A bond that moves...

Dear GG, I can feel your feelings . We had a dog . His name was Tom. He is long gone.
But in my memory he is still alive today. Very nice writing !

 

really moved by your emotional bonding... Only rare cases, we can come across these kinds of bonding these days!! Btw such a lovable post! thnks for sharing

 

Dear GG,
Just now I happened to read your snippet on'bond that moves'-just moistened my eyes.In today's world even sons and daughters are stated to have a hello-hello relationship and the bonding is definitely on the declining trend.Sometimes I curse the 6th sense that is human,responsible for all this degradation.
In our village home we had 4 or 5 cows and calves.
In a joint family we used to take responsibility in turns to feed, bathe and clean the cow shed, prepare the cow dung cakes etc by turns.We knew to handle cows and calves and were trained in milking also.It was a pastime to take cows for grazing, take some books, lie down on mat under a shady tree,take curd rice , drink water from the nearby stream.We didn't think about infection or pollution while taking the unclear water straight from the brook.
When I was 17, we had an unforgettable experience.The cow, Lakshmi by name ,gave birth to a lovely calf.Due to some complications in the delivery the calf died the next day. Even now the loud cry'Amma--------------------aa' of the cow is reverberating. The cow didn't take hay or any food or water however much we forced.
In the nearby village 2 Kms away from our home a cow passed away during delivery leaving behind the child.

My father thought of getting the calf into our house.
It is a known fact that cows will not suckle other than their own biological babes.
We sought the help of a knowledgeable villager in this field.The cow remained in the cow shed at the back yard.
The calf was brought home.
We prepared a paste of boiled brinjals, betel leaves, Bishop's weed and Vasambu by grinding in a grindstone( Ammi). As the cow had just delivered the previous day, the villager could take out vaginal fluid of the cow. ( as the muscles had not contracted then)He mixed it with the herbal paste and applied it liberally throughout the calf's body. The idea was to convince the cow that the calf was born of her.

Some of our neighbours abused my father for having decided to cheat a dumb animal. But my father was worried about the motherly sentiments of the cow and we could no longer tolerate the pitiable cries of the cow.
Even the gossiping and blaming neighbours were crowded at our cow shed to witness the scene.
The young calf, after being smeared with the drug paste was made to enter the house which was adorned with auspicious kolam and semman. Amma hugged the calf and showed aarti to the baby . With a loud prayer the calf was brought into the cow shed.

It was a scene, to be seen to be believed.
The calf was made to stand near the cow.Even the experienced villagers had a hesitation whether the cow will kick the young calf.The cow slowly stood up, saw the calf,hesitated for a while. For 3 mts or so it was just smelling the calf. Then it started licking the calf. The cow began to realise the drug mixed with vaginal fluid was something related to her own body fluid. She was satisified that the calf was her own. Tears rolled down her eyes. She fondly licked the calf . Within mts milk started flowing through her udders and with great sense of relief she started suckling her child.In front of 30-40 persons, the great event was staged.Tears rolled down our eyes.

Even people who blamed my father sought pardon after seeing the wonderful event of 'Maatha-shishu sangamam'.
Perhaps this was the forerunner of 'Adoption Process' in human beings and natural acceptance.Actually the seemingly deceitful act was a blessing in disguise to both mother and the babe!

Jayasala 42