Cow's blessings to Masai people

Deccan Herald
Reporter's diary: This is Kenya not India, Masai keep land squeaky clean
• August 1, 2011
• By S. Sujatha
• DC
• Nairobi
Tags:
Kenya, travel

A Masai tribal demonstrates his spring-jump ability, which the Masai tribesmen claim is made possible by their diet of cow’s blood mixed in milk - DC
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Kenya. The name itself conjures images of never-ending veldts and grasslands teeming with animals and of course the Masai Mara National Park, one of the largest and most bountiful wildlife reserves in the world.
While Masai Mara is known throughout the world, the inhabitants of the region, the Masai, are relatively lesser known.
Unlike other Africans, the Masais are instantly recognisable by their colourful clothes and beads and by their tall aristocratic statures and sharp profiles.
While coming from one of the poorer sections of Africa, the Masai, who are hereditary cattle herders, are known for their friendly and easy-going attitude.
Every ready with a salutation of “Jambo”, one hardly ever finds a Masai who is not smiling. They are also great sticklers for cleanliness, a far cry from many of us who wouldn’t think twice about spitting paan on staircases of houses where we do not live.
As an example of their unending patience and good manners, it is said that automobile manufacturers in this East African country need not fix horns in their vehicles.
Though considered under developed, their state of economy does not let these people forget the virtues of courtesy. Even little children never forget their “thank yous” when you share something with him.
Driving through the city or the countryside, you will be forced to keep a chocolate wrapper or empty biscuit packet in your pocket instead of throwing it out of the window, as everything is kept neat and clean.
The Masai may be among the poorest people in the world, but they make sure that their public spaces are extraordinarily clean unlike most city slickers in India.
“Our staple drink is milk mixed with cow’s blood. It gives us iron,” said a lean Masai, who effortlessly springs over 10 feet while keeping his legs together, much like a springbok. Since most Masais live inside the game park, they are not allowed to cultivate the land as it might lead to man-animal conflicts.
They, however, have very strong religious sentiments and visit churches regularly.
Indians are not strangers in Kenya as there is a rich history of Indian businessmen and workers living for generations here. At present too, the country offers many investment opportunities and South Indian professionals head various businesses here.
Companies like Airtel, Essar, Reliance, Tata, Ashok Leyland, Larsen and Toubro etc. all have bases in Kenya.
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1 Comment


subodh kumar 02/08/2011 - 04:42am
A very good article that omitted to mention that majority of long distance running physical endurance records in the world are held by Massai. Average per capita milk consumption of Massai is 3 liters. They do not suffer from obesity and other modern diseases. The social traits - not fighting among themselves - love for cleanliness, love for God in Massai are blessings of Gau mata. The Massai cows belong to the same Bos indicus family as Indian cows. Their cows produce A2 type milk that is free from Opioid BCM7. Massai may be considered a poor community by standards of modern money-centric values. But if they are healthy, physically fit, peace loving, full of self confidence to face even lions in the forests without fire arms. They are God loving. They are RICH people. These are the bounties that flow from cows according to Vedas.