In India cows are safer than women and Muslims
Mother cow
In Hinduism, the largest religion in India, cows are considered holy. But in a country where violence against women and Muslims often makes international headlines, the government is criticized for glorifying and politicizing this animal while ignoring violence towards women and minorities .
Western traditions shut down
During Modi’s Hindu nationalist administration, the cow has taken on further political significance and western traditions celebrated in India have been shut down by the government.
Valentine’s Day in India
One such case is Valentine’s Day. Specially popular among young people in India, it has boosted mass marketing campaigns featuring bouquets of flowers, teddy bears, heart-shaped gifts and flamboyant romantic gestures.
Hindu nationalists think it’s a promoter of corrupt values
But as Hindu nationalist politics have taken hold in India, westernised holidays and traditions, especially Valentine’s Day, have drawn a backlash for promoting “corrupt” values.
Attacks on shops selling Valentine’s Day goods
Rightwing extremist groups, who have often engaged in the moral policing of women, have attacked shops selling Valentine’s cards and decorations and targeted couples seen holding hands.
Alleged encouragement of “female promiscuity”
Much of the anti-Valentine’s rhetoric has been targeted at women, alleging that the holiday encourages female promiscuity and vulgar behaviour.
The latest attempt to make ‘reverence of the cow’ a nationwide policy
Cow Hug Day is the latest initiative by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) government, led by the prime minister, Narendra Modi, to make reverence of the cow a nationwide policy.
Cow hug policy would bring “emotional richness”
According to the government statement, hugging a cow would bring “emotional richness” and would “increase individual and collective happiness”.
The initiative prompted lots of jokes online
The move, however, prompted a flood of internet memes, cartoons and jokes about the importance of consent.
Image: Twitter/ @ChekrishnaCk
The initiative was canceled
Within a week of the announcement, after days of mockery and ridicule online, the idea was dropped, according to local news outlets.
Image: Twitter/ @Advaidism
Media outlets also mocked the initiative
For days, media outlets mocked the government’s plan, publishing satirical cartoons showing cows running away from amorous men.
The importance of consent
An anchor on one of India’s leading news channels, NDTV, was even filmed attempting to hug several cows, which appeared to reject his advances. “Consent is important,” he joked during the segment.
The cow: a political issue in India
However, it is not the first time the government has caused a stir with its policies towards cows, the killing or eating of which is considered a sin by many Hindus.
Holy cow!
Cows are holy within Hinduism, the majority religion in India, and are considered sacred animals across the country.
Killing of cows is banned in most of India
The sale and slaughter of cows is banned in much of the country and the animals are often left to roam free in the streets and roads, where motorists must avoid hitting them.
Modi has politicized the cow
Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rise to power in 2014 on a wave of Hindu-nationalism, cows have become increasingly politicized, as they’re a Hindu nationalist symbol.
Pictured, Modi’s face on cow poop.
Cow worship: A tool to discriminate Muslims?
Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is strongly aligned with conservative Hindu traditions and critics say cow-worship has been used as a tool to intimidate, harass and even kill Muslims, who they accuse of disrespecting cows.
Cow vigilante crimes ignored
According to Human Rights Watch, cow vigilante crimes in India have been ignored or covered up by authorities since Modi took office.
Ending the “pink revolution”
During Modi’s 2014 election campaign, he promised to end a “pink revolution”, a phrase he used to describe the slaughter of cattle.
A politician promised to punish cow killers
Vikram Saini, a legislator for the state of Uttar Pradesh promised his followers to “break the hands and legs” of those who kill cows.
Violence against women and minorities is ignored
The statements led to outcry in a country where violence against women and minorities make frequent headlines.
Are cows valued more than women in India?
In 2017, a photo series from photographer and activist Sujatro Ghosh portraying Indian women wearing cow masks went viral on social media. It was intended to depict a society in which cows are more valued than women.
Photo: Instagram/@sujatroghosh
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