Is The Cow Still Holy?
When I was forwarded this lovely clip on whatsapp I guffawed.
This is a “Kole Basava” — one of many religious artifices used in India for alms. The “Basava” or bull or Lord Shiva’s mount is led from house to house or parked in front of a temple with some minor musical accompaniment or none and the religiously minded Indian just forks over money or even feeds the “holy cow”.
However, the admirable business innovation that uses a QR code tied to the forehead of the bull to accept money is crazy on multiple levels. While large swaths of technology challenged and luddite Indians are yet to fathom the usage of QR codes, here is a pan handler actually manifesting multiple payment mechanisms for the convenience of the paying public :)
Many questions:
- Who actually pays like this? Well the fellow in the video did and Indians are increasingly using QR code payments for very small merchants and roadside food stalls. Much more so than in the USA or Europe.
- Is God appeased with digital payments? Will we see QR codes on temple hundis? For the fellow who…
