In Hindu-Vedik Dharma Cows are inviolable. India is 80% Hindu and thus is the general principle for most of the country.
Muslims and Christians make up most of the other 20% and are the majority in certain areas – where Cows are not safe.
Here is a map, overview and a special investigation of Kerala as its the only place where "Hindus" eat cows.
North East India – composed of seven states, four of which are mostly Christian. Manipur is half Hindu, half Christian – Hindus in Imphal plains and Christians in the hills or rest of state. Meghalaya has a 20% Hindu minority. Assam and Tripura are mainly Hindu.
West Bengal – due to history as a communist state WB did not have laws(now regulates) protecting cows and is the major gateway for smuggling to Bangladesh. Besides that it is not normal in WB and one will not encounter it neither in rural or Kolkatta – will see buffalo only.
J&K – state status is complicated and a polarity of Hindu and Muslims in the state. Jammu region is Hindu and Kashmir is Muslim. The a strict law is in place it may not be the case in kashmir.
Kerala – this is the complicated part and main purpose of this article, as a lot of confusion regarding “ do hindus in kerala eat cow “
At present upto 80-90% of kerala is non-veg with 70-80% of kerala popul being non-veg cow eaters, with religous catergorization as follows: Hindus 55%, Muslims about 20% and Christians another 20%.
At the time of independence eating cow in Kerala was non existent. Half the state was Hindu Kingdoms. The other half was under british with a large muslim portion. There was no Christians. For the Hindu majority - eating cow would be unthinkable.
By the time of Independence the british had converted about 20% of the population to Christianity, besides the 20% Muslim population = 40%
After independence Kerala had a communist government for long which did not prohibit eating cows like the rest of the country(except WB also communist).
The 40% non-hindu population began eating cows, as well as importing for very cheap from neighboring states. The meat price thus being much lower. With about half the people around them eating cow and costing a very low price, some hindus, most being non veg already - started eating them too - either out of greed or poverty. Thus they are supposedly the only "Hindus" who do so - but not really - read below.
At present upto 80-90% of kerala is non-veg with 70-80% of kerala popul being non-veg cow eaters, with religous catergorization as follows: Hindus 55%, Muslims about 20% and Christians another 20%.
At the time of independence eating cow in Kerala was non existent. Half the state was Hindu Kingdoms. The other half was under british with a large muslim portion. There was no Christians. For the Hindu majority - eating cow would be unthinkable.
By the time of Independence the british had converted about 20% of the population to Christianity, besides the 20% Muslim population = 40%
After independence Kerala had a communist government for long which did not prohibit eating cows like the rest of the country(except WB also communist).
The 40% non-hindu population began eating cows, as well as importing for very cheap from neighboring states. The meat price thus being much lower. With about half the people around them eating cow and costing a very low price, some hindus, most being non veg already - started eating them too - either out of greed or poverty. Thus they are supposedly the only "Hindus" who do so - but not really - read below.
Not all people are more than nominally religious – which includes the 55% "hindus" of Kerala - communists, atheists, in name onlys, or part of hindu family.
It is my conclusion that about half or more of kerala hindus are non religious / nominally Hindu - the "hindus" of the state who eat cow. The other less than half of the 55% Kerala Hindu ie the religious / actual Hindus - do not eat cow. This also coincides with the statistics of the state, that half of actual hindus (or perhaps 20-30% of those categorized as hindus) in the state eat non-veg but not cows. While another half of actual hindus (or about 15-20% of those categorized as hindus) in the state are pure veg – being the 10% vegetarians of Kerala. Although not all vegatarians as well as cow eaters of the state are only hindus so the % have been adjusted.
Conclusion is that – NO, Hindus in Kerala do not eat cow meat and that those actual religious hindus of kerala are only about 20% of the state and the other 35% of the states Hindus are nominal and the cow eaters.
this analysis is based on state government statistics as well as my own minimal personal experience in the state in the past. My conclusion while traveling there was that the Hindus one finds in the temples do not eat cow and the rest do. This analysis-statistics proves that theory.
this analysis is based on state government statistics as well as my own minimal personal experience in the state in the past. My conclusion while traveling there was that the Hindus one finds in the temples do not eat cow and the rest do. This analysis-statistics proves that theory.
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