Cows Are Sacred In India And Yet....
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
January 29, 2010 7:46pm CST
...they are killed for their skins i.e leather, am I right? Why is this? If a cow is sacred it is sacred. I know that it covers just "eating" the cow but why should it not apply to its skin as well? Killing is killing am I right?
I know all this because so-called "Italian Leather" - popular in the UK, is now imported from India. It's true!
I want to know why the Indians have suddenly decided that killing cows for profit is OK.
I want to know why the Indians have suddenly decided that killing cows for profit is OK.1 person likes this
8 responses
@ravi_s2025 (510)
• India
5 Feb 10
Let me tell you on thing..Don't think that everyone who live in India is Hindu.Cow is a sacred animal for HINDUS only. 20% of people in india are muslims and christians.Killing of cow is banned in India.But in some states like Kerala it is not banned because the state is ruled by communist party idiots.So the cows from other states are furtively sent to kerala so that they can kill it without fearing anyone.Moreover,kerala has 30% muslim population.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
5 Feb 10
Thank you for educating me on this subject, it is much appreciated.
@sulsisels (1685)
• United States
30 Jan 10
Hi Janey..From what I understand, cows are still very much sacred in India. The slaughtering of the animal to make shoes and handbags is done brutally in illegal slaughter houses. The problem seems to be that not only is it a 4 billion dollar industry, it also employs 2.5 million Indians. PETA has actively attacked the issue and has been successful getting large companies like the Gap, Donna Karan, Eddie Bauer and Timberland to stop buying Indian leather. Another problem is that
banning the industry would only put it "underground" as well as unemploy millions. The challenge is now for the government to balance the right of the animals, sacred to many, and the rights of the industry which is now threatened. I personally am all for boycoting Indian leather. I don't want to see millions out of work, but can't stand the thought of inhumane treatment of the animal either. Its definately a huge issue. PETA is a wonderful orginazation and should be commended for the work they have done there..Unfortunately it just isnt enough.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Jan 10
I'm pretty sure it was PETA where I found out about the Indian leather thing...on their British version of the site. Thanks for giving me even more information about this, it is much appreciated. I just needed to understand what was happening and - more importantly, why? I do know that Chinese leather isn't very good either. We have had instances in the UK where people's legs "sting" when they sit on it because of chemicals, I think! It's a huge problem as manufacturing is a dying industry here so leather seems to come from anywhere that's "cheap" but animals suffer as a result.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
30 Jan 10
This is sad news. I had no idea that this went on in India. I guess that as there is so much population there and so much competition for money to live on that some people are willing to forsake their religious beliefs in order to survive. 
There are also many different religions in India and they might not all see the cow as sacred. India is just as multicultural as Australia or England. I was actually having a discussion with a friend last night about the many different religions in India. He has been there many times and is planning to return again later this year. 
He took me to a Hare Krishna temple nearby last night. It was a great night with loads of awesome music and chanting and a great feast at the end of it all. I know for a fact that Hare Krishna's view the cow as being sacred and are all vegetarian. It was the second time that I have been to one of their temples but the first time at this one. The people that I met were all extremely friendly and polite and were a mix of mainly Indians, with some Aussies and a Japanese person as well. And yes there were pictures of cows on the wall! 
There are also many different religions in India and they might not all see the cow as sacred. India is just as multicultural as Australia or England. I was actually having a discussion with a friend last night about the many different religions in India. He has been there many times and is planning to return again later this year.
He took me to a Hare Krishna temple nearby last night. It was a great night with loads of awesome music and chanting and a great feast at the end of it all. I know for a fact that Hare Krishna's view the cow as being sacred and are all vegetarian. It was the second time that I have been to one of their temples but the first time at this one. The people that I met were all extremely friendly and polite and were a mix of mainly Indians, with some Aussies and a Japanese person as well. And yes there were pictures of cows on the wall! @Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
31 Jan 10
It just goes to show that none of us knows absolutely everything about all cultures. How can we? Every country is so diverse now. India being one of them...surprisingly so. You notice not many Indians have responded to this discussion...and the same happened with HICCUP, apparently. They are obviously a bit reluctant to talk about their cows. That Hare Krishna temple sounds awesome...and there's me thinking that India was like that. How wrong could I be?
@MrKennedy (1978)
•
30 Jan 10
Although the cow is very much sacred, I guess some Indian people are just really desperate for the money that cows can bring in, and so all thoughts of them being sacred are thrown out of the window for a handful of notes and another meal on the table.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
31 Jan 10
That's fair enough but I can't understand why the cow is so sacred if they choose to kill it.
@chandush (25)
• India
30 Jan 10
India is secular, thus there are several communities with different religious thoughts and ideas. therefore, we may say that cows are sacred to one particular religion or community but may not be the same to the other community. hence for one religion it is sacred and for other it is not. Thus cows (cattle)are slaughtered or killed for their skins, beef etc which has now become a major business of export or import in the industrial sector. So one can never conclude easily as cows are sacred in India and yet are killed for money. When money becomes primary to man, humanity never can take a stand and people are tend to such acts merely for that said money.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Jan 10
Thank you for your response as I know that you are from India. Welcome to MyLot. It does seem a shame that some communities worship the cow and others don't. It must be about money...and I don't condone your nation for that, it's just that I worry that cattle won't be treated as well as in other areas where they are sacred. You see what I mean? I have boycotted Egypt as a holiday destination because they chose to over-react because of Swine Flu and burned ALL their pigs alive with acid, burning them and leaving them to die in total agony...in broad daylight as well. Compassion in World Farming was not impressed, as you can imagine. Please, if you witness any cruelty, report it. If it goes unreported then it escalates. I also know that the UK is not perfect either and am willing to accept we, too have a long way to go.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
30 Jan 10
Yes there was a big festival recently wasn't there? It received a lot of criticism around the world as it was on such a big scale.
@allknowing (136446)
• India
30 Jan 10
Cow slaughter is banned in certain parts of the country and it is in the other parts of the world there is no restriction whatsoever and they are killed for whatever purpose. Cow slaughter is banned in India for all purposes. But the slaughter of cattle excluding cows is not banned.
