Kamdhenu The Wish Cow

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Ahimsa Research Foundation

Page 22

KAMAD HENU
banks of rivers, at the junction of streams, or close to lakes and forests. The Hindu economy developed out of its productive soil. The Hindu Civilisation had become inseparably involved with the cow. Without protecting the cow, there cannot be protection of the forests, the soil and water.
It used to be said of ancient India, that 'It is a land of flowing Milk and Ghee.' That is to say there was abundance of milk and ghee. The cows and buffaloes were highly milch animals. Therefore, ghee too was in abundance. Animals were looked after as members of a family.
The animals grazed freely on the grazing grounds. Every family could afford to have a cow. But due to the English rule's policies determental to India, the cows in the villages had become limited to the households of only wealthy villagers or wealthy traders or at best the Maldharis. When dairies were established in the cities, those operating the dairies began to require cows and buffaloes for their dairies and thus began the trade in cows along with the trade in milk.
While on one hand, the dairymen bought the best cows and buffaloes from the Maldharis and brought them to the cities to start their trade in milk, the Government started licensed abattoirs in the cities, like in Calcutta and these abattoirs ensured that they got on unhindered supply of animals.
The following reasons are responsible for the hindrance of animal protection and animal rearing in our country: