The Cow on a Morning Walk

Mother and I were on a morning walk. We noticed that a cow was on the same path behind us. It would be about 6.30 in the morning. Mother started walking fast to escape the cow, but the cow was quick to follow. The cow was a clean one; she was white and very beautiful. After some time, we saw the cow entering the main gate of a neighbour’s home. The cow had a child like enthusiasm as she went through the entrance. We learnt that every morning the landlady of that house used to feed that stray cow with bread (rotis). That was why the cow was coming to her house that morning too. I thought about the cow. Every morning she would wait for the time her owner would release her and then she would run for that lady’s house. It should be more than the food because since the cow wandered all through the day, she could find better food elsewhere. I thought that it should be the love and reception that made the cow come to the house every morning as a routine. Then I also recalled how the cows which would be taken long distances for grazing (by cowherds) would travel back to their homes every sunset, all on themselves. So cows have memory, cows have discipline and routine and cows understand love too. And the motherly aspect of cows is unparallel; a cow would clean her children with her tongue and gentle mother cows would turn ferocious to protect their babies. It pointed towards an alternative world of cows living on this earth, with their complete lifecycle. And then there are so many other animal species too.

On so many fronts, these cows are far better than us. On routine, punctuality, and discipline, they are better than us because of their nature. They are gentler and less violent than us. On character traits like loyalty, love, devotion, reliability, or perseverance, they score far better than we humans. I realise that there is more to this world than meets the eye…

- Rahul