Why Indians love ‘ taking the piss! ‘
This is the first of two updates on India. Will finish my blog on India when time permits.
Only in India—-India’s Hindu nationalist movement is working on creating a new soft drink to rival Coca-Cola and Pepsi. The main ingredient? Cow urine.
Om Prakash, the head of the department, said the drink – called “gau jal”, or “cow water” – in Sanskrit was undergoing laboratory tests and would be launched “very soon, maybe by the end of this year”. “Don’t worry, it won’t smell like urine and will be tasty too, it won’t be like carbonated drinks and would be devoid of any toxins.” Stating that several colas are harmful to the extent that they can be substituted for pesticides, he asserted that their soft drink with cow urine will not only be natural but cost-effective too. “In addition to this, it will prove and justify the high stature accorded to a cow in Indian culture.”—
That was 2009——-and yes—it is now available all over India. In fact, “urine therapy” or the drinking of ones own urine, and/or cow’s urine has been in practice for some time—A growing cult of Hindu worshippers in India claim that drinking fresh cow urine will help cure them of all diseases – including cancer. “Only two things are pure in this universe, in this world. One is the water from the Holy Ganges river and the other is urine from mother holy cow,” Ramesh Gupta, a Hindu priest, said. The Hindu believers regard the cow as a holy animal and say her urine has divine healing properties, and that cow’s urine is a “divine gift from God”.
Now, there are even more items available in India containing cow’s urine, —eye drops, medicines for stomach ailments, toothpaste, bathing soaps, herbal powdered medicine, among other things, —There seems to be a lot of demand for these products and they have good sales.’ In fact, the current Prime Minister of India advocates the soda. He is not the only Prime Minister to drink urine—In 1978, Prime Minister Morarji Desai, a longtime practitioner of “urine therapy”, (although he drank his own urine and lived a very long life) espoused the benefits of drinking urine. Desai stated that drinking urine was the perfect medical solution for the millions of Indians who cannot afford medical treatment. Interesting as it may seem, as Home Minister, Desai outlawed any portrayals of indecency (which included “kissing” scenes) in films and theatrical productions. So what would I rather see—people drinking urine, or kissing????
Pleas read my next entry on India.
April 22nd, 2014 at 6:38 pm
Ah Tony, are you taking the p..s!!! Think I stick to water -:)
April 27th, 2014 at 6:21 pm
tony, glad to see you have no lost your sense of humour and fun. i was away for a few days and the spot has made great progress. so with turkey coming into view, it looks like you are making great progress. well done. kevin
April 28th, 2014 at 8:12 am
Sunday I finished my 50km day on the outskirts of Tabriz. 43047km run.
I am hoping to cross to Turkey on Saturday. Iranians continue to be wonderful people, so helpful and friendly. I will miss them but have great expectations from the Turks
April 28th, 2014 at 8:03 pm
A very tough 48km today Monday. A late start and too long for breakfast plus many stops to talk to people, always nice but very time-consuming.
The whole day was sent running into and out of Tabriz, a huge city with it’s suburbs it must be larger that. Dublin.
A very nice and well manicured city even if not very pedestrian friendly.
At the end of the day I ran by a large park which was well equipped with sporting and leisure facilities. Many families picnicking just because if was Monday evening.
At last I got out of the city limits and wondered where I would sleep. It started to rain so I stopped in a very posh restaurant called Shahriyr restaurant. I just ordered soup and tea. Soon many diners came over to me. One of them a man called Said, his wife’s name I did not get and their 12 year old son Sam.
Well Said invited me back to his workshop to sleep as they have an aluminium recycling business.
Said also told me the family are emigrating to Melbourne, Australia in two months time.
Thank you so much for your very kind help Said and family and good luck in Oz.
This is the second time in Iran I had such luck finding a place to sleep because I stopped at the right place when rain came.
Iranians are a very religious people which has made them a very brotherly and indeed sisterly people.
253km to Bazargan and Turkey. Total 43,095km in 982 road days.
April 28th, 2014 at 9:49 pm
Great that luck was on your side for a place to stay again. Iran is really special to you -:)
May 2nd, 2014 at 8:38 am
Hilarious Tony! On the way to the fa today might treat myself!!