Unfortunately, the present unsavoury row over cows might leave a bitter taste in many mouths. It all started with a call from the Animal Welfare Board to celebrate February 14 next, as Cow Hug Day. The day is marked and celebrated worldwide as Valentine’s Day, or the day of the Feast of Saint Valentine as per Christian beliefs. In fact, such celebrations now cut across religious persuasions. This is a part of the folklore and, year after year, the Day is made a big event by young men and women. For, its sentiments are predominantly identified with love and romance. The animal welfare board is well within its jurisdiction to decide on any day to express the nation’s affection and high regard for the cow, but the twist the Board sought to effect in the tale by giving it an obvious link to Valentine Day’s theme was perhaps uncalled for.
Cow is holy for Hindus and sentiments therein are very strong across most states. The BJP’s politics is veered round Hindu sentiments. This has only raised the esteem large section of the populace here have for this animal. The mother motif vis-à-vis the cow is for real from the fact that the cow’s milk is widely used for human sustenance. Cows are revered in the western culture as well. The Netherlands is famous for its koe knuffelen (“hugging the cow”) practice, which the Dutch believe helps in healing one’s aliment. Well-bred cows are a sight to behold, irrespective of their religious aura and affection towards them across continents.
All said, the Animal Welfare Board’s strange mix could have been left at that and no ulterior motives needed to be read into it. But, when Union Minister for animal husbandry, Parshottam Rupala, stepped forward to put his weight behind the decision, many eyebrows were naturally raised. The spirit of Valentine’s Day is far removed from the love and affection one has for cows or other animals or even to one’s own family members. When a strange mix is presented it creates both shock and revulsion. Be that as it may, it would be highly appreciated if the ministers running the nation steer themselves clear of petty controversies. They have a wider canvas to think about and act. Unfortunately, a feeling gains ground that several of the ministers in the Modi dispensation are not able to rise up to people’s expectations and they are so faceless. The high esteem for the present government is principally reserved for the Prime Minister and some veterans in his ministry. The others rarely speak, and when they speak they show a tendency to go overboard.
