In the past 50 years, we have never encountered an incident in which a temple elephant passed away after sustaining injuries in a fire. But this happened to Subbulakshmi, the elephant of the Kunnakudi Shanmughanathar temple in Karaikudi.
Subbulakshmi, an elephant who had been a cherished resident of the Kunnakudi Shanmughanathar temple in Karaikudi for over 30 years, tragically passed away due to injuries sustained in a fire.
The elephant was donated to the temple in 1971. Subbulakshmi has been an indispensable part of the temple, even becoming a family member of the people living in the locality.
The Elephant Mandapam, situated near the temple’s stairway, had a palm leaf roof covering its tin sheet-covered structure, which shielded the elephant from the sun. On the night of 12 September 2024, a fire broke out in this makeshift shed due to an electrical malfunction.
In an attempt to escape the blaze, Subbulakshmi managed to exit the hall on her own. The staff and visitors noticed the injured elephant and promptly alerted the temple administration. Police, forest officials, and veterinarians across Tamil Nadu arrived to provide urgent care. Despite their best efforts, Subbulakshmi succumbed to her injuries.
The Temple
The temple belongs to Kunnakudi Adheenam. Most temples in TN are under the purview of the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department, but a few come under Adheenams as well. However, the HR&CE department supervises them, so we can call them temples under the HR&CE purview itself. The reason for the fire is being investigated, but it is alleged that there could have been a short circuit that led to the thatched roof catching fire, leading to the mishap.
A few years ago, the Manakkula Vinayagar temple elephant passed away after collapsing on the road. This was covered in the media. However, the death of Subbulakshmi seems not to have reached the masses as much.
Comparison between news reporting of other animal-related incidents
Instances of dogs biting children or cows/cattle attacking people on the road are being replayed over and over again on television news channels. However, the death of Subbulakshmi did not garner the attention of news media in Tamil Nadu.
The disdain exhibited by the HR&CE department and the administrative corruption of the Kunnakudi Adheenam are said to be the main reasons behind the gruesome death of a dear temple elephant.
Who Killed Subbulakshmi?
The income generated through donations from the public/devotees is quite a sizeable amount. Yet it is alleged that it is not being put to proper use. Notably, the Kunnakudi Adheenam praises the Dravidian model of governance of the DMK on various platforms.
Critics blame the Adheenam and the HR&CE equally for the untimely death of Subbulakshmi. The fact that the elephant was tied with chains and this was a factor in her being unable to escape the fire is reason enough to blame the authorities of the temple and government department.
Following this incident, questions arise about how the elephant was kept within a metal shed with chains. It is common sense to know that if the thatched roof caught fire, it would be impossible for the elephant to escape, let alone survive.
Silence Of Animal Activists
The deafening silence of the so-called animal activists who spring up when stray dogs are mistreated is telling. Critics argue that this is because of the ruling state government.
The same activists went overboard in blaming the Isha Foundation and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev for the organization’s presence in the alleged elephant corridor.
The Isha Foundation in Tamil Nadu has consistently faced attacks from Dravidianists and Periyarists, who view the foundation as a threat to their pseudo-atheism, which opposes only Hinduism. Their ongoing mission is to tarnish the Isha Foundation’s reputation. The Isha Foundation itself clarified in the affidavits submitted by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department to the National Green Tribunal’s Southern Zone, Chennai, that there is no mention that Isha is situated within an elephant corridor.
HR&CE is alleged to be using donations made to temples in the state to build wedding halls, buy cars for the EO, and so on. The department is not considering or even discussing the basic necessities of temple fauna. Safety is not even a consideration for humans or children in schools; it would surely be a far cry for mute animals. Critics argue that the respect and love political figures give their pets at home is not even a portion given to the temple elephants.
Critics call for Kunnakudi Ponnambala Adigalar’s removal from his position and HR&CE minister Sekar Babu’s resignation. They also call for a protective shelter for temple elephants and necessary safety measures for such animals in such conditions.
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