Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Adityanath's meat ban is more caste-based than just a devious political plan -Suryakant Waghmore

Adityanath's meat ban is more caste-based than just a devious political plan -Suryakant Waghmore

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Apr 2, 2017   modified Modified on Apr 2, 2017
-Hindustan Times

The recent crackdown on meat shops in Uttar Pradesh offers a peek into the ethical divide that exists between vegetarians and non-vegetarians in India. The increase in meat consumption, intensive animal farming and growing cruelty against animals has given rise to compassion movements across the world. It should be a matter of pride therefore that India is among the most-vegetarian countries in the world.

But how does meat become a source of contention, violence and even governmental repression in India? Is our vegetarianism based on compassion for animals?

Indian vegetarianism is not veganism – it does not necessarily involve care for animals, at best it is deification of some animals. Non-vegetarian food (and non-vegetarian people) generate disgust among vegetarians in India, a peculiar feeling that calls for distance --- social and physical -- from non-vegetarian food and non-vegetarian people.

Why do vegetarians in India prefer social distance from non-vegetarians? A look at caste-wise food preferences could provide some insights. In caste society, for achieving purity of body and spirit, it is necessary to be a vegetarian and religious simultaneously – something that is best embodied by a Brahmin.

Not surprisingly, the percentage of non-vegetarians among Scheduled Castes and Tribes is much higher than other castes. Among the non-SC/STs, the highest incidence of vegetarianism is found among Brahmins, almost over 50%. The higher the caste more the possibility of them being pure vegetarians. The value of ‘purity’ attached to our vegetarianism is informed by the ideology of caste in India.

In present times, higher status attached to purity is not rigidly limited to Brahmins. It is through change in dietary and ritual practices that mobility of castes (considered lower) into the higher and pure culture becomes possible.

Increasing celebration of vegetarian purity and purification of the impure castes through vegetarianism helps create a broader Hindu identity with new etiquettes of politeness towards castes considered impure.

Such vegetarianism based on caste purity has also produced a group of reluctant vegetarians who either purify themselves by not eating meat on certain days and occasions, or eat certain kinds of meat while deploring beef.

One critical aspect of urbanisation in India is the role food preference plays in constructing urban neighbuorhoods. Compared to rural areas, we notice lower non-vegetarianism in urban spaces. In schools it is not uncommon for parents of non-vegetarian children to be advised to pack appropriate (vegetarian) food for children. Even in institutes of repute we see non-vegetarian food kept at good distance from vegetarian food, worse sitting areas may be marked separately too. This tells us about a specific form of modernity where caste-purity informs vegetarianism and the burden of diet-purity is more on the women.

Generally, the BJP is seen as an upper caste party obsessed with vegetarianism and cow protection. On the other hand, non-BJP parties have equally promoted the hegemony of vegetarianism. In October 2016, the Samajwadi Party government backed spiritual leader Ramraju Mahanti’s vegetarian campaign that termed non-vegetarians as demons. While most SCs, STs and OBCs are non-vegetarians, state governments find it difficult to even provide eggs in mid-day meal schemes for deprived children.

Given that the majority of Hindus are non-vegetarian, how and why is the democratic State so concerned about non-vegetarian diets, even eggs?

Broadly, present day vegetarianism in India constitutes a form of moral power of the minority within Hindus, such power is forced on the non-vegetarian majority – with their consent.

Please click here to read more.
 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close