Do Indian Cows Have Superpowers?
India postpones a national cow quiz following controversy over bizarre claims in the study material. Between cow science, sacred cows, and cow cuddling.
India has postponed a kind of educational quiz about cows — revered as sacred in the country — following a controversy over bizarre claims about the animals in the study material.
Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA), the government authority established for the welfare of cows, announced it would hold a nationwide, free online examination on the topic of «Gau Vigyan» (cow science) on 25 February.
In the multiple-choice quiz with around 100 questions in Hindi, English, and 12 regional languages, it was stated that killing cows causes earthquakes and that milk from Indian cows contains traces of gold.
The one-hour online quiz was originally scheduled to take place on 25 February 2021. Foreign nationals were also meant to be able to participate. Successful participants were to receive an attractive cash prize. In January, a statement from the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying regarding the study material also read: «This will make every Indian curious about cows and inform them about untapped potential and business opportunities (…).»
India’s Sacred Cows
In India, cows are sacred to the Hindu majority population. Cow milk, cow urine, and cow dung are considered healing according to traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine. However, many farmers abandon old female cows when they no longer produce milk and keeping them is no longer financially viable. Numerous animals then die in road traffic.
The current Indian government has increasingly politicised cows, invested large sums in their protection and in cow science, and partially banned the killing of these animals. How questionable political interference in the treatment of animals can be is also illustrated by debates around animal rights worldwide.
The Indian cow, or zebu, differs from the cattle breeds familiar in the West. The zebu, easily recognized by its large shoulder hump and pronounced dewlap, is more tolerant of heat and drought and more resistant to certain diseases, although it produces less milk.
Cow Cuddling Center
A non-governmental organization (NGO) announced the opening of a cow cuddling center in Tauru, Haryana, on Sunday, February 28, 2021.
According to the NGO, cuddling with cows is widespread in several countries, including the USA, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The cow cuddling method is said to involve touching the mother cow, hugging her, sitting with her, stroking her body, and breathing alongside her.
«This is said to not only heal respiratory ailments, high blood pressure, back pain, heart problems, depression, and tuberculosis, but according to psychologists, this medical practice also heals sadness, anxiety, and all kinds of tension, makes the mind healthier, and increases people's confidence», according to a press release.
Additional therapeutic benefits that the NGO claims to have observed with cow cuddling include: hugging a cow could help normalize breathing and thereby reduce stress. Due to the cow's low heart rate and high body temperature, a person undergoing the therapy feels calm and relaxed.
Some studies have shown that cuddling with cows can promote positivity and reduce stress by increasing oxytocin in humans — the hormone released during social bonding. The calming effects of being with a pet or an emotional support animal appear to be amplified when cuddling with larger mammals. Read more about the amazing abilities of animals in the animal kingdom.
