Uttar Pradesh: Peacock cremated with national honours at Varanasi's Banaras Hindu University

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 30 : The last rites of a peacock were carried out with national honours at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) after the national bird was injured following a dog attack in the Varanasi district.
The peacock was injured in a dog attack in the garden of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel hostel on the BHU campus, after which the bird was cremated with national honours in the Tulsi garden of the hostel at 11 am on Sunday.
As per reports, the administrative guardian of the hostel and professor of the journalism department Dr Dhirendra Rai received information about an injured peacock late Saturday night after which he reached the spot and informed the forest department.
The injured bird was immediately taken to a doctor of Mahmoorganj, Dr Narendra Pratap Singh, by the university ambulance where despite hours of treatment, it could not be saved.
The national bird was then cremated with national honours in the presence of Dr Dhirendra Rai, hostel guardian and professor of the Pali department Dr Shailendra Singh, forest department officials and all the resident students of the hostel were present at the cremation ceremony.
Students present at the ceremony said that the presence of peacocks in the university enhances the beauty of the campus and that living together on the campus deepens the human sensitivity towards the animals and birds living here.
Speaking to ANI, Dr Dhirendra said, "The conservation of national symbols including the peacock is possible only through deep faith.
Dr Dhirendra further cited the animal conservation and promotion campaign run by the founder of the university, Mahamana Madan Mohan Malviya for animals and birds on the campus from 1929 to 1941 and the love for peacocks expressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He said that when the revered founder of the university and the highest representative of the country is serious about protecting the national birds and animals it makes it a responsibility of us citizens to also introspect and work on the matter.
"Universities have the responsibility of shaping the youth, so the role of these institutions becomes more important in such a situation that they establish a strong sense of respect for national resources among the youth," he said.
More than 35 cases of illegal hunting of peacocks have been registered in the last ten years (2012 - 22), and the threat to the existence of this bird is constantly increasing.