Rodrigues of Rodrigues Vaddo Cavelossim in the Indian state of Goa had been rearing cows for the last 40 years and has steadfastly refusing to move to modern and new mechanizing cow rearing. He along with his sister have been taking care of the 25 plus cattle’s over the last four decades and they are the three surviving Cavelossim families who continue cattle rearing against all odds. The Rodrigues family has refused to shift to hybrid jersey cows which would have yielded them more milk and even milking the cows would have been easy.
The cows are revered and worship by Hindus in India and its urine is sprinkled as a holy liquid during various Hindu rituals. Rodrigues says his cows do not harm anyone as take their daily walk past the beach and to their home in Rodrigues Vasso.
He says lot of gypsy women, called Lamanis, who hawk various goods on the beach for foreign tourists feed the cow with various items during the time they return to their home and they even feed fruits and vegetable to the cows.
The lamanis turn up at Rodrigues house to collect urine for their religious activities while Goan families come and collect milk from the Rodrigues home.
He says when a new mothers milk is not available, the cow milk is the best option so his milk is much sought after by the community.
Unfortunately, he says his two daughter’s families will not be following the family legacy and he says he will continue till he and his sister have strength and drive to do the daily chores of the cattle, who are like children to them and part of their family.