n the past, cattle and other pet animals were integral to village life. Cattle were reared for milk, meat, and agricultural activities. But with increasing mechanisation of agriculture, cattle wealth is on the decline and with that, the bond between other animals and man began getting weakened.

I recall how my house was always abuzz with activity with galloping calves, lactating cows, muscular bulls, pregnant buffaloes, roosters and hen with chicks, goats, dogs and cats. In fact, cattle were regarded as wealth.

Till the 1960s and 1970s, almost every house owned tens of cattle, a dog and a cat. To house the cattle, a separate shed was constructed. Milch and draught cattle were tethered and calves were let off freely.

Unlike now, the dog was not tethered and the cat would freely roam. Poultry birds were kept in coops after sunset when they come for roosting. As a child, every morning my task was to drive off my buffaloes and cows to a village square and hand them over to a cattle herder. He, in turn, takes all the cattle for grazing in the common grazing lands. If a new calf arrives in my house, it was a festival.

We were assigned the task of feeding the calf with tender leaves, giving it water and bathing it on holidays. Tethering the calf after returning from grazing were our other assigned tasks. In this way, we learnt to show empathy towards animals and also learnt the rules of coexistence from childhood days.

Once the mother cow returns from grazing, the calf was tethered by us.

During holidays, we used to play with calves and call them by name. They were just like our family members. When our semi pet dog produced a litter, our joy knew no bound. We learnt to share space with other species. Thus, childhood passed with out any stress.

During milking times, I used to sit by the side of my grandmother with a small tumbler. After milking was over, I used to beg her to fill the tumbler with fresh milk.

Disregarding her advice that drinking raw milk was not good for health, I used to relish it.

When a pair of oxen was sold out of economic necessity, my mother sobbed like a child.

Such was the bond that all family members had developed towards the draught animals and were respected and even worshipped on occasions such as Pongal.

In my childhood days I have realised that any animal has the right to exist as human beings do.

Now, things have changed slowly and steadily, their place being replaced by machines.

Human bond with animals is getting weakened by the day. Care for animals is on the decline. Animal space has shrunk. The idea that this planet belongs to all including non-humans is on the wane. It is time to teach our children the rules of coexistence with animals.

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