Should we introduce special quotas for the animal species?

With a Jharkhand MP lionising the former national animal and making a case for the restoration of its title, the question arises whether prevalence is ger-mane to the issue. After all, the tiger earned its national stripes because a committee in 1972 pointed out that it was found in 16 Indian states as opposed to the lion’s solitary one. By that logic — and maybe some other less acceptable arguments — the cow or the elephant should be given that honour, given their superior ubiquity. While tigers have unfortunately diminished precipitously since 1972 and probably need to retain their preeminent status to ensure that conservation efforts do not flag, the lion does seem to deserve some sort of recognition, given its ageold preponderance in Indian art, not to mention surnames. Maybe, like quotas in jobs and legislatures, there should be categories now, when it comes to ‘national’ status for Indians of the non-human variety.

Apart from a national animal and bird — whose position could also be challenged in favour of the common sparrow some day — the country can start off by designating a national fish and reptile too. Of course, the former could lead to some tussles between, say, the Gangetic dolphin and the hilsa, while the latter could see a face-off between the cobra and the gharial. But at least we shall be more ‘representative’!