After I wrote that bit on the cow, a popular poem - on the utility of the cow, which we had read in primary classes started ringing in the mind. But I could recollect only two verses. Then I looked in the collection of children’s poems which I had, and found the full poem “Govina charitre” written by Sri.S G Narasimhaachaar.
While most of the verses describe the utility of a cow in a very nice way, the last verse which describes the insensitivity of the human being and exploitation of the noble creature touches the heart. And this was written by a noble soul who loved the creatures around us, decades before Maneka Gandhi thought of writing about the exploitation in her coloumn “heads and tales”. Any one who can read kannada need no explanation.
While most of the verses describe the utility of a cow in a very nice way, the last verse which describes the insensitivity of the human being and exploitation of the noble creature touches the heart. And this was written by a noble soul who loved the creatures around us, decades before Maneka Gandhi thought of writing about the exploitation in her coloumn “heads and tales”. Any one who can read kannada need no explanation.
Those who have seen milk only in bottles and plastic packets may not appreciate the last stanza, but I very vividly recollect the milkman (literal translation of “haalappa”) milking the cow, while the cow licked the stuffed calf placed in front of it.
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