From women across Delhi taking to the streets to protest for basic human rights to people showing up in large numbers to participate at election polls to vote for their favourite Fat Dogs of Delhi. What do they have in common? They both merely strive to take space, and exist freely in an unapologetic form.
In the midst of a city caught up amongst protests, infrastructural failures, rage and tragedies, Fat Dogs of Delhi, an Instagram account brought to life a knockout contest, introducing us to Tara, Golu, Hero and 60 other dogs who spent their days sprawled in forgotten and invisible corners of Delhi only to be thrust into limelight overnight, quickly became torch bearers of body positivity and our “Sunshine” in the dark (if you know, you know).
“The election was clearly rigged” said a fellow voter, Apoorva, half-jokingly, when asked about her thoughts on the results of @thefatdogsofdelhi, “because there is no way Hero from Malviya Nagar didn’t win. He is and always will be the true winner in my heart.”
Unlike most present-day politicians, the Fat Dogs of Delhi did not rely on malpractice, conniving tricks, or false promises to win the elections. In fact there was no propaganda or persuasion, just students and fellow dog lovers campaigning for their favourites with elaborate posters, fanpages, and a lot of unpaid but loving overtime work.
And the final verdict rested on one single determining question—just how fat is that dog? And that precisely was answered by 92958 online voters and 1042 voters who travelled to physical ballots to vote, officially declaring Gola, Kebab, and Rajpal Singh (the same dog), who was contesting posthumously, as the winner.
Through what came to be a modern-day internet “whimsy”, did more than just the average gain of views and followers, it gave to these dogs a personality and audience around which communities were built and introduced to one another. The longstanding love that people held for their neighbourhood dogs finally found a way: Tara was the pride of Khan Market, Mahakutteshar represented Noida, and Kutta Singh from Rohini was even openly backed by BlinkIt, along with students from Delhi University rallying for their college dogs, such as Sunshine from Lady Shri Ram College.
The most fascinating part of this discourse was how something so lighthearted and seemingly inconsequential evolved into tangible and meaningful impact. Initially celebrated for their size, the visibility and attention these dogs garnered has since been channelled towards their welfare, with major brands including District by Zomato, Sienna Made in Bengal and BearHugs stepping up to support their wellbeing and continued care. Googoo who rose to stardom competing for the title of Delhi’s fattest dog is now, somewhat paradoxically, enrolled in a weight loss programme at Jeevashram Foundation at Delhi. His diet is regulated and he receives consistent medical checkups.
Fat Dogs of Delhi is scarcely an isolated case of today’s youth using creativity and whimsy to navigate complex issues. From hand made creative posters and ingenious slogans, to satire and memes, “whimsy” has long served as a medium for political resistance. But perhaps what makes the Fat Dogs of Delhi so remarkable is that it has opened the door for wider conversations surrounding animal welfare and our conduct towards the animals with whom we share our streets. In a peculiar way, the campaign became a mouthpiece for the voiceless by helping them reclaim the streets they call home.
Ananya Chaturvedi
Image Credits: Fat Dogs of Delhi Instagram
Read Also: ‘Hum Auratein Azaad Hai’: DU Students March to Reclaim Public Spaces
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