On the way back from Shani Singnapur to Nashik, we passed through a belt of sugarcane fields. Throughout the route on both sides, we saw stalls selling freshly pressed cane juice. The juice was being prepared by squeezing the cane through wooden presses operated by oxen yoked to the wheel! This was a quaint sight and we decided to stop a one of these shady strips and enjoy a swig of the sweet fluid.
The dark, thick, brown drink was definitely sweeter than the watery variety available in cities, which stinks of the diesel fumes from the engine that operates the press.
A lively argument ensued between my wife and sister-in-law as to the efficacy of using ox
en to do this burdensome task. My sister-in-law a gentle soul took the part of the dumb animal and argued that they should not be subjected to such tasks that were cruel. My wife who is of a more practical frame of mind countered that they had always been so employed since time immemorial and these tasks as such were not burdensome at all. The conclusion was that unnecessary cruelty should be avoided and that the animals be treated with affection and care both when useful and when old and useless.
The dark, thick, brown drink was definitely sweeter than the watery variety available in cities, which stinks of the diesel fumes from the engine that operates the press.
A lively argument ensued between my wife and sister-in-law as to the efficacy of using ox
en to do this burdensome task. My sister-in-law a gentle soul took the part of the dumb animal and argued that they should not be subjected to such tasks that were cruel. My wife who is of a more practical frame of mind countered that they had always been so employed since time immemorial and these tasks as such were not burdensome at all. The conclusion was that unnecessary cruelty should be avoided and that the animals be treated with affection and care both when useful and when old and useless.
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