The complicated relationship between man and cow in India; India is the world’s largest exporter of beef – ironic, in a country where the cow is considered sacred
September 5, 2013 Leave a comment
The complicated relationship between man and cow in India
By Zain Awan
POSTED: 05 Sep 2013 10:52 AM
India is the world’s largest exporter of beef — ironic, in a country where the cow is considered sacred. A visit to India remains somewhat incomplete without bumping into cows and cattle on the roads.
NEW DELHI: With a frail body and a strong will, Gopal Das launched a fast-unto-death. His cause — cows and their welfare. Such is the importance of the relationship that exists between man and cow in India. Gopal Das said: “I have donated my property worth billions of dollars to the Haryana province government. If they want, they can have it but they should help the mute animals. Cows are wandering in the streets without food.” Cows are considered sacred in India where their slaughter is banned. There are believed to be more than 300 million cows in India and critics argue that they compete with people for food in a country where some 20 per cent of the population live below the poverty line.Yet, the bovine beauties are worshipped as the Mother Cow.
In 2005, the Delhi government’s drive to rid the capital of these livestock earned it the wrath of dairy owners. Then, thousands of cows and other cattle were bundled out forcibly and auctioned on the outskirts of New Delhi, only to be bought back by their owners.
India may have its sacred cows but the buffalo is a different story. In fact, buffalo meat has propelled India to becoming the world’s top beef exporter.
The illegal smuggling of cattle also added to the numbers — cows from the hinterland are smuggled out to other countries because they do not have much economic value in India.
Experts believe that the law needs to change to accommodate regularisation of cattle exports.
B G Varghese, a visiting professor with the Centre for Policy Research, said: “The Article 48 of our Constitution said that the state should promote and preserve the cattle and agriculture. It doesn’t mean you can’t export cattle. But still, some people interpret it as constitutional ban on export of cattle. It should not be so.”
Even as cows remain dear to the people, the government’s stringent rules seem to have done little for the innocent creature.
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