Bengaluru: The incident in Una, where Dalits who were removing the hide of dead cows were beaten up, has been viewed from a different perspective in the state.
Cow hide is used for making musical instruments, footwear and other items. Those involved in this profession came into focus after the attack in Una.
According to Mr B Gopal, a dalit politician, many in Belagavi, Vijayapura and Bagalkot districts make goods using cow hide. They were into this profession for many years but have lost out with the entry of ready-made footwear.
Many of them quit this profession and took up other jobs in the light of opportunities for higher education, but some continued to make products for sale in villages even now because the tradition of making them was passed on generation after generation.
Poet Siddalingaiah, said cow hide was needed to make musical instruments, and therefore some had specialized in removing hide from dead animals. They never killed cows but only removed hide from dead ones.
“I don't support killing of cows but none should attack those removing hide of dead animals.,” he said. The incident at Una would not trigger any trouble in Karnataka given the fact that very few families continue with the ancient profession.
