Request To Indian People From Vegetarians Of World

This document, "Request To Indian People From Vegetarians Of World" by Young Indian Vegetarians (published February 1985), is a compilation of messages and articles from various individuals and organizations across the globe, advocating for vegetarianism and highlighting the principles of Ahimsa (non-violence) from a Jain perspective, but also drawing support from Buddhist, Hindu, and secular ethical standpoints.

The core message is a plea to the people of India to uphold and promote their traditional vegetarian and Ahimsa-based way of life, which they see as increasingly threatened by the adoption of Western meat-eating habits and exploitative animal farming practices.

Here's a breakdown of the key themes and contributions:

The Central Appeal:

• From Young Indian Vegetarians (UK): The booklet is introduced by Nitin Mehta, President, who expresses pleasure in furthering the cause of Ahimsa and Vegetarianism. He notes that while the West is increasingly moving towards vegetarianism and animal rights awareness, India, known for its tolerance and compassion, is unfortunately seeing a rise in meat consumption and animal exploitation. He urges Indians to reverse this trend and lead the world into a new era of compassion.

Support from Global Leaders and Organizations:

• Rt. Hon. Bernard Weatherill, M.P. (UK Speaker): Supports the booklet and argues that feeding half the world's grain to animals is morally indefensible when millions are starving. He advocates for fairer distribution of resources and quotes Gandhi that "Before a hungry man God may not appear except in the form of bread."
• International Vegetarian Union (IVU): Expresses regret over some Indians abandoning their traditional vegetarian diet. They emphasize India's long history of respect for all life and note the growing appreciation of vegetarianism globally for health, moral, and economic reasons. They request India to maintain its tradition.
• Mr. Prakash Mehrotra (High Commissioner, India, London): Expresses happiness that vegetarianism is gaining acceptance in the West for moral, ethical, and health reasons. He wishes success to the Young Indian Vegetarians' endeavor.
• Shri Kapila, Humanitarian Society (Sri Lanka): Includes endorsements from medical professionals (Dr. H.C. Shermaa, Alexander Haig M.D., Sir Benjamin W. Richardson M.D.) who highlight the nutritional benefits of vegetarian diets and point to the longevity of a 111-year-old vegetarian in Britain.
• H.H. The Dalai Lama: His contribution, "Compassion as the Pillar of World Peace," focuses on the Buddhist perspective. He defines compassion as altruistic love, not based on attachment, and advocates for its limitless cultivation towards all sentient beings. He draws a connection between compassion and universal peace, emphasizing shared family relationships across all beings due to the cycle of rebirth. He also stresses that developing a kind heart is not limited to religious people but is a universal human trait.
• Bhavandas Gosvami Maharaja (ISKCON): Commends the push for vegetarianism, calling it superior from economic, ethical, psychological, and spiritual viewpoints. He links vegetarianism to Sanatana Dharma, emphasizing the sanctity of all life, and cites the Bhagavad Gita's preference for vegetarian offerings. He encourages incorporating prasad (offering food to the divine before eating).
• H.H. Acharya Sushil Kumarji Maharaj (Jain): Expresses happiness about young people promoting vegetarianism, believing 100,000 people can be converted annually with organized efforts. He emphasizes the scientific evidence for vegetarianism's superiority and the negative effects of meat (cholesterol, poison, negativity). He also stresses the importance of teaching balanced diet preparation and educating people on the ill effects of alcohol and tobacco, linking 60% of cancer cases to imbalanced diets, drinking, and smoking. He views vegetarianism as a core policy of non-violence and the path to salvation and peace.
• H. H. Pramukhswami Maharaj (Swaminarayan sect): Emphasizes that we have no right to take the life of a creature to whom we cannot give life. He quotes Bhagwan Swaminarayan on the importance of non-violence. He contrasts the reasoned diet of vegetarian animals with the indiscriminate eating habits of humans and calls humans to "become human." He prays for vegetarianism to purify minds and prevent war.
• H.H. Satguru Jagjeet Singhji Maharaj (Sikh): Focuses on universal peace through respecting all creeds and loving each other, highlighting the importance of love for establishing peace.
• Denmark Vegetarian Society: Mentions the growth of vegetarianism in Denmark, the establishment of a foundation for elderly vegetarians, and the increasing presence of vegetarian options in newspapers, magazines, and restaurants.
• Vegetarian Society of South Africa: Attributes the increase in meat-eating in India to a higher standard of living and a lowering of moral standards, where drinking, smoking, and meat-eating are seen as status symbols. They note the prevalence of heart disease and cancer in countries with high animal protein intake.
• North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS): Expresses regret over the increasing trend of meat consumption in India and hopes the publication will help people realize vegetarianism is a healthy option for those who believe life is sacred and animals have rights. They highlight growing vegetarianism in the US, driven by health concerns, ethics, world hunger, ecology, and cost.
• Mark Gold (Animal Aid Society, UK): Urges India not to imitate the West's meat-eating habits, which he deems inferior. He highlights that vegetarianism is humane and healthy, allows feeding more people, and avoids the horror of slaughterhouses. He also criticizes Western factory farming methods being adopted in India, pointing out their failure to address malnutrition and the inherent cruelty. He implores India to set an example of non-violence.
• Dr. Alan Long (Vegetarian Society of UK): Details the routine mutilations and cruel practices on British farm animals due to intensive farming methods, aimed at maximizing yields and profits. This includes forced breeding, premature weaning, ear punching, tail docking, beak trimming, and hormonal implants, all causing immense suffering and leading to animal diseases that can transfer to humans.
• David Whiting: Discusses the cruelty of modern animal exploitation, particularly highlighting the mass slaughter of bull frogs in India for the North American and European markets. He details the ecological damage caused by this trade, the increased reliance on toxic pesticides, and the resulting health threats to humans. He reflects on the contrast between Christmas festivities and animal cruelty and quotes Lord Dowding on the importance of treating animals as "younger brothers and sisters" and the responsibility humanity has towards them.
• Compassion in World Farming (UK) & Dr. Robert Runcie (Archbishop of Canterbury): Condemn factory farming systems and extreme confinement, stating that such exploitation leads to spiritual poverty and a lowering of self-respect.

Arguments for Vegetarianism Presented:

• Ethical/Moral: Ahimsa, compassion, sanctity of life, animal rights, preventing cruelty, and a more humane way of life.
• Health: Superior nutrition, reduced risk of food poisoning (Salmonella), absence of intestinal worms (tapeworm), lower cholesterol, reduced risk of heart disease and cancer, and overall well-being.
• Economic: Vegetarian diets allow feeding more people, and the export of products like frog legs causes economic detriment to India (higher pesticide import costs than export earnings).
• Ecological: Avoiding factory farming and supporting natural pest control (like frogs) is vital for the environment.
• Spiritual: Vegetarianism is linked to spiritual advancement, purity of mind, and achieving inner peace.
• Physiological Differences: The text includes a detailed comparison of the digestive systems of meat-eaters, grass-eaters, fruit-eaters, and humans, concluding that humans are physiologically designed for a herbivorous diet.

Conclusion:

The booklet concludes with a call to action for every reader to play their part in promoting Ahimsa. It encourages individuals to convince meat-eaters to become vegetarians, stop local animal hunting, and collectively lobby for legislation against animal abuse. It emphasizes that as long as animals are seen as a source of profit, exploitation will continue, requiring constant vigilance. The final message is that the next leap forward in human civilization must be the liberation of defenseless animals, and India must lead this movement.