The central fact of Hinduism, however, is cow protection. Cow protection, to me, is one of the most wonderful phenomena in human evolution. It takes the human being beyond his species. The cow, to me, means the entire sub-human world. Man through the cow is enjoined to realize his identity with all that lives. Why the cow was selected for apotheosis is obvious to me. The cow was, in India, the best companion. She was the giver of plenty. Not only did she give milk, but she also made agriculture possible. The cow is a poem on pity. One reads pity in the gentle animal. She is the mother of millions of Indian man-kind. Protection of the cow means protection of the whole dumb-creation of God. The ancient seer, whoever he was, began with the cow. The appeal of the lower order of creation is the gift of Hinduism to the world. And Hinduism will live so long as there are Hindus to protect the cow.
Kollam Chapter
Reg. No: 40/2004
This Kollam Chapter was formed in December 2003 by a group of similar-minded teachers. At that time there were no such organizations locally. It was registered under the Indian Trusts Act on February 5th 2004, under the chairperson-ship of Smt Maneka Gandhi, MP.
We work via all avenues to improve conditions for animals locally. Among our most important programmes is the Animal Birth Control (ABC) initiative, wherein street animals are sterilized, vaccinated and returned to their colonies to live out their lives harmlessly and healthily. Another way we seek to reduce the stray population is by encouraging people to adopt Indian dogs from the street or shelters instead of buying foreign pedigrees.
Our awareness campaigns include schools and colleges, as a part of the functioning of the Kindness Club. We also conduct free veterinary camps in villages, during which free medicine and feed are distributed. We also vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies.
Our Animal Ambulance has been modified into a mobile Animal Clinic. The cost of the land for our Animal Shelter has been met via a grant from the National Chairperson Maneka Gandhi, and also through donations. The shelter construction has started, and is now half done. The grant for this construction was provided by the Animal Welfare Board of India.
Just one among many of our activities, the Kollam Chapter was instrumental in forming a Kindness Club to promote kindness and awareness among people.