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Man's Best Friend
By : M.R.Sethi
On 8 March, 1935,
Japan mourned the death of Hachiko. The next day, Hachiko's funeral
was held in front of his statue with 16 priests and more than 4,000
people attending.
Hachiko was not a politician, an actor or a cricketer. He was a dog.
The dog became famous all over Japan for his unfailing loyalty and
devotion to has master which continued for 11 years after his
master's death — till his own death.
Hachiko was devoted to his master, Hidezabura Ueno, who was a
university professor. It had become the dog's routine to accompany
Ueno up to the tation early in the morning and go back to meet him
there when he got off the train regularly at 5 p.m.
However one day, during a faculty meeting, Ueno collaped and died.
His body was sent home by a car. About that time Hachiko was still
waiting as usual at the station. But his master never showed up.
Around midnight Hachiko was still at the exit looking in vain for
his master.
For nearly 11 years — beginning that day until his own death on
March 8, 1935 — Hachiko never missed a day — rain or sunshine — to
visit the station, looking for his never-returning master. Today, in
a large plaza before Tokyo's Shibuya Railway Station stands a bronze
statue of Hachiko. This is a nation's tribute to the lasting
fidelity of a dog to his master which won the heart of practically
everyone in Japan about 74 years ago.
Of all the creatures on earth the dog is by far the most faithful
and loyal nimal. The relationship between man and dog has always
been a true and lasting friendship, with the dog never betraying his
master.
The dog's devotion and loyalty to his master are legendary. In
Wales near Snowdon, there is the grave of Gelert, the gallant dog
who protected Prince Llewelyn's baby son by killing the wolf that
had sneaked into the chamber during his absence. But when the master
on his return saw no baby but only the dog with his fangs dripping
with blood he thought that the dog had killed the baby. The prince
at once killed Gelert, only to find later that the baby was safe and
the wolf was dead.
Numerous examples of the dog’s loyalty can be found in history, myth
and fiction. There is the story of. Argus, the faithful dog of
Ulysses. Ulysses had been away for 20 years. But when he returned,
his dog Argus at once recognized him. Argus though old and feeble,
waited for his master, and when after 20 years Ulysses returned.
Argus at once crawled to his feel, licked them and died.
It is said that Yudhishter. the hero of the Hindu epic, Mahabharata,
declined to enter the gates of heaven after death unless his dog was
also allowed to accompany him.
The Greeks had great love for their dogs. Alexander named a city
after his dog Peritas. Plutarch relates that Alcibiades had an
uncommonly large and beautiful dog whose principal ornament was his
tail. Zanthippus (the father of Pericles) had a faithful dos who
swam by his master's galley to Salamios when the Athenians were
obliged to abandon the city. 'The dog was later buried by his master
on a promontory known as Cynossema ('Dog's Grave)
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