Darek Loko Dudh Vaparvanu Bandh Kare To

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Darek Loko Dudh Vaparvanu Bandh Kare To" (What if Everyone Stops Using Milk?), translated into English:

This text addresses the common question and fear: What would happen to the vast number of animals if everyone stopped consuming milk? Would they all be sent to slaughterhouses immediately? The author aims to investigate whether this fear is valid, a mere illusion, or an act of escapism.

The Past vs. The Present:

• 40-50 Years Ago (Before the "Jain Revolution"):

  • Animals were considered family members.
  • Cruelty towards animals was minimal.
  • Animal husbandry was not commercialized.
  • Animals were not treated as machines.
  • Even after they stopped giving milk, animals were cared for throughout their lives, with lifespans of 20-25 years.
  • Milk consumption was limited. Products like butter, cheese, ice cream, cakes, chocolates, paneer, and biscuits were not consumed in large quantities.

• The Present:

  • Animals have become mere "commodities" or "goods."
  • Milk production is now a massive business.
  • Approximately 54% of milk is used for products like butter, cheese, sweets, paneer, ice cream, cakes, and chocolates.
  • Animals are subjected to continuous, unnatural insemination and bred in very large numbers.
  • Milk is extracted using cruel methods. A linked PETA video is mentioned as evidence of the dairy industry's cruelty.
  • The "useful" lifespan of an animal is now only 5-6 years, after which they are sold to slaughterhouses. Dairy farmers then buy new animals, perpetuating a vicious cycle.
  • A visit to a village or dairy farm reveals that very few animals are kept without being milked or used for commercial purposes. The dairy industry is described as creating a "hell" for animals.
  • The source of animals for slaughterhouses is primarily small and large farmers and the dairy industry. The text argues that consumers who use milk limitlessly are equally responsible.
  • The author uses the example of Maharashtra's cow slaughter ban in 2015, where animals that stop giving milk are not bought by anyone due to the ban. These animals, the author suggests, will either go to illegal slaughterhouses or be abandoned to scavenge for waste and plastic on the streets, as farmers will not care for them.

What Should Be Done in the Present Situation?

• If we wish to consume milk, we must be prepared to care for the animal ourselves. This involves identifying the animal and ensuring it is not subjected to any cruelty.
• If animal rearers do not take responsibility, are we prepared to take on this burden? The text poses the question: if we are not willing to care for the living beings that nourish us, do we have the right to consume their milk?
• The author questions the sincerity of our concern for animals, suggesting that trying to justify our excessive milk consumption is an attempt to cover up our own faults.
• The impact of a few people stopping milk consumption overnight won't bring a significant change. The habit of excessive milk consumption has developed over the last 40-50 years.

Three Types of People and Their Impact:

The text categorizes people into three groups regarding milk consumption:

1. Vegans: Those who completely stop using milk.
2. Compassionate Non-Vegans: Those who are not entirely vegan but have compassion for animals in their hearts.
3. Excessive Consumers: Those who continue to consume milk excessively.

The average consumption of these three groups will lead to the following potential outcomes:

• Reduced Demand: This will lead to less commercialization of milk.
• Less Incentive for Cruelty: The dairy industry will have less incentive to breed animals unnaturally and in large numbers.
• Liberation from Cruelty: The milk business will be freed from the cruel grip of the dairy industry, and animal cruelty will decrease.
• Fewer Animals to Slaughter: A very small number of animals will go to slaughterhouses, and meat consumption will decrease.
• Ideal Outcome: The author advocates for a state where no animal is slaughtered or harmed. Only the skin of naturally deceased animals would be used. Farmers would return to using animal dung as fertilizer and cow urine for various purposes. Bullocks would be used for agriculture again, and calves would not be killed upon birth.

The Possibility of the Ideal Outcome:

The text asserts that all these changes are possible with effort. The choice lies with us to decide which of the three categories of people we want to be.

The Ultimate Ideal Situation:

The most ideal situation is for cows, buffaloes, and bullocks to live freely, whether in forests or villages, without any human claim over them. Their numbers would be regulated by nature's cycle of life and death. Humans would not unnaturally prolong or end their lives, nor harm them for food or other purposes. The principle of "Live and Let Live" should prevail.

Addressing Differing Opinions and the Importance of Ahimsa:

• The author acknowledges that some may have different opinions on this matter. However, he candidly admits that when we adhere rigidly to specific frameworks, castes, or "isms," new problems arise.
• Identifying as vegetarian, vegan, Jain, or Christian can sometimes lead to rigidity and intolerance towards others. The text cautions against opposing or harboring negative attitudes towards those who consume milk or engage in other practices.
• It emphasizes following Lord Mahavir's principle of "Anekantavada" (multi-sidedness of reality) and not paying attention to what others say or think.
• The most crucial aspect is the practice of Ahimsa (non-violence), which is the supreme dharma ("Ahimsa Parmo Dharma"). Everyone should practice Ahimsa according to their own way and as their heart dictates.

Important Additional Points:

The text concludes by highlighting several crucial points not fully covered earlier:

• Human Need for Milk: Extensive research has proven that humans do not need animal milk. All essential nutrients can be obtained from plant-based foods. Only infants need their mother's milk; after growing up, they do not require any other milk.
• Health Risks of Milk: Milk is high in cholesterol, fat, and sugar, contributing to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
• Declining Nutritional Value: Due to injections and other drugs given to animals for increased milk production, and the declining quality of their feed, milk has lost much of its nutritional value.
• Adulteration: Excessive consumption and rising prices of milk have led to a dangerous increase in adulteration. In India, 78% of milk is adulterated, causing serious health problems.
• The Nature of Milk Reflects the Animal's State: Milk from a suffering animal cannot bring happiness. The cries of patients suffering from incurable diseases in hospitals are likened to the cries of cows and buffaloes. We reap what we sow. If an animal is fearful, its milk will also carry that fear.
• Interconnectedness: Our lives and the lives of animals are not separate. We are connected to them. The life they deserve is as precious to them as it is to us.