Rajasthan minister links cow milk to intelligence, buffalo milk to laziness

Under the revived system, one village cowherd will be appointed for over 70 cows. If the number exceeds 70, two cowherds will be appointed. Each village cowherd will receive Rs 10,000 per month.

• Rajasthan minister claims cow milk boosts children's intelligence
• Plan to appoint village cowherds for cow conservation announced
• Each cowherd to get Rs 10,000 monthly, funded by local donors

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Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar on Sunday claimed that milk from indigenous cows makes children active and intelligent, while buffalo milk leads to sluggishness.

Speaking at a gathering on ‘Go-Samvardhan and Gocharan’ (cow conservation and grazing) in Ramganj Mandi constituency, Dilawar announced a plan to revive the traditional village cowherd system. Under the initiative, one ‘village cowherd’ (Guwala) will be appointed for every 70 cows across 14 villages in the area. If the number exceeds 70, two cowherds will be appointed. Each cowherd will receive Rs 10,000 per month, with the arrangement supported by local donors (Bhamashahs), officials said.

During his address, the minister sought to justify his claims about cow milk.

"A person who drinks the milk of a high-shouldered indigenous cow becomes intelligent, whereas those who drink buffalo milk tend to be sluggish," the minister said.

He illustrated his point by suggesting an example involving calves. According to Dilawar, if calves of cows and buffaloes are released from a distance, a cow’s calf would directly run to its mother, while a buffalo’s calf would struggle to locate its mother.

"It justifies that the child, drinking cow milk, is scholarly, brainy, whereas the buffalo's calf is weak in the mind," he said.

Offering another example, he added, "Give each calf -- both the cow and the buffalo -- a full feed of milk before letting them return to their mothers. The buffalo calf, after a few steps, would cough and begin to doze off, while the cow calf, with its tail held high, would spring into lively motion, showcasing its playful energy and sharp intelligence."

Dilawar also referred to traditional terminology used for cow and buffalo offspring. He explained that a cow’s calf is called ‘Bachada’ at birth, then ‘Keda’ (heifer) in adolescence, ‘Naykiya’ as it matures, and eventually a bull. In contrast, he said, a buffalo’s calf continues to be referred to as ‘Pada’ from infancy to maturity.

"If you want progress for your children, want to get them forward and make them intelligent and playful, offer them milk of 'Gou Mata'," Dilawar said.

The event was also attended by Ramdayal Maharaj of the Shri Ramsnehi sect based in Shahpura, Bhilwara.