The Sandip Roy Show
The holy cow and the dairy dilemma ft Yamini Narayanan
Mar 2, 2025
Yamini Narayanan, a Senior Lecturer in International and Community Development at Deakin University and author of 'Mother Cow, Mother India,' dives deep into the complexities of India's revered dairy industry. She discusses the irony of cows being seen as sacred while facing harsh realities like forced separation from calves and over-lactation. The podcast highlights the intersections of animal rights, socio-political issues, and the activism of marginalized communities, prompting listeners to reconsider ethical consumption and the true cost of dairy.
47:34
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The podcast reveals the complexities of India's dairy industry, highlighting the emotional distress caused by the separation of cows from their calves.
- It explores the role of cow vigilantism in India, emphasizing the tension between animal welfare and nationalist ideologies that often distort cultural significance.
Deep dives
India's Unique Dairy Industry
India hosts the largest dairy herd in the world and has been the leading dairy producer since 1997. This remarkable position is attributed to the unique political and cultural symbolism associated with cows in India, where the animal is revered and often described as sacred. Unlike dairy industries in many countries where milk production is not intrinsically linked to slaughter, the Indian context complicates this by prohibiting cow slaughter. As a result, the industry's economic operations, particularly concerning unproductive dairy animals, create a complex cycle of treatment and potential neglect that doesn't align with global norms.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
