Milking Holy Cow Dry

Few months ago I witnessed a rather curious sight near the Murgeshpalya bus shelter during the morning rush hour. It was drizzling, but no one was willing to take refuge inside the shelter - some were taking a chance by exposing themselves to the drizzle, while others had unfurled their umbrellas or put on the hoods of their jackets. From a distance it seemed ridiculous to me, but as I came closer I realised their seemingly foolish act was probably the most pragmatic option under those circumstances.

The shelter was 'occupied' by some 3-4 cows and some of them were merrily carrying  out their morning ablutions, quite unmindful of the 'sick hurry and divided aims' (apology to Matthew Arnold) of two-legged denizens. The bus stand is located close to a vacant area (read unofficial garbage dump) and hence for cows it was a favourite haunt, come rain or sunshine.

Like any city in India Bangalore has a substantial presence of cows, though in terms of numbers it may not be a match to cities located in country's 'cow belt'. For most owners their holy cow act ends after they have milked them to their last drop in the morning. After that our four-legged friends are left to fend for themselves till night. With alarming drop in city's cover of gomal (grazing) land, thanks to the rapacious builder-politician nexus, cows have to make do with garbage heaps and vegetable markets to keep their body and soul together.  

I often come across vegetable vendors, quite literally, go bananas trying fob them off as they make a dash for green vegetables or overhanging plantains. Quite often these cows court health hazard by eating things like plastic bags and paper. The city's civic authorities have passed laws against stray cattle menace, but they are not even worth the paper these cattle chomp and regurgitate on a daily basis.

Though cows are too docile to be a menace like dogs, but they do end up dirtying public places and sometimes also cause traffic snarls. Their sheer size and languid demeanour often comes in the way of ever increasing traffic flow on the city roads. It's not an uncommon sight to see them happily lounging in the middle of the road and shooing away flies using their tails or flapping their ears; while they take motorists' desperate honking as if it were happening in some other planet. Traffic policemen shoo them away using lathis and they reluctantly get up and amble off in a speed that is comparable to Indian Railway's IRCTC website.

Once a former colleague of mine told me that she was waiting at a bus stop and talking on phone. Suddenly out of blue she experienced a jet of hot air on her neck. Startled she looked back to see the nostrils of a cow in close proximity. She quickly moved away as she was unknowingly blocking gau mata's path.

Their exalted place in the Hindu mythology keeps the general public from rubbing them the wrong way, but their owners seem to have little concern about their welfare and that too totally evaporates once they fall sick or past their milk yielding age.

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