It is unfortunate that anti-social elements and vested interests have now hijacked the gau raksha narrative. There is no doubt that the Indian cow, specifically those breeds that are native to this country, require our urgent attention. Or soon they will be extinct
In the midst of a raging controversy in the country on cow vigilantes taking the law in their own hands, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call to the nation and firm directions to State Governments for taking strict action against such anti-socials, this author had an opportunity to attend a lecture on the medicinal use of cow products.
The lecture was organised by Kalpavriksha Foundation, founded by a software engineer, Vaisnava Charan Das, a bachelor who after working for 15 years in the consultancy business, quit his job and dedicated his life to making cows self sustainable.
He did extensive study on Indian cows and is now applying his knowledge on the subject and entrepreneurship skills, along with the team of professionals, to the areas of cow care, technology, marketing, management, etc. Das intends to revive the fading gene pool of indigenous cows, as well as make available to the society genuine cow products that are of verifiable medicinal value.
He had more than 100 Indian breed cows in his farm in Bhopal. He sells medicines prepared from cow urine and cow dung to the general public from his outlet at the ISKCON temple in Sant Naga, Delhi, and through franchises. The Kalpavriksha’s objective is to create awareness about importance of cow products.
The products are sold under the brand name ‘Doctor Cow’ and released in the market after research. They are produced under Good Manufacturing Practices better known as GMP, and have ISO certificate on quality. They also have proper approvals from the Department of Ayush, as well as the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India.
The plan is to set up a global distribution network through a chain of franchises for cow panchgavya, organic dairy products. The organisation also plans to connect all goshalas with a co-operative network, and provide consultancy in setting up of goshalas. This is a perfect example of the way cow protection should be taken up, and sure Prime Minister Modi will be happy to learn about this venture being propagated by the citizens, without aid from the Government and outside the media glare.
Uttam Maheswari, a renowned proponent of cow protection and an expert on cow therapy (who is said to have cured many people of diseases like paralysis, slip disc, liver failures) spoke for two hours on cow therapy and medicines prepared from cow milk, urine and dung, and panchgavya.
In the end, the audience was introduced to Mohammed Faiz Khan, a cow protector. Khan left his job as an assistant professor and has now devoted himself to cow protection. He is the author of the book, Islam and Cow. Khan is also involved in mobilising Muslims and educating them about th importance of cow in Islam. He is active in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and is emerging as a positive hero not only in the cow protection movement but at animal welfare programmes.
This is in sharp contrast to the self proclaimed gau rakshaks, who are mostly anti-socials and local goons masquerading as vigilantes. It has been reported that the Unna incident in Gujarat, wherein Dalits were attacked, was a conspiracy. The media must give prominent place to people like Khan and the Kalpavriksha foundation to show the real face of India.
Now let us examine the scientific facts and the policy options for the Government on this. The success of cow therapy validates the research done in many parts of the world on the quality of A1 and A2 types of milk produced by European and Indian breeds of cows respectively. The Devil in the Milk, a book written by Keith Woodford, an agriculture expert from New Zealand, on A1 and A2 milk, details the genetic basis of the difference in the two types of milk.
A2 milk is produced by Indian Cows with a hump on their back and is far superior in both taste and quality. The A1 milk is produced by the European Holstein Friesian and Australian-origin Jersey Cows. In A1, the beta-casein digests differently than in A2 as it releases a peptide called beta-caso-morphin7. This is the devil in the milk, as it goes in the blood and creates several diseases like diabetes, autism, heart attacks etc. A2 milk is closer to human milk.
According to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, Canada, the conservation of indigeneous cattle’s genetic bio-diversity is critical in India — where already 27 of 64 Indigenous cattle breeds are extinct. India is expected to add another 15 breeds to further extinct status in the next five years.
It is of interest to note that Brazil has nearly 200 million cattle that consist of 80 per cent Indian cow breeds or Indian cow breeds-crossed cattle. The majority of Indian cow breeds in Brazil are of the Nellore breed (90 per cent), which first arrived in Brazil in 1868.
Today, Brazil is the largest producer of Nellore cattle worldwide. it has other Indian breeds also. Similarly, steps were taken by Argentina and other South American countries like Uruguay towards Indian cow breeds. Even the US has played its part. But in India, we rely mostly on foreign breeds, and this is the key concern today.
It is feared that the pure breeds are vanishing with each passing day. The Red Sindhi, the most famous for its quality of milk, is dying out — not more than 300 are left now. The Government of India needs to tackle this problem urgently.
Veterinarians are also responsible for this condition. In the name of more milk yield, they have gradually finished the Indian breeds. Had the Indian scientists taken to improving the breed of Indian cattle, we would have got milk production like Brazil is getting from Indian breeds.
The Government should reform this sector and protect indigenous breeds of cattle through a multipronged approach. This is one sector which can not only end hunger among landless but can also end unemployment in rural areas, apart from conserving the best cattle bio-diversity of the world.
(The writer is former Principal Secretary, Government of Tripura)
