The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked Vice-Chancellors of all universities to encourage students to write the Central government’s “indigenous cow science” examination at the end of this month.
Cow dung can be used as protection against radiation in nuclear centres in India and Russia, the study material for the examination claims. It further says that it protected Bhopal residents from gas leakage. The study has also made a link between earthquakes and cow slaughter and says that Jersey cows are lazy and their milk quality is not good when compared with indigenous cow whose milk is yellow.
Last month, there were voices against the removal of this material in the English version of the study text. However many local languages still have these versions of study material.
The UGC letter said that the examination is taken by the Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA), which works under the Animal Husbandry Ministry to spread information on the “economic, scientific, environmental, health, agricultural and spiritual relevance of the indigenous cow” while The all-India examination, which is open to school and college students as well as other citizens, will be held on February 25.
“I write this to request you, to give wide publicity to this initiative and encourage students to enroll/ register themselves for this examination,” wrote UGC Secretary Rajnish Jain.
The revised English version of the study material now has three sections.
“Divinity is locked up in the anatomy of the cow as she is said to embody the elements of purity, reality and existence. Her face epitomizes innocence – her eyes reflect peace, her horns, royalty and her ears, intelligence. Her udders are the fountain of ambrosia in the form of milk,” says the first section, which is titled ‘Kamdhenu Desi Cows and some Shlokas in Scripture’. Apart from quotes from the Vedas, it also cites the Bible and Muslim theologian Al Ghazali to make its case.
It further claims that “Its compositional properties are heated, juicy, and basic in nature. Its amazing germicidal power to kill varieties of germs destroys most germs related to diseases. Cow urine is great elixir, proper diet, pleasing to heart, the giver of mental and physical strength, enhances longevity. It removes all blood disorders.”
