atma Posted March 5, 2002 Report Share Posted March 5, 2002 A new formula at Krishi Expo: Cow (milk+urine+dung)= toothpaste ARVIND JAYARAM & HIMANSHU GOENKA NEW DELHI, MARCH 5: Cow dung and urine to make tea? While such a concept might seem too much for the average tea-drinker to swallow, this is exactly what is up for sale at Ram Shankar Gupta’s stall at Krishi Expo 2002 in Pragati Maidan. At first glance, his stall seems just like any other. However, a closer look reveals that all the products in the shop are manufactured from a bizarre combination of milk, curd, ghee, urine and dung — the five bovine contributions, clubbed together and underlined with the punchword panchgavya. This is mixed with other ingredients like sandalwood and coconut oil, in differing ratios to yield a variety of products ranging from the believable - fertilisers and insecticides - to the outrageous - toothpaste, hair oil, porridge, and hold your breath - a tonic made from filtered cow urine that claims to cure kidney and liver ailments and even cancer! Ram Shankar Gupta would rather sneer at all the cancer-related research going on in fancy foreign laboratories. The Kanpur Gaushala Society, which manufactures these ‘‘more-than-dairy’’ products, is based 15 km outside Kanpur and has an in-house laboratory, where the products are tested, and they also manufacture and package all their products in-house. However, the ‘secret formula’ for the purported miraculous concoction lies with a vaidya Ramanuj Mishra, who makes the panchgavya and decides what ratio to use it in with a certain product. And probably because they have not patented the process, they are really secretive about the formulae. While extolling the virtues of these ‘wide spectrum’ ‘multi-purpose’ cow-medicines, Gupta also mentioned the added attraction of their being cheap. For example, you can be cured of diabetes or piles for just Rs 30, or cancer — believe it or not — for Rs 20. What is clear is that Gupta is not taking you for a ride, moneywise. Gupta also claimed that cow urine is a disinfectant, and can be used as a phenyl for domestic use. While the veracity of his claim may be disputed, it is obvious that if this product ever enters the mainstream, it would kill the competition, costing Rs 20 for 500 ml. And another surprise is that while the cancer drug costs you Rs 20, a ‘special’ fertiliser, which is probably the most obvious use anyone could have for cow dung, is also the most expensive product, costing Rs 4,000 for a one-kg pack. The fact that it uses cow horns apart from dung, and has a six-month preparation period, may have something to do with it being expensive. However, for those unable to afford this compost extravaganza, there is the dirt cheap alternative of normal manure sold at Rs 30 for a 30 kg pack. While the Society has been around for about 25 years now, production of these commodities began only about five years ago. According to Gupta, the cow products industry is doing great business, despite the apprehensions most people would have about such an idea, specially after learning about its ingredients. It is in fact so good, that the Society has over 5,000 cows to produce the ‘raw material’ to cater to the demand for their products, which also include a ‘beauty’ soap, shampoo and even incense sticks! Gupta even claimed that the Society receives orders for these commodities from abroad. While the cow enjoys a motherly and God-like status in the country, which probably makes people inclined to these products, it remains to be seen whether the commerce of ‘bovine intervention’ will stand the scrutiny of rationalists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gauracandra Posted March 6, 2002 Report Share Posted March 6, 2002 No thank you... I think I'll pass on the dung toothpaste Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRdd Posted March 6, 2002 Report Share Posted March 6, 2002 I wonder if they will be importing any of it? I am very interested. Once I and a Godsister gathered some cow dung while visiting New Vrindaban, and hung this black bag of the stuff in the shower baack at our own temple. We used it like soap and shampoo for days, and is was very cleansing and left everything feeling smooth and silky too. We shunned increasing complaints that it was starting to get rank in there. Cow dung couldn't get rank, as far as we were concerned. But finally we too had to admit it, and threw the rest out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 29, 2003 Report Share Posted March 29, 2003 Dear god Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theist Posted March 30, 2003 Report Share Posted March 30, 2003 If i wasn't already vegan i might be tempted to go for some of that porridge. I get hungry just thinking about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingentity Posted March 30, 2003 Report Share Posted March 30, 2003 A little sprig of mint and I am there!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greeneagle3000 Posted April 14, 2003 Report Share Posted April 14, 2003 what if youre already using it? ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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