हिम साम्राज्ञी
Summary
The narrative follows Sita, a woman in Delhi who is deeply troubled by the plight of stray cows on the city's streets. She frequently observes a white cow and her spotted calf, whom she calls "Him Samrajni," navigating dangerous traffic. Sita notices the cows' poor condition, with some having healed wounds, others bleeding, and many covered in filth. She contrasts this with the treatment of cows in New Delhi, where they are kept clean for tourists, unlike the neglected streets of Old Delhi. Sita considers writing to newspapers about the issue but is discouraged by her friend Sneha. Sita has a dream about a peaceful, historical Old Delhi without traffic or bloodshed, where the cow and calf graze freely in a garden. The dream is shattered by a falling glass lamp, and she wakes up distressed. The next day, Sita sees the white cow again and points her out to Sneha. Determined to act, Sita calls the municipal corporation after school. She is transferred between departments and eventually speaks to a man named Rustom Pasha, who explains that the cows are a problem because owners often reclaim them from the cattle house only to release them again. He notes that there is no space for humans in Delhi, let alone cows, and that some owners operate illegally on government land. Pasha promises to send a vehicle but says none are available. A week later, Sita and Sneha are on a bus when it stops near a police post due to an accident. They get off and find that the white cow has been killed, her skull crushed, with her calf standing nearby. Sita is devastated. Despite Sneha stopping her support, Sita continues her efforts, wearing out her shoes and spending her money, but her determination remains.
Conclusion
The document’s narrative underscores the systemic neglect of stray cattle in Old Delhi, highlighting a stark urban divide where religious devotion coexists with bureaucratic apathy. The protagonist’s persistent efforts to report the plight of a specific cow and calf reveal the futility of institutional channels, as promised action never materializes. The tragic death of the white cow, witnessed directly, crystallizes the failure of civic mechanisms. This outcome suggests that without coordinated intervention—combining animal welfare enforcement, traffic management, and public accountability—the cycle of suffering will continue. The story implies that individual compassion, while necessary, is insufficient against entrenched indifference and corruption. Ultimately, the document calls for a re-evaluation of how urban spaces accommodate both human and animal life, urging readers to recognize that the condition of street animals reflects broader societal values and administrative priorities.