Tripura government suspends a prominent official after a high court ruling in the “Akbar-Sita” lions issue

The Times of India stated that the Tripura government has suspended Prabin Lal Agrawal, the state’s senior chief conservator of forests (wildlife and ecotourism), in the wake of a dispute regarding the naming of a lion and lioness in a zoo as Akbar and Sita, respectively.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) filed a lawsuit with the Calcutta High Court, claiming that the names offended religious feelings, which led to the suspension.

On February 12, the animals left Sepahijala Zoo and arrived in the North Bengal Wild Animals Park in Siliguri, North Bengal.

According to officials, the animals were transported to Siliguri as part of an animal exchange program and were given their names by the Sepahijala Zoological Park in Tripura. The North Bengal Wild creatures Park’s management was thinking of renaming the creatures.

Akbar was a well-known Muslim emperor of the Mughal Empire in India, while Sita is acknowledged in the Hindu epic Ramayana as the spouse of Lord Rama, a notable manifestation of the god Vishnu.

The VHP petitioned the circuit bench to have the names changed because they have hurt some people’s religious feelings.

The Calcutta High Court’s Jalpaiguri Circuit Bench verbally observed that, in order to avoid controversy, the choice to call a lioness and lion “Sita” and “Akbar” should have been avoided. The court suggested that the West Bengal Zoo Authority rethink and rename the two animals wisely, questioning if a lion should be called after individuals such as Swami Vivekananda or Ramakrishna Paramahansa.

Judge Bhattacharyya questioned whether it was proper to name animals after Nobel laureates, mythical characters, liberation warriors, or gods, emphasizing that such disputes ought to have been prevented.

“Who has given this name causing controversy?” he asked. I wanted to know whether it was possible to name an animal after a Nobel laureate, legendary figure, freedom warrior, or god. Is it possible to name a lion after Ramkrishna or Swami Vivekananda? We are not thinking of naming a family dog. Why should you stir up controversy by referring to Sita and Akbar as lions and lionesses?

Judge Bhattacharya voiced his displeasure with the names given to the two animals.