From: shenoy@iastate.edu (Shiva Shenoy)
Subject: Re: Limited vegetarianism of India
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 1992 16:11:52 GMT

In <1992Dec20.081129.6411@abo.fi> abulsari@abo.fi (Abhay Bulsari VT) writes:

>well. One  argument given  to me  was that  cows  would not  give milk
>before they fed  the calves. This  does change my stand, even if it is
>true, and I don't think that is true.

There is some truth to that especially in villages where a family owns a few
heads of cattle. People do respect the animals even today. This is obviously
not true in urban areas which are in a minority anyway. After giving birth,
the mother does produce an excessive amount of milk and there is a limit to
how much a calf can feed same as any human being. 
 
>Indian  vegetarianism is based mostly on tradition  and dogma, lacking
>fundamental thought.  This is one reason why many Indians start eating

That same tradition and dogma which you talk about has some very fundamental
(and scientific) arguments behind it. You just have to take time off an
think more. It is called contemplation. Ex: Most temples (at least in South
India) do not allow you to carry any items made of leather (including
jackets, purses, belts, etc). Wouldn't it be great if this ban was carried
further into the home? Wearing slippers, shoes, etc are also banned inside
the temple. However you can wear wooden slippers. Think about it, is that a
ban on foot apparel or a ban on DEAD animal products? 

As far as changing food habits when they go abroad, a lot of it because of
the inavailability of vegetarian food. Your only choice is to cook it
yourself. People are only human. Try and come to Iowa sometime. They are
still 25 years behind in the times. This place is the leading pork producer.
People associate vegetarianism with eating raw vegetables and bland salads. 

>everything when they move abroad.  Indians don't seem to be any better
>at ethics considering the acceptability of lying, rampant  cheating of
>locals  as  well  as  tourists (I  was  both),  and  the behaviour  of
>politicians  and others who wield  power.   One would  want  to  think
>otherwise  considering  the   fact  that   India   is  the  origin  of
>vegetarianism, and that people  like Mahatma Gandhi were  from  India.
>Mahatma Gandhi is the antithesis of Indian thought today.

Why should Indians be any different from the rest of the world? A
considerable number of people in Southern India still cling on to the old
values and that is considered funny! Remember that the Northern part is more
of an amalgum of different foriegn cultures/values. 

>Indians did not seem to mind the  use of leather at all, and  non-food
>use of animal products  was quite acceptable. There was also paramount
>ignorance and ignoring.  People  did  not  know what was  contained in
>various food and non-food  products,  and  even  when ingredients were
>written on food products, people never seemed to read them. Use of fat
>in biscuits was  either unknown or was ignored.  In India, I would not
>believe what is written as  ingredients,  but even if  it said  "fat",
>vegetarians  did  not  seem  to  bother. A  food  item  is  considered
>vegetarian  as long as it looks  vegetarian enough. Cheese (containing
>rennet) is considered vegetarian, since it looks vegetarian enough.

It is a known fact that only affluent societies think of environmentalism,
contents of food, etc. MOst people still cannot afford any of the items you
discuss above. The concept of buying processed food will never really catch
on as long as people cannot afford it. Indian cheese (paneer) does not have
any rennet in it. It is made at home.

>There  are  nevertheless, shops  and establishments which consider the
>smallest details that are of interest to  us.   KVIC's shops (commonly
>called Khadi Bhandars) have  leather chappals and shoes that are  made
>from naturally dead animals, their soaps don't have animal fat. I took
>10  pieces of Vandana sandalwood  soaps (Rs. 4 for 100 gm,  which is a
>normal  price in India) and asked them about the kind of oils and fats
>used in them.  I was told that they contained non-edible  oils, but no
>animal fats.

>Indians in India don't seem to read r.f.v.  There are only a couple of
>sites which take in the Usenet  news, and perhaps only one is able  to
>post without e-mailing.

Most everyone who would read Usenet news would be the urban population and
most of those would be more interested in aping the west than thinking back
on their own inherited wonderful culture and values.

This is not meant as a flame. It is just an honest discussion. Glad I got a
chance to participate.

-shiva
-- 
Shiva Shenoy                           | e-mail: shenoy@iastate.edu 
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