I visited the Lincoln Zoo in the US today. As I was walking past the cages, I heard a voice, “Indian, are you?”
I stopped.
The lion was looking straight at me through the thick glass of his enclosure.
“Yes,” I replied proudly.
He looked at the lioness beside him and sniggered. “We have a visitor from the world's largest democracy.”
The lioness padded over. “Really? Tell us what's happening there.”
I smiled. “Tourism? Cricket? Bollywood?”
The lion ignored me. “I heard students have been protesting because examination papers were leaked.”
I shifted uneasily.
“They studied honestly,” continued the lion. “Others cheated. Then the honest children had to march on the streets demanding justice, and they were jailed.”
The lioness looked confused. “Husband, who was put behind bars? The people who leaked the papers?”
I quickly moved away as the lion made an attempt to catch me, and found the giraffes suddenly very interesting and wandered towards them. One bent its long neck, “We've been watching your country.” It said.
“Oh?”
“People stand in queues for hours to vote.”
“Yes.”
“They believe their vote will bring change.”
“Yes.”
“And then elected representatives cross over to the other side.”
I nodded reluctantly.
The giraffe looked down sympathetically.
“Poor voters.”
By now I was feeling distinctly uncomfortable.
The monkeys burst into applause as I approached. “Here comes our favourite visitor!”
“Why?” I asked.
One scratched his head.
“We've always been accused of monkey tricks.”
He pointed towards me.
“But your politicians seem far more talented.”
Another monkey joined in.
“They jump from one party to another without even using trees.”
The whole troop erupted into laughter.
I decided it was time to leave.
As I hurried away, a crocodile opened one lazy eye. “They say I have thick skin.”
“You do.”
“But not as thick as some of your political leaders who can watch injustice, corruption, hunger, unemployment and growing unrest, then simply say everything is fine.”
He smiled. “At least I don’t put makeup on my thick skin, to make me look fairer!”
I had almost reached the exit when I heard a chorus behind me.
The lion roared. The elephant trumpeted. The monkeys screeched. The hyenas laughed.
The owl spread his wings. “Stop him!”
I looked back nervously.
“The wrong creature is escaping!”
“Put him in here!”
“He's from the country with the political species that churns out corruption, hatred, injustice, lies and greed.”
As I turned for one last look, every animal in the zoo was still watching me.
Perhaps they were asking one another the same question. “If these humans are intelligent enough to put us in cages, why haven't they found a way to cage the corrupt, and those who promote injustice, hatred and greed?”
And suddenly I realised the question on the minds of every animal in the zoo, “How is it that animals with traits so revolting and horrible, were not put behind cages.”
“Why us?” I heard the lion roar.
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