‘Cows lying down on a Footpath’ on Queens road BANGALORE
Today I saw a cow lying down on a cement footpath, of the new initiative of the Karnataka Project, The Tender Sure project. Though the COVID-19 restrictions have slightly been lifted in Bangalore, the city has resumed into its chaotic traffic, I sat inside the Bangalore Auto rickshaw leaving home heading towards Cubbon Park, I was stuck in traffic on Queens road sitting inside the Auto rickshaw looking outside at the traffic and what caught my attention was this cow lying down on this incomplete cemented footpath, She was covered in cement except for her face, all that dust covering her beautiful black fur, It was about seven and a half minutes stuck in traffic and she was lying there thirsty breathing that rather dusty air dazing at the slow moving traffic, she had nothing to chew on but comfortably took over the entire foot path. As a calf I am sure she would remember the clear air and the smell of due in the morning, running along covered in wet mud, With light rain encouraging them to run along especially on a hot day on lush green pasture often stopping to graze and lying down comfortably. I was filled with pain and deep sadness to see the young Cow in such a state away from its kind left abandoned surrounded with Indians with their non-stop honking which has become the dominant soundtrack, as rattling rickshaws, public buses, private cars, and weaving motorbikes fighting for space on the traffic-clogged roads. I am sure the little cow wants to lie down to ease her stomach on the perfect green grass resting for hours in peace away from traffic-clogged roads and away from Urban Indian roads of the restless Indian chaotic streets where roads are filled with fast moving vehicles emitting dirty air and grazing among waste disposed on tar roads roaming around in traffic swaying their tails all that and being muzzled with ropes left loose on a busy Friday afternoon.These gentle animals are currently the talk of the town, The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill-2020 bill provides for a blanket of prohibition of slaughter of cows in Karnataka proposing a maximum of seven years’ imprisonment and fine of five Lakh Rupees (6,887$ United States Dollar) for the offenders