Secular Rationale for Cow Protection

[Guest guest]

IndianCivilization, "Imagin8r"

<imagin8r> wrote:

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1277705.cms

"On the other hand, Bangladesh is a cautionary example of what can

happen to a country which has depleted its cattle wealth."

 

BRIEF CASE:No Beef with Ban

 

Jug Suraiya

 

I like beefsteak, and frequently eat it when I happen to be abroad.

At the same time, I agree with the Supreme Court's upholding of the

Gujarat law banning cow slaughter. My reason has got nothing to do

with Hindutva. Nor am I guilty of hypocrisy and double standards

when I permit myself to eat beef abroad, but argue against cow

slaughter in India.

 

It's merely that I recognise the special role the cow has long

played in the social dynamics and the unorganised poli-tical economy

of the country. In his book Cows, Pigs, Wars and Witches: The

Riddles of Culture, American sociologist Marvin Harris has

formulated a persuasive, secular rationale behind the

Indian mystique of the sacred cow.

 

According to Harris, the cow represents the only capital that the

landless in India can hope to possess. By deeming the cow to be

sacred, we protect this literally grass-roots capital: The poor,

landless man's cow can with impunity graze on the rich man's fields

and yield milk and

 

biofuel for her master and his family. The trespassing cow

represents social justice and a seminal beginning of the

redistribution of wealth. This holds true in urban as well as rural

areas. Cows meander through our city streets like perambulatory

traffic islands, much to the amusement of foreign visitors.

 

The cattle forage at will, without fear of harm, from the refuse

bins of vegetable markets and roadside eateries, relieving their

owners of the financial burden of having to buy fodder. If, in

addition to its employment guarantee scheme, the UPA government

enables every Indian below the poverty line to own a cow, we could

witness an economic sea change in the country.

 

On the other hand, Bangladesh is a cautionary example of what can

happen to a country which has depleted its cattle wealth. On a visit

there some years ago, I was intrigued to discover that there were

hardly any cattle in the country, almost all having been butchered

for meat.

 

The result?Bangladesh has to import vast quantities of powdered milk

from Australia and Europe, a luxury it can ill afford. Even the

humblest village tea stall has tins of Nestle. Operation Flood?

Forget it. So tuck into your filet mignon, if you fancy it. Just

make sure it's from a foreign cow. Spare the Indian cow, the great

white hope of the dispossessed.

 

 

 

--- End forwarded message ---