Eldho, the stray dog: Why a small Kerala village honoured this local legend with a statue

AT a time when the Supreme Court has directed the rounding up and permanent detention of stray dogs in New Delhi, a small ward in Tripunithura, Ernakulam, is sending out a different message, one of compassion, loyalty and community bonding.

In Kozhivettumveli, Eroor, residents have unveiled a statue in honour of Eldho, a stray dog that roamed into their lives 14 years ago and became an inseparable part of the locality. The initiative was led by autorickshaw drivers and supported by the entire neighbourhood, said a report by The New Indian Express.

Sanakan K V, an autorickshaw driver at the stand where Eldho made his home, recalls, “He wasn’t well. There was a burn scar on his left flank. We later learned he had been sterilised under the ABC programme and released here. From the first day, his gentle manners won everyone over.”

The name Eldho had its origins in a humorous film reference, a line from Mannar Mathai Speaking, where actor Harisree Ashokan shouts, “Eda Eldho… Ninne Cinemayil Eduthu!” Over time, Eldho was no longer “just” a stray. He became part of weddings, festivals, housewarmings and even school runs, often escorting children home and walking alongside the elderly.

Local ward member Kirankumar V S said Eldho knew every corner of the ward.

“If he went missing for a day or two, everyone searched for him with food in hand,” he added. His sweet tooth for milk cake from Shanmukhan Super Stores was so famous that it earned the nickname “Eldho cake.”

When Eldho died, the community decided to immortalise him. Sculptor Jayan V K, a state and national award winner, and his nephew Nibin V G, created a strikingly realistic statue now placed at Kozhivettumveli junction. The memorial serves as both a tribute and a symbol of how a community’s kindness can transform a stray into a legend.