Bharat is becoming aatmanirbhar in canine recruits for the armed forces

Southern India has many ‘hero stones’ dedicated to dogs by their powerful and clearly devoted masters, most of them kings and nobles, hundreds of years ago. Living up to their reputation of being man’s best (and, perhaps, oldest) friend, these canines are not only commemorated for their valour during battle but also actions like fending off wild boar and tigers. It is clear that these were not golden retrievers, beagles or German shepherds as these are all foreign breeds that arrived in India relatively recently.

The latter breed was, in fact, first registered in India just a little over a century ago and quickly became a favourite of maharajas, but the kings of yore clearly had faith in as-yet-undetermined local breeds. So, the news that the Indian Air Force has become the latest entity (after the Indian Army) to induct the indigenous Mudhol hound into its ranks this week — to chase away birds and animals from airbases — is most welcome. This signals aatmanirbharta in a crucial security concern, and makes sense as local breeds are better acclimatised to Indian conditions. Of course, the breed most attuned to India’s terrain and climate is that vast genus called the Great Indian Pie, whose intelligence, agility, resilience and loyalty will be vouchsafed by many. But like many of its human compatriots, they may not be very inclined to follow orders!