Reflections on the Recent Yatra

To begin with, let me state unequivocally that this article is not intended to mock or ridicule any faith as we all live in a country where everyone has the right and freedom to practice and profess any religion of one’s choice. All the views expressed here are purely from a normal Naga layman’s perspective without any malice whatsoever. As such it should not be taken out of context as the writer of this article, though a Christian, has equal respect for people of all religion.  

In the land called India situated in South East Asia, the term “Holy Cow” is not an expression of surprise or frustration but a term which is to be taken literally. Majority of the inhabitants here follow Hinduism and the four legged animal is considered to be holy and as such “Holy Cow” in India means exactly that. The proponents of the Hindu Faith even say that the cow is not only holy but that it is our mother and as such the cow should be referred to as mata (mother). Thus, according to these people, doing harm to this animal is condemnable and as such cow slaughter and eating of beef should be discouraged or even banned. 

If we look at the anatomy and dietary habits of animals, the cow is probably an animal which most of us would consider one of the cleanest. For instance, the cow eats only grass and vegetation. It does not roam around in the waste areas sniffing and consuming human wastes or other objectionable items. Even the cow dung is considered to be the best manure all over the world as it is naturally processed.   
The cow may be ugly and the cow dung may be even uglier than the cow. But it is noteworthy that we do not consider the cow or the cow dung to be something despising like the way we do towards some other animals. This may be because we are all aware that cows eat only fresh and clean grass and also because the cow dung, though ugly, does not have any repelling odor. For instance, even if dinner is served to us near a cow shed surrounded by cow dung all around, most of us can easily eat our dinner there without even moving to a more distant place. But if dinner is served near an area where other domestic animals like pigs or chickens are reared, most of us would certainly prefer to move away to a place where we do not have to deal with the odor. 

So, undoubtedly, all of us will agree that the cow is a clean animal. But to consider the cow as a holy one and venerate it to the status of a deity worthy to be revered and worship would be viewed with skepticism by many. Some people in India have even gone to the extent of considering and drinking the urine of the cow as medicine and a natural cure for many ailments. But these ideas and beliefs have no scientific or justifiable rationale behind them. For many around the world, the cow is just another domestic animal which we rear for its milk and meat. 

I do not have any knowledge about from where and from which point in their history did the Hindus start to consider the cow as holy and worthy to be venerated as a deity. So I cannot dwell much into this subject. But I can certainly share how people in general would view these types of beliefs. 

To encounter and believe something introduced to us by total strangers, I believe common sense and our reasoning power also have to play a crucial part. Man cannot just simply believe anything that is conveyed to him if the message does not make any sense to him or rings a bell or strikes a chord in his conscience. For instance, if the American missionaries who came to our land in the 19th century came and told us that mount Japfü is our god or that the Doyang river is a holy river and we need to revere and worship them, will the Nagas ever accept such an absurd message? The Nagas might have been backward, illiterate, ignorant and uncivilized in the 19th century. But even in the 19th century our forefathers had their common sense and reasoning power and it would have been an impossible task even for any advanced civilization to come to our lands and brainwash us with a totally absurd message which makes no appeal whatsoever to our primitive conscience or common sense.     

Then why were the Nagas able to accept a totally new and foreign message called the gospel when it was introduced to them by the American missionaries in the 19th century. I guess it’s because the gospel message, though totally foreign and alien, was able to strike a chord in our conscience, heart and mind. And even with their most primitive common sense and reasoning power, our forefathers could somehow comprehend and believe the totally foreign gospel message because the gospel had answers to the most fundamental questions that a man may ever want to ask in his life. 

The gospel talks about the creation of man; how man got separated from his creator; why everyone dies; how a man can find answers to his quest for eternal life and what is the ultimate purpose of our lives. Like all other people, our forefathers also pondered over these universal mysteries. So when the American missionaries reached us with the gospel which seemed to encompass a logical answer to all these mind-boggling mysteries, the Nagas could somehow comprehend that this must be the ultimate truth and revelation. So even with their most primitive common sense and understating power they could grasp and accept a totally foreign message because it had substance in it.   

However the recent intention of some so-called cow protectors or cow proponents to come to our land and brief us on the sanctity of the animal and the necessity to give up cow slaughter and beef consumption failed to garner the momentum. We Nagas are by nature very accommodative and we won’t mind listening to, entertaining or even accepting even a totally foreign message if the message can somehow prick our conscience or appeal to our common sense. All over the world and since time immemorial beef has been a favourite dish of mankind and the Nagas are no exception. So in this 21st century even if someone comes to our land and tells us that the cow is a holy animal and eating beef should be taboo, most Nagas would not be convinced and there would be no takers for such a bizarre idea whether it comes from the plains of India, from across the seas or from outer space.  

One of the most epoch making episodes of Indian history was the Revolt of 1857 which is often labeled as the First War of Indian Independence. Historians have accredited many causes for the outbreak of this revolt. However the immediate cause which sparked off the rebellion was the introduction of the so-called Enfield rifle and the cartridges for it. It was of the opinion that the cartridges of the Enfield rifle had to be bitten before using it. And it was alleged that the cartridge was made up of pork and beef. For the Hindus, beef was considered impure because they worshipped the sacred animal cow. Likewise for the Muslims also, pork was considered impure.
Thus the introduction of the Enfield rifle made the soldiers, who were mostly comprised of Hindus and Muslims, think that the British government was hell bent upon destroying their religious beliefs and ethos and it led to the outbreak of the revolt. Undoubtedly, all people have great attachment to their eating habits and when these are infringed upon, the result can be rather unwelcoming.  

Religion makes man to do some of the craziest things on earth. Some of the things which we Christians do inside or outside the church may also raise eyebrows in others. As long as there is no infringement on the fundamental rights of people to believe what they wish to believe, peace can still persist among mankind. But trouble is sure to erupt when we go about trying to impose our faith and beliefs on others. And the recent so-called cow yatra turned out to be one such case as its intention not only sounded radical but also infringes on the eating habits of the inhabitants. Yes, to intrude into other people’s backyard to propagate and brainwash them with a totally alien idea which has no logical, spiritual, historical, philosophical or commonsensical foundation whatsoever is sure to incite disdain, disgust, fear, suspicion, tension, violence or even outright revolution with far reaching consequences. 
 



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