Waiting until the cows come home

Q How did you get interested in exploring and mapping cities by studying humananimal interactionA When I was 19 I decided to travel alone to a place very different than I know and ended up in Gujarat Perhaps the most notable new experience was the absence of meat in my food mdash instead they were frolicking on the streets Cows went as they were pleased They could sleep in the middle of an intersection and traffic would go around Cows walked alongside the human and one does not simply eat another That was hugeFulbright scholar Rebecca Huirsquos illustrations depicting the cowhuman interaction in citiesSo I thought to myself If cows and humans have similar rights what would it like to be a cow citizen in a human city For three hours in a given day I followed the first cow I saw I would end up in gullies I would end up in residential corners where I would sit on a patio for hours and people would offer a seemingly confusedChinese American girl chaiMy experiences changed depending on whether a place was rural traditional or urban The place would also determine friendly or hostile interactions between cows and humansThere lies an intimate connection between the cow and the city One can start to see how the city is changing based on these animalsrsquo experiencesQ What significant inferences did you gather on urbanisation in Mumbai A In Mumbai which I consider the apex of urbanisation in IndiaCows Their freedom to move is lost The few places Irsquove seen cows are at Aarey Milk Colony Tardeo or in Jainpopulated areas Even there cows are generally tied down near grass for passersby to pay and pray to Cows have to be making money in order to retain space in the city The cow is seen as a religious icon but its relationship with humans is much more transactionalDogs I observed how most people who build relationships with street dogs do so based on income their vocation and how much exposure to the street For example most of the caretakers Irsquove observed are chaiwaalas personnel at train stations chaatwaalas office helpers and sympathetic aunties Most caretakers belong to the lower income working classTo explain this relationship I have been told ldquothe poor and the stray share the same struggle to survive in the cityrdquoAs far as vaccinations and neuterings are concerned I feel there India is more tolerant and open to discussion about street dogs than the US for instance LeopardsWhen it comes to studying cityanimal interactions the leopard is hardly the conflict instead the leopard is just a door to unveil the complexities of urban governance and sociopolitics in the region I often found that inert bureaucracy land corruption interests and fragmented management were barriers to holistic and effective planning and solutionsMany tribes here have lived amongst wildlife for generations and believe that leopards are a vital part of the ecosystem They often cite seeing leopards around their home nearly on a daily basis Incidences of attacks on tribals are also less than from urban dwellers I believe inherent in that statistic is a difference in mentality and lifestyles a solution that should be further expandedRebecca Hui Fulbright Scholar in IndiaQ Tell us about your childrenrsquos bookA Environmental concern generally circulates within academic circles To get the broader public to become interested especially the younger generation I wanted to explore how we can cut through the noise A childrenrsquos book is the best challenge If a child can understand then anyone else shouldOn September 15 at 7 pm Rebecca Hui will deliver the inaugural lecture at her exhibition The Secret Life of Urban Animals at David Sassoon Library Her work will be on display till September 28 daily between 10 am and 7 pm