Every year, devoted travellers set out on pilgrimage routes in bustling, picturesque landscapes of the country, some on foot, some on the back of equines. Thousands of equines — horses, mules, and donkeys — are burdened not only by their heavy loads but also by exhaustion, dehydration, and malnutrition. In the holy air, where one seeks peace, these sentient beings fight their silent battles against neglect and cruelty.

“A particularly distressing incident comes to my mind: two horses, pulling a cart, collapsed from sheer exhaustion near Dehradun. Instead of empathy, their owner resorted to desperate measures. He lit paper near their noses to induce panic and force them back to work. Such is the plight of these weary travellers, working on the brink of death just to survive another day,” shares Gauri Maulekhi with The Better India.

She further highlights that the plight of equines on pilgrimage routes presents a challenging and heartbreaking scenario. “About 40,000 to 50,000 equines are used on popular pilgrimage routes, such as Chardham and Vaishno Devi, where they face neglect and abuse.”

In her words, “dying out of exhaustion is the worst kind of death,” and her endeavours strive to eradicate such inhumane practices.

A torchbearer of animal compassion, when Gauri learnt about the incident and suffering, she could not stand idly. Driven by empathy and determination, she approached the situation with a strategic resolve that promised change.

She didn’t just speak up; she took action. Taking her fight to the legal system, she caught the eye of the Uttarakhand High Court. From there, she pushed tirelessly for change, helping set a precedent for how equines should be treated. More than just a protestor, she wanted to make sure that these animals were getting the care they deserved.

She set up the sole equine sanctuary in Uttarakhand to provide refuge to disabled, injured, and abandoned animals. “Collaborating with local administrations, we ensured that only healthy, registered equines serve these routes, and that effective complaint systems are in place where previously there were none,” she adds.

Gauri’s work is not merely about rescue and rehabilitation; it’s about restoring dignity to the lives of equines, and reminding the world that compassion must extend to all beings.

© The Better India