My holy cows.

Growing up we had two cows. Kappu and Sawitri.

My shocked mother once opened our door to find my "all creatures big and small" loving father standing there with a beautiful, black-coated jersey cow of about 6 months rubbing her big head on Papa's trousers.

"What is this?"

"Jersey cow."

"What are you planning to do with it?"

"Paaleinge."

"Cow?!"

Father nodded with a humor-me smile.

So trotted into the house, our new pet, not a dog (we already had three) but a cow.

Big beautiful eyes, shining black coat and the spirit of a stallion.

She would chew out the rope that kept her inside her cabin that Papa built in the backyard then ran around, with our school shirts and tunics blinding her vision, tangled in her thorns and getting all mangled up.

We'd close the doors tight and hang on to the windows watching her go "takbak takbak" till Papa came home. The mending of the tunics and shirts increased exponentially when we had her.

She even spoke to my father. Once a snake made her way to her cabin. She was scared. My father was asleep but she called out to him. And he heard her.

He spent half the night cooing to her.

*****

Do we love cows? We eventually had two. One was a brat. Another a lady.

One wreaked havoc in our sophisticated neighbourhood. Another wouldn't look at me if my hands were dirty.

Before I hit 12, I could make a meal for 2 cows and serve them expertly, dodging their enthusiastic teeth.

My family has roots in Madhya Pradesh. So, the news of the beef ban there made us raise our eyebrows.

Beef eating is not exactly rampant in the state. Damoh is the only place which is known for the availability of beef. So, to get a Presidential signature to ban beef seems more a provocation than any real concern for cows.

A state where "shikaar" (Hunting/poaching) of the national bird, deer and neel gaaye by the very people who govern or have influence with them is normal, has now banned beef. Violators will be given the same punishment rapists gets.

A state that built a gaudy eyesore worth Rs 27 lac on the waters of its capital, is now debating changing the name of Bhopal to Bhojpal. That Madhya Pradesh leads the nation in child mortality and malnutrition are lesser priorities.

*****

A vet once left my Father shocked by describing the plight of street cows.

The 'Go-shaala" where they are dragged to and chained are merciless places. They frequently dont get food or water, trembling on weak hungry legs.

They are bought and sold like slaves by those who are charged with looking after them.

This is the horrid reality that no one dares change, because the provocateurs are the one's who profit from it.

This is not about which party rules the state. It's not even a religious thing, Or a freedom thing.

This is the acid of ugly politics. It seeps in and rots our lives.

What did the unnecessary provocation get Madhya Pradesh ? Not much concrete beyond temporarily trending on Twitter.

I see outrageous headlines in newspapers. I see arguments from both the sides. I see them turning into a Hindu-Muslim thing.

And all I remember is my Father cooing to Kappu all night.