Panjarapol : Surviving Pataliputra's Prototype

The ‘Rampurva Bull Capital’ is India’s outstanding sandstone depict sourced from Bihar. It adorns the Rashtrapati Bhavan beneath Lutyen's dodecastyle portico. Built during Emperor Asoka’s regime (350BC) it has the words ‘Panesu Saymo’inscribed on it .The closest translation of this Pali script in Sanskrit means ‘sarveshu pranayshu samyamah ‘ meaning ‘all living creatures are equal’. It represents the veterinary profession as one of India’s best heritage.

Historians have enough reason to believe that India’s veterinary hospitals were first established in Asoka’s regime ,where wards were put up to treat and shelter animals both indoors and outdoor, medicinal herbs were provided for and at times even imported via sea route from other countries. Historians also believe Surat’s Banniyan Hospital is one amongst the survivals of its prototype at Pataliputra, founded by the Maurya Monarch* (* V.A.Smith-Early History of India).

While the Europeans called it so in their books because it was run by the Banniyans (Vanias) in Surat, this hospital which has been mentioned in many European and American history books is none other than the one we know as ‘Panjarapol’- the institution on Ghodod road that tends to all animals and birds which take ill; providing them a safe asylum.

The official status of this historical hospital states it to be more than 250 years old. During Aurungzeb’s regime, a cow could not be slaughtered in important places like Surat.According to an account, the Hindus payed butchers a fixed amount to spare cattle. Any attempts made by the English merchants to obtain beef were strongly opposed and would lead to mayhem. In 1608, an intoxicated Englishman named Thomas Tucker killed a calf which led to a riot of sorts in Tapi town. (Journal of John Jourdain 1608-1617)

J. Ovington has mentioned in his travelogue how Surtis considered charity towards animals as an act of great virtue. Diseased, lame, infirm cows, buffaloes, dogs, horses, mules, oxen, sheep, goats, monkeys, poultry, pigeons, birds and turtles found refuge and relief at the Panjarapol. In the ancient times, part of its land was used to cultivate medicinal herbs and grass for cattle graze.Ovington also mentions a hospital for fleas, bugs and vermin which existed next to it in the 17th century. The Encyclopedia Britannica states that this ward which was meant for rats, mice and insects,’ frequently hired beggars from streets for a stipulated sum to pass a night on the express condition of suffering them to enjoy their feast without molestation. Every night a poor fellow suffers himself to be preyed upon, while being strapped naked on the cot.’

Present day, Panjarapol has 7000 creatures under its roof. It has the lowest death rate in the country at 0.3-0.4 %, as well as the most modern hospital for animals in India with extremely qualified vets and state of the art facilities for x-ray, laparoscopy, sonography, cardiogram, endoscopies, blood serum analyzers, photo microscope etc.

The Nandini hospital here which has conducted thousands of life saving operations on various animals recently began its ‘Mission anti plastic’. Rescuing stray cows brought in by the SMC, it has conducted 50 operations to remove plastic and other toxic waste from the stomach of these speechless animals who suffer silently. Almost 35-50 kilos of plastic bags along with blades, iron nails, bottle corks, paper clips, straws etc find way into the stomachs of these cows via garbage on roadsides. The plastic melts within the cow’s stomach and starts lining it as well as the intestines affecting food absorption which leads to the cow turning anorexic. Such cows tire easily; losing their glossy sheen and suppleness, before ultimately dying a slow, painful death.

The least we can do to preserve our heritage of kindness towards these living creatures is to begin disposing garbage responsibly and stop using plastic bags.