India: Cowed

All that kill cows rot in hell for as many years as there are hairs on the body of the cow they kitted.

—Ancient Hindu Scripture

The news sent a shudder of horror through India. Indian newspapers called it "a calamity." What outraged them was that 200 cows living in a large rest home maintained by Punjab state died last week of malnutrition and exposure. Two M.P.s of the right-wing, ultra Hindu Jana Sangh Party related the horrible details: a thousand cattle had been crowded together at Mattewara in flimsy bamboo sheds, sinking in mud and dung until they keeled over...

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