Masoorudin Faridi/New Delhi

Babban Mian, who runs a shelter for cows in the village Chandiana, Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh has been honoured with "Bharat Gaurav" award for his dedication to serving the abandoned and injured cows.

Babban Mian's work and the award are also proof that the Cow is not only sacred for Hindus who give her the status of the mother, but also to Muslims like Baban Khan.

Governor of Kerala Arif Muhammad Khan presented the Bharat Gaurav Award to Babban Mian. Arif Mohammad Khan was the Chief Guest at the function held in New Delhi.

The news of Babban Mian receiving the award send a wave of happiness in village Chandiana where people distributed sweetmeats.

Arif Muhammad Khan said that looking after the cow is a great ‘religion.’ He said that Gopalak Babban Mian was doing a great job of uniting the society by serving cows and also honouring the wishes of his mother.

Speaking to Awaz-the Voice, Babban Mian said, "The passion for cow service comes from my late mother Hamidul Nisa, who kept four or five cows in the house. She used to take care of them with the spirit of service."

Audiences appluading Babban Mian for winning an award

He says that his mother always wished someone would continue to take care of the cows but wasn’t sure if her son was interested. “She also had love and affection for the River Ganga,” he said.

When his mother passed away in 2015, Babban Mian set out to fulfill her wish. He established a regular goshala, (cattle shelter) and he named it after the Hindu God Lord Krishna, who was also a cow rarer.

He started with 20- 25 cows and today his Goashala has 90 cows and 16 calves.

Babban Mian says Islam does not forbid the use of beef.” But we drink cow's milk, how can we kill it for food and there is a law against it and we must follow the law of our country.”.

"Every festival we give free milk to the needy. Not only this, milk is also supplied free of cost to any family that is organizing a wedding and can not afford to buy large quantities of milk needed for making traditional sweetmeats,” Babban Mian told this scribe.

“My aim is not to do business. I am taking care of the cows and trying to meet the expense through the sale of milk,” he explained. Baban Mian’s story of taking care of the cows has reached beyond the Indian shores. He was selected by the University of Tango, a European Island country, for an honorary doctorate. The award of an honorary doctorate was for his outstanding work and social services.

 

Babban Mian said that he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Commonwealth Vocational University of a European country. He has been awarded by the Legacy International Organization in Singapore.

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Speaking to Awaz-the Voice, he said: "My goal is to promote good deeds. I want to nurture my mother's vision." It's fun to work with cows.”