Ox carts, cows and such...

(flash back to Chennai)

This random little photo of a bullock or ox cart entering the toll plaza started an interesting conversation with my driver (the new one).

“Mam, you don’t use ox in your home country?” “No, we don’t use Ox in the States.”
“Oh, you use horses??”
“No, only in remote places in the west or in the country do they use horses. Like on ranches or farms.”
“No ox or horses on the road??”
“No, no ox, no horses, no cows, no goats, either. They are kept in fields with fences.” (as we drive past a little herd of goats trotting along the OMR – a “highway”, using the term loosely)
“In fact,” I add, “if anyone sees a cow or horse or goat, someone usually calls their owner to get them off the roads. Even then, they will only be out in the country, no where near the city.”
“ And bicycles, mam?”
“Very few people use bicycles to get to work. Most bicycles are for recreation. And their aren’t that many motor cycles, either”
Driver responds with silent contemplation.…

This reminds me of another conversation my driver (the new one) had with my dad regarding cows on the roads and what we perceive as their beliefs: First of all, cows here are used for milk. Very important part of their livelihood, milk is. Most cows are owned by the local temple. Cow’s milk is used for many of the Hindu ceremonies. And, secondly, cows are viewed as important because their lord Vishnu rides a cow to enter into heaven. But the cow is not a god, just simply important. (I may be missing something here but that is what I understand from our other driver - a more devout fellow)

It’s funny that these cows roam during the day, eating what ever they can find… in the garbage or on the side of the road (oh, same thing) or from a veg stand that no one is watching, and even occasionally, a rare tuft of grass. I’ve seen quite a few cows shoo-ed away with some rather smart whacks to the back side with a stick (they don’t mind hitting the naughty cow). Water buffalo and goats are pretty much handled the same way. Funny thing, the cows make it back to their temple at night (or the road near their temple). Ox on the other hand, are used as beasts of labor and tied at all times. Not so sure if they are just more important/valuable as workers or just don’t know how to cross the roads by them selves. The cows are pretty good at crossing the road (and lying in the middle of the road), so are the goats. Water buffalo, on the other hand, have a lot more attitude and take their own meandering time when crossing the road. Sorry, I got side tracked…

We’ve, at times, had chuckles and wondered what happens to the person that hits a cow on the road here. Thinking some bad mojo must befall them, they have to do some special pooja, or something along those lines. So, Dad just asks: “what happens when you hit a cow?” Driver, with a blank stare, “excuse me sir?” Dad repeats with a bit added for clarification, “what happens when you hit a cow with a car?”

Driver responds with a grin, “oh, nothing happens to me, sir, usually the cow is damaged, though.”