by B. R. GOWANI
No man’s job (Reuters/Amit Dave PHOTO/Quartz
After being accused of slaughtering a cow, four Hindu youths from Dalit or Untouchable caste were flogged with iron rods and sticks PHOTO/The Indian Express
Hindutva propagandists weave their hatred with lies
and accuse Muslim rulers of introducing meat pies
but since ancient times, meat was consumed by many
evidence of that is available in historical sources aplenty
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and others enjoyed this treat
Lord Agni and other deities, also loved to eat the meat
such meat was served galore to rulers and honorable guests
and marriage ceremonies had delicious meat and no arrests
then the economic/political reasons elevated status of the cow
Brahmins, the highest caste, took a not-to-kill-goddess vow
untouchable Hindus ate cow and indulged in animal slaughter
and were shunned by high castes in weather, colder or warmer
passage of time saw the animal cow become mother goddess
and is now decorated with garlands, trinkets, and bodice
for the politicians, this goddess has also become a political tool
they use it to divide the followers of different religions, so cruel
but when the same mother goddess leaves her earthly abode
her high caste believers don’t show up to sing an ode
for them, handling a dead cow’s carcass is filthy work
and they avoid going near their mother goddess; a quirk
a pregnant Dalit woman and her husband were beaten up
for refusing to dispose off a cow’s carcass in Gujarat, yup
in the state of Gujarat, every day about 2500 animals die
most carcasses are disposed off by Dalits, without a sigh
economics and politics, money and power, now
decide who eats and who sweeps away the goddess cow
one wonders where are India’s “patriotic” voices
why don’t they support Dalits, who have no choices
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com