From ancient traditions to modern civic action, young volunteers in Chhattisgarh’s Sanskardhani are reviving India’s timeless legacy of compassion for cattle and mute animals
Published on: January 08, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
Cow service (Gau-Seva) is not a new concept in India; it is deeply woven into the nation’s soul, culture, and civilisational consciousness. From the legendary sacrifice of Pabuji Maharaj to the pastoral life of Lord Krishna, and from medieval saints to modern social reformers, the protection of cows and service to mute animals has remained a central pillar of Indian values. Times and circumstances have changed, but this tradition has never faded.
Today, this very legacy is finding a powerful modern expression in Chhattisgarh’s Sanskardhani, Rajnandgaon, where the younger generation has stepped forward to serve cattle and stray animals selflessly—without political ambition or economic motive—treating compassion as a moral duty rather than an obligation.
From History to the Present
Indian folklore and history offer countless examples of Gau-Seva as an act of supreme sacrifice. Rajasthan’s Pabuji Maharaj, who abandoned his wedding to lay down his life for cow protection, remains an enduring symbol of devotion. In modern history, saints and social activists even faced bullets in their struggle to accord national recognition to the cow, proving that Gau-Seva has been not only a religious act but also a powerful social movement.
Lord Krishna himself is revered as Gopal—the protector and nurturer of cows—placing compassion, care, and coexistence at the heart of Indian philosophy. That same ideological stream now flows through the actions of Rajnandgaon’s youth.
Rajnandgaon: Where Service Becomes a Movement
In an era dominated by material pursuits, the commitment shown by Rajnandgaon’s socially conscious youth stands out as a beacon of hope. Through personal resources and community support, volunteers are providing care to abandoned, injured, and sick cattle and stray dogs across the city.
Their efforts include regular arrangements for fodder and water, protection from extreme weather, veterinary treatment and vaccination, and immediate medical aid to animals injured in road accidents. Over time, these initiatives have evolved into a systematic and organised service model.
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Youth Carrying the Tradition Forward
Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Bajrang Dal Gauraksha Team—including Sunil Sen, Rahul Mishra, Pranay Mullewar, Gaurav Sharma, Prince Hathibed, Sagar Yadav, Eshan Pitrovad, Karan Tanwar, Bhavesh Nirmalkar, Mohit Yadav, and Sanyam Shrivastava—have been consistently active in cow protection efforts.
Meanwhile, the Swastik Jansamarpan Samiti has introduced innovative measures such as distributing reflective belts and cow coats to prevent road accidents. Contributors to this initiative include Anshul Kasar, Satyam Mishra, Ribhay Yadav, Divyansh Sahu, Yash Sahu, Vinay Rajput, Gopendra Sahu, and Sohan Sahu.
In the field of stray dog welfare, the sustained contributions of Shivani Tiwari, Harsh Thakur, Nagma Ansari, and Piyush Kashyap have also earned widespread appreciation.
Beyond Service: A Campaign of Awareness
These young volunteers are not limiting themselves to rescue and care alone. Through fodder collection drives, fundraising, gaushala development, and community outreach, they are nurturing a broader culture of empathy and responsibility.
As the volunteers themselves assert, “Serving Gau-Mata is not merely a religious duty—it is a social and humanitarian responsibility.”
A Model Worth Emulating Nationally
At a time when cow protection efforts remain fragmented in many parts of the country, Rajnandgaon’s organised, youth-driven, and compassionate model is emerging as an example worthy of national attention. If districts across India—from Darbhanga to Jaipur and Delhi—can similarly engage their youth in service-based initiatives, it would not only ensure the safety of cattle and mute animals but also strengthen values of compassion, discipline, and civic responsibility in society.
Undoubtedly, the Gau-Seva movement led by the youth of Rajnandgaon stands as a living inspiration for future generations—where historical consciousness and present-day action walk hand in hand.
