A New Saffron Moral of the Story

A Karnataka school textbook modifies a folk tale for a lesson on cow protection

BANGALORE ~ The term ‘saffronisation of education’ gets an entirely new meaning in BJP-ruled Karnataka. The moral of a folk tale, once about honesty, has been changed to a lesson opposing cow slaughter in an eighth standard textbook in Mangalore and neighbouring districts.

The fable is a story every child in the region grows up with, and goes thus: Punyakoti, a cow, comes across a hungry tiger while hurrying home one evening. It pleads with the tiger to let her go because she needs to feed her calf one last time. Punyakoti promises to return after that to be eaten. The tiger, moved by the cow’s plea, agrees. Punyakoti keeps her promise, which surprises the tiger. The cow replies: “I will not go back on my promise. If truth is not honoured, God will not approve.” Touched, the tiger thinks that God will be angry if he eats this cow, and jumps off a cliff and dies. In the textbook, the ending is modified slightly. The tiger promises Punyakoti that it will never eat cows again.

Catholic educators who have schools in the region oppose the ending as being anti-minority. They have brought it to the notice of a bishop who hosted a conference on education. These protestors allege that the modification is in line with a government measure to discourage beef eating. Recently, it even amended the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Prevention Act of 1964 to ensure harsher punishment for cow slaughter, usage and possession of beef. It restricts the transportation, sale, purchase and disposal of cattle for slaughter. The Bill is hanging fire as the Governor has not given his assent and is now awaiting a presidential reference.

C Motamma, opposition leader in the state’s legislative council, says that after she raised the issue, the government has now agreed to restore the original tale. “Children should not be brainwashed into thinking that slaughtering cows is wrong because they are considered sacred by Hindus. This fable conveys a message of truthfulness. Distorting it to suit political ends is not right,” she says.

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Anil Budur Lulla