Cow! Calf !! - and election symbols !!!!!

In the land of Bhagwan Sree Krishna, Thiruvallikkeni – Cows are common – together with young calf they present a pleasing sight to eyes !!  ~ and something on Election symbol – “பசுவும் கன்றும்”  - ever voted for this symbol !! 

தோட்டத்தில் மேயுது வெள்ளைப்பசு;  அங்கு துள்ளிக் குதிக்குது கன்றுக்குட்டி !

அம்மா என்றது வெள்ளைப்பசு ; உடன் அண்டையில் ஓடுது கன்றுக்குட்டி 

குழந்தைச் செல்வம் ஆசிரியர் கவிமணி தேசிக விநாயகம் பிள்ளை - குழந்தைகளுடன் வாழ்ந்து, குழந்தைகளுக்கான எளிய இனிய பாடல்களைப் பாடி அளித்து, தமிழ் நாட்டில் குழந்தைகளுக்கேற்ற பாடல்கள் வெளிவருவதற்கு வழிகாட்டியவர்  கவிமணி தேசிகவிநாயகம் பிள்ளை

 

Two pictures  of  “Cow and a calf”,   taken sometime back at Triplicane .. .. and something on election symbol, remember Congress had ‘Pasuvum Kanrum’ as its election symbol !!  In his book ‘The Case That Shook India: The Verdict That Led to the Emergency’  Prashant Bhushan draws attention to the court proceedings that took place in the watershed Indira Gandhi vs Raj Narain case. This particular extract highlights an interesting aspect of that debate that also seems to have a contemporary resonance: can the cow be treated as a symbol of Hindu religion? The Election Commission in 1971 had allotted the symbol of a cow and calf to the Congress party then led by Indira Gandhi. The charge against Gandhi, argued in court by Shanti Bhushan, Narain’s counsel, was that she was invoking Hindu sentiment by using the cow and calf symbol. 

In July 1951 the EC called meetings with parties to decide on symbols, and at once squabbles broke out. On July 2nd, the Times of India reported how at the first meeting the Congress, Socialist, Communist and Peasants & Workers Parties all laid claim to the plough symbol. The Socialists were particularly annoyed why “the Congress which has always been represented by a ‘charkha’ today chose to have the plough…” The EC found itself having to decide on symbol allotment, something that was to become a constant role for it. 

Not many would know that the Election Commission in 1971 had allotted the symbol of a cow and calf to the Congress party then led by Indira Gandhi. The charge against Gandhi, argued in court by Shanti Bhushan, Raj Narain’s counsel, was that she was invoking Hindu sentiment by using the cow and calf symbol. To understand better, the Congress that ruled after Independence is not the same party that Gandhi headed and fought freedom struggle.  …. And it has seen many splits, everytime when the dynasty is questioned. 

 

After the Congress split in 1969, the faction led by Indira Gandhi took  a conscious turn towards socialism. Interestingly, the new symbol of the breakaway faction led by Gandhi was that of a cow suckling its calf.  In 1969, Congress again faced internal conflicts. After the death of Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister. She decided to break out and form a new party. With majority of the Congress party members in support of her in the new party which was named Congress (Requisitionists), the other Congress came to be called Congress (Organisation).  The party’s symbol was bullocks – when it was gone, Ms Indira Gandhi turned to cow. Cries of hurting religious sentiments were raised soon after the symbol was allotted and it prompted then Chief Election Commissioner S P Sen Varma later to record in an official account on the elections that it was “difficult to accept the view that cow represents Hindu religion”. Post Emergency, Indira’s leadership once again came to be questioned within the party and she decided to split the party again; her faction came to be called Congress (Indira).  This time, EC gave the party  three choices – an elephant, a bicycle and an open palm.  With the leader away in AP, Buta Singh and others chose Hand – open palm as   easily recognisable.   

What was buried deep was the fact that a similar symbol had been sought by the Akhil Bharatiya Ram Rajya Parishad in the 1952 elections but was refused by the Election Commission on the ground that it was a religious symbol.  The Commission specifically mentioned the cow as one of the objects having a religious association. The same Commission which had refused to allot the symbol of a cow to the Parishad in 1952 on the ground that it was a religious symbol allotted it to the ruling Congress party.’  .. ..and in case, you want to read some more history, the Congress party that was founded in Dec 1885,  at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College in Bombay, by AO Hume and the party symbol during Jawaharlal Nehru era was   two bullocks carrying a yoke.

 
Interesting !
 
Regards – S Sampathkumar
18.8.2025