Economist Podcasts Cattle lines are drawn: cows in India
Dec 27, 2022
Avantika Chilkoti, an international correspondent for The Economist, joins Simon Cox, a senior economics writer, and Catherine Nixey, a Britain correspondent, to dive into the complex relationship between cows and politics in India. They discuss the cultural reverence for cows and the stark realities of their treatment, influenced by political agendas. The conversation also tackles philosophical questions about population ethics, examining how future generations are affected by today's policies, and reflects on the fading legacy of foreign-language phrasebooks in a digital age.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Modi's Pink Revolution Argument
- In 2014, Narendra Modi used the "pink revolution" as a political argument during his campaign.
- He accused the government of promoting cattle slaughter, appealing to Hindu reverence for cows.
Cows: Revered but Suffering
- Cows hold a revered position in India, receiving worship and preferential treatment.
- However, despite their sacred status, their actual living conditions are often poor.
Cow Politicization and Violence
- The politicization of cows continues in India, often aligning with Hindu fundamentalism.
- This has led to violence against those who rely on cows for sustenance.