The Sacred Cow: Politics and the Hindu State

How did the cow—once eaten and sacrificed in ancient India—become the blazing symbol of a modern political movement? In this episode, we trace the rise of Gau Mata as a tool of Hindu nationalism, unpacking how a constructed sacred ideal has fueled polarization, vigilante violence, and some of the most fraught Hindu-Muslim tensions of recent years. We revisit the 2015 lynching of Mohammed Akhlaq, explore the historical texts that contradict today’s sanctity narrative, and examine how the BJP has used cow protection to forge a forceful national identity. And in a bitter twist, we hear how the strictest bans and loudest rhetoric often leave the cows themselves abandoned and suffering. What does it mean when an animal becomes a political weapon?https://www.economist.com/christmas-specials/2022/12/20/indias-movement-to-protect-cows-is-rooted-in-politics-not-religion