India, Feb. 26 -- On a sunny winter day, a few years ago, I was sitting in the verandah of a small house in a village on the outskirts of Delhi. I heard the iron gate creak. I looked up and saw a cow resting her head on the gate and peering inside. I was a bit startled. The lady of the house smiled, went inside and brought out a rolled roti. She fed the cow and patted her affectionately. The cow shook her head and went away. I was told the cow is a regular visitor who arrives at the same time every day, eats a roti, and leaves.

A friend from Australia made an interesting observation. She lived in a service apartment in Delhi and was fascinated to see women from the neighbouring village leave vegetable and fruit peels and leftovers outsid...