SynopsisIndia presents a unique landscape where street dogs are embraced as part of the urban tapestry. Unlike their Western counterparts, who may live under strict regulations, these dogs enjoy a sense of freedom and acceptance in the streets. As Indian cities strive to enhance public spaces, these dogs contribute to the fabric of community life.In much of the West, the dog has been domesticated into an accessory - leashed, licensed, confined to homes or kennels. Yet, in the Indian subcontinent and some other regions, dogs remain free citizens, sharing streets, footpaths, courtyards, many public spaces with humans. Like cats in Turkiye, they are not treated as intruders but as fellow citizens.The Western allergy to non-human city animals stems from a fetish for control: cities must be sterilised, wildlife (barring mostly trees and birds) banished, creatures treated as property. In Indian cities, hygiene and safety are a work-in-progress for humans, and dogs have been part of this ongoing municipal project of public maintenance. The street dog has street credibility here, on par with the one that accompanied Yudhishtir on his final journey to Mt Meru/heaven and revealing itself to be Dharma. Sterilised and safe, ownerless dogs form a unique part of our civic fabric, one of the few reminders that our cities are ecosystems, not concrete agglomerations.Human resistance against this coexistence suspiciously smacks of Western-style anthropocentrism, even colonial mindset ('Dogs and Indians Not Allowed'), passed off as concern for humans. Of course, these animals should be kept away from high-traffic and high-footfall areas like stations and airports, public institutions like schools and hospitals, and highways for the protection and ease of both parties. However, for city spaces in general, peaceful human-dog coexistence has certainly and overwhelmingly been the happy rule, not the unfortunate exception. A happy, civilised society doesn't exile other species it has cohabited with peacefully all this while. It recognises their right to share space that's home for all citizens. ...moreElevate your knowledge and leadership skills at a cost cheaper than your daily tea.Subscribe Now