. The chicken is a harmless animal so stupid that nobody was succeeded in training it, not even the Chinese Circus.

Human beings ought to kind to animals and not disturb their existence. In India there are cases connected with animals in the lower courts and sound funny at times. Animals are animals and human beings are human beings. Animals do not have the power to think like human beings. Human being even to fight the animals in court have to be educated. If animals would have received education like human beings they would have given better results. They have always supported human beings. Trained dogs support the police in their investigation.

Dogs are man's best friend. Cats are also popular with human beings. There wills in favour of dogs and cats by human being.

Let their be truce. Human beings being superior should not disturb animals and go to the extent of moving courts for harming them including praying for death sentence.

For life is precious whether human or animal.

(