Gene-mutating rural scene

RS Dalal

Just a few years before I retired, a chance interaction with a famous heritage restorer kindled my interest in our village and in our modest heritage haveli of 1861 vintage. What also fascinated me there was the quaint, sparse population (as a result of urban migration), large open spaces and water bodies, though heaps of filth, open drains and general neglect cried for attention. If these could be attended, it would be like a European village. These thoughts provoked me to take the challenging restoration work as my post-retirement project.

Observing my engagement with our village scenario, the District Veterinary Officer extended an invite to me for a livestock camp being organised in the village on bovine health. ‘What shall I do there?’ I asked laughing. ‘I’m impressed with the micro-forest that you have developed along the johad (pond). Once you helped villagers procure a pedigreed he-buffalo to boost milk yield,’ thus flattering me, he carried on, ‘such wonderful technologies in this field are on the horizon that you will be amazed to know.’ He seemed to be leaving me no way out except to accept his invite.

The cattle population of our village is substantial; the majority being buffaloes of famous Murrah breed. May be that's how the strong tradition of vegetarianism got nurtured. Nutritious milk and butter go to raise sturdy young men and women, excelling in sports and armed forces. A popular Haryanvi saying — ‘Desan mei des Haryana, jahan doodh-dahi ka khana’ — epitomises it.

The camp was a big draw. A large number of men and women had gathered with their cattle. The women are at the forefront in rearing the milch cattle, attending to this tedious round-the-clock task.

And once the sick animals had been attended to, the chief veterinarian picked up the mike and perked up the audience to be ready for a big announcement. ‘Aren’t you fed up of male calves and their disposal?’ he asked in his raised voice. All nodded in ready boisterous agreement. ‘When a female calf is born, delicious desserts halwa and kheer are served, whereas the birth of a male calf is greeted with crestfallen faces. However, scientists have now invented a magic technology. They are successful in separating the X chromosome from Y chromosome. Through artificial insemination, a female calf will be born in every lactation. Such a technology is now available with us. Now onwards, no worries for you; contact us for the solutions,’ he said. Some looked at him with disbelief while many others clapped.

I too felt bewildered by such tectonic-shift advances of science, where one could just manipulate the desired gender of an animal. And above all, what a paradox! For, humans have always craved for the male child, and took to tantriks, hakims, quacks, charlatans and ultrasound machine and what not, in their crazy quest!