The Cow
of the Barricade
Raja Rao
“The Cow
of the Barricade” is the best-known story by Raja Rao. The story takes place in
pre-independent India at a place called Gorakhpur. The story begins with a
description of a character named Gouri. Gouri is a cow and it is called by that
name as it comes on every Tuesday. It visits the Master on every Tuesday
evening before sunset. Till next Tuesday, Gouri would not be seen anywhere. It
eats only food from the Master and will not accept food from others. It munched
the food slowly like articulating some holy words. Due to this strange
behaviour, people called Gouri a strange creature. People were curious about
Gouri and asked the master about Gouri. He replied that Gouri is the vehicle of
the Goddess.
The fame
of Gouri spread, and people waited for her visit on Tuesdays. People with
different demands prayed for the fulfillment of their desires. Merchants prayed
for an increase in harvest, which could improve their business, students for
education, young girls for husbands, widows for purity, and childless couples
for children. Hence, on every Tuesday, many people waited at the Master’s place
with offerings for Gouri. As Gouri did not touch the food, they threw them into
the river and the fish thrived upon it, which resulted in the disappearance of
the crocodile. The author describes Gorakhpur as a place filled with peace and
harmony.
The
peaceful life in Gorakhpur gets changed with the arrival of the Red men’s army.
As the city is situated above the hill, people could see the arrival of the
army men from the railway station. People in the city prepared themselves to
face the army with the help of the workmen. They called the Master as President
of the group that safeguarded women, children and aged people. They were moved
into the fields with their valuables. The city was depopulated and all the
streets were blocked by barricades. Workmen and men from the town were behind
the barricades with weapons, waiting for the Red men’s army. But the Master was
unhappy about this as he was a follower of non-violence. When he imposed on
them to follow non-violence, they opposed his view and mentioned that with
non-violence, they cannot defeat the Red men’s army. Hence, the master resigns
from the presidentship and sits in meditation with an aim to safeguard the
city.
That day
seemed strange as owls hovered about in the midday light and in the evening the
stars hung low. That evening, people were waiting for Gouri. But Gouri came by
night, crossing all the streets of the city. People followed her. Though Gouri
walked slowly, people ran behind her to follow. People worshiped Gouri with the
belief that she would protect them. They were carried over by a strange feeling
and started to chant ‘Vande Mataram’. Gouri claimed over the barricades. The
Red men’s army was confused and thought Gouri was a flag of truce. When they
identified it as a cow, they too were carried over by a strange feel and
started to chat ‘Victory to Mahatma’ and joined the workmen. But the chief of
the army shot Gouri on its head and it fell down among the people. Magically,
the blood did not gush out from its head; instead, it came out from its breast.
After
independence, Seth Jamnalal Dwarak Chand constructed a metal statue for Gouri
with a human look. People were worshiping her by offering flowers, honey and
the first green grass of spring. Children of Gorakhpur were playing with the
statue of Gouri. The carpenters made the statue of Gouri and it was sold in the
railway station and people from across the nation brought it.
Later,
when people enquired about Gouri, the Master replied that Gouri is in the
middle of Heaven and she will be born again when India faces a problem. The
story concludes with a statement that Mahatma Gandhi might be wrong about
politics, but he was completely right about the love for all living creatures.
