An interesting piece on cows. Having lived in India, (Calcutta), for many years and now living in Switzerland; I am constantly struck by both nation’s veneration of this animal. I do agree with you that being a Swiss cow is a, significantly, better prospect than an Indian one. The care and attention given to these food producing cornerstones of Swiss life go far beyond normal animal husbandry, (something for which the Swiss are very fierce about). The cattle are accompanied up to their summer alpine pastures with farmers living apart from their human families until the return in late September/October. The fertiliser they provide is used, extensively, to produce other crops as well as helping the alpine meadows replenish. In contrast, the Indian cow, though venerated, is often abandoned to wander the streets and fend for itself. Yes, it’s “free” but lives out its life fighting for food and shelter in an unsuitable environment.
Brilliant article Pallavi. Plump with your unique informative and yet flippant blend. Genius! Just FYI on a serious note, Indians are so obsessed with selfies that they are at the top of the list in the world for selfie deaths. Not a great statistic for a nation that prides itself on meditation and inner beauty!
My most vivid memory of my 1999 trip to India (most vivid because I have a photo to prove it) is me standing in front of a post office in Bhuj, a stray cow caught on camera just at the right moment. It was the perfect memento for a dumb Italian tourist in search of exotic adventures.
A very perceptive piece. Swiss love for their cows is very deep even if they eat them in the end. In India we claim to love our cows but abandon them when they are no longer useful just as widows used to be abandoned in dharamshalas on the Ganges when their men died. Leaving a cow to starve or destroy your neighbours fields so his family starves is hardly better than eating the animal.
Thanks Pallavi for this contribution. You might prefer to be a Swiss cow, but don't overlook the dramatic fall in milk consumption in Switzerland, where kids like me used to get a glass of milk every morning.. which is all part of a "dream sequence" now. And of course Swiss dairy farms are closing rapidly, and were it not for subsidies, most would already be gone. https://www.leadertelegram.com/country-today/farm-news/swiss-distress-small-scale-dairy-industry-in-decline-in-switzerland/article_3dded80a-5621-540e-8f34-c48c56a5a485.html
An interesting piece on cows. Having lived in India, (Calcutta), for many years and now living in Switzerland; I am constantly struck by both nation’s veneration of this animal. I do agree with you that being a Swiss cow is a, significantly, better prospect than an Indian one. The care and attention given to these food producing cornerstones of Swiss life go far beyond normal animal husbandry, (something for which the Swiss are very fierce about). The cattle are accompanied up to their summer alpine pastures with farmers living apart from their human families until the return in late September/October. The fertiliser they provide is used, extensively, to produce other crops as well as helping the alpine meadows replenish. In contrast, the Indian cow, though venerated, is often abandoned to wander the streets and fend for itself. Yes, it’s “free” but lives out its life fighting for food and shelter in an unsuitable environment.
I would prefer to be a Swiss one. And the answer would be the same, if the question had been for humans as well. The choice is a no brainer.
Nice article to read even a second time.
Thank you for this piece. A delightful detour from the stresses of the day. Perhaps I will have a glass of cow milk in celebration of bovine love!
Brilliant article Pallavi. Plump with your unique informative and yet flippant blend. Genius! Just FYI on a serious note, Indians are so obsessed with selfies that they are at the top of the list in the world for selfie deaths. Not a great statistic for a nation that prides itself on meditation and inner beauty!
My most vivid memory of my 1999 trip to India (most vivid because I have a photo to prove it) is me standing in front of a post office in Bhuj, a stray cow caught on camera just at the right moment. It was the perfect memento for a dumb Italian tourist in search of exotic adventures.
A very perceptive piece. Swiss love for their cows is very deep even if they eat them in the end. In India we claim to love our cows but abandon them when they are no longer useful just as widows used to be abandoned in dharamshalas on the Ganges when their men died. Leaving a cow to starve or destroy your neighbours fields so his family starves is hardly better than eating the animal.