Beef Is Not Just A Religious Issue
Jawhar Sircar
(Telegraph, 5th June 2017)
While politicians quibble over whether the legality of the recent rules issued by
the Central government curbing the movement and trade in cattle of all types and
even camels, we may like to take a look at the big picture. The oft-quoted Art 48 of
the Constitution is one among the many unrealised 'Directive Principles': desirable
when able. Its talks of banning the slaughter of milch and draught cattle, but the point
is no one advocating this patently uneconomical idea. We need to understand that
even the best of cowsbecome a burden to poor farmers after their lactating period is
over. So do old draught animals. Most farmers, many of who are strict vegetarians,
therefore, sell them off so that other humans and cattle can be better looked after.
One needs to consider the impact of stopping or restricting these sales on the
economics of the milk industry. For instance, the Gujarat's cooperative milk
federation alone has 36 lakh milk farmer-members and also caters to countless more.
The past sadly whispers that every time government takes such "gigantic steps" to
tinker with the economy, it had to step in soon with a new subsidy scheme, that
forced more taxes on those who pay. The enforcement of one's own values or
political agenda on other hapless fellow-Indians can succeed upto a point, especially
at the hustings, but then someone has to pay.
24 States have already legislated under their powers drawn from Entry 15 of the
"State List" and most have banned cow slaughter. Only Kerala, West Bengal,
Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim permit the
slaughter of non-milch cows and old draught animals. As most states are in the
North-East, is it wise for a responsible Centre to alienate them even more, by
determining what they should eat? The longest road bridge alone cannot cover the
emotional chasm that exists and many nurse a lot of pain and alienation from the
entity they call "India", where they are beaten up, periodically. It is best not to forget
that several in this region had taken to arms and it took super-human efforts and lives
to bring in normalcy. India is a multi-cultural federation that has worked so long
because the delicate balance was respected.
Each culture has the right to choose it's own values and even it's special animal,
though few go to the extent of venerating it as in India. We have to understand that
abhorrence for beef was the prime 'cultural trench' that insulated Hindus from the
paramount Islamic power and influence for half a millennium. But then, it is insane to
kill fellow humans to emphasise love for go-mata and impose a narrow version of a
historically-tolerant religion. The vigilantes get away only because of the indulgence
of Hindutva-professing governments. Many noticed the unusual silence of the great
and over-articulate leader on this terrible business of outsourced terror. But brazenness with which the Centre sanctified the encroachment into dietary
preferences can only be the harbinger of more to come.
The votaries of 'Hindi Hindu Hindustan'overlook the fact that most of India lies
beyond and will remain different. We may choose to discount Ambedkar's well
researched facts on the prevalence of beef in Indian culture or even a historian like
DN Jha. We may dismiss the beef-eating habits of the torch-bearers of Sanskrit
culture in the Vedic age as lies or aberrations. But how can we deny that large
sections of confirmed Hindus still eat beef? Estimates vary and even the Central
government's own NSSO Round of 2011-12 estimated that 1.25 crore Hindus ate
beef, which is obviously an understatement. In several anti-Brahmanical cultures like
the 'real Dravidian' ones and in many counter-cultures all over India, sociallyoppressed
communities not only take beef, but organise public beef-eating events to
assert their autonomy. All Hindu beef-eaters cannot be branded pejoratively as 'low',
because this survey revealed that nearly 30 percent do not fall in that insulting
category. In fact, over 7 percent were actually from the so-called 'upper castes' and
surprisingly, only 40 percent of Muslims and 25 percent of Christians mentioned that
they ate beef. While NSSO's projections imply that some 4.4 lakh tons of cattle meat
was consumed in India, international statistics estimate that local consumption was
approximately 22 lakh tons. India also exported an estimated 24 lakh tons and it is
doubtful whether these large numbers are understood by demon-itisers.
In 2015, India was the world's largest exporter of bovine meat ahead of its
competitors, Brazil and Australia-New Zealand. This was possible because most
Indians do not touch it and Indian meat exports gave us more than crore $5 billion or
Rs 34,000 crores. It may be sensible to factor some hard economics into this
emotional debate. After all, we strain every nerve to balance our adverse foreign
trade account and then fail to make ends meet. We are home to the world's largest
buffalo population and its sacrifice was (and still is) religiously sanctified during the
worship of the warrior goddess. Only the naive believe that once the goddess was
propitiated, the buffalo carcasses were left for animals to devour. In fact, we need to
be grateful to those who flay these carcasses, as it is certainly not a pleasant job at all.
Instead, sponsored goons are let loose to thrash the flayers. In July 2016, a video of
vigilantesbeating quite mercilessly four carcass-flayers in the model state of
Gujaratwent viral and the Dalit community struck work, leaving dead cattle
unattended. The public health crisis that led to immediate appeasement should be an
eye opener to those who preach irresponsible Hindutva.
Experts estimate India's cattle population to be some 25 crore in number and state
that the number is stable as it replenishes itself. Every year, 4 percent dies a natural
death and another estimated 4 percentof is slaughtered. But, while there are some
1600 registered slaughter houses, the unregistered ones are many times more.
Hygiene is a severe problem everywhere and in some northern states, licenses are
arbitrarily suspended by municipalities in deference to 'sentiments'. We must realise that every twist and turn in this legal-illegal game usually results in huge bribes to
inspectors, babus and politicians. Interestingly, the by-product of meat, leather, gave
us more in exports, ie, $6.5 billion or Rs 45,000 crores. But the bad news for 25 lakh
people who are directly involvedis that exports fell by 10 percent in the last financial
year. Then, we have another 40,000 to 48,000 crore rupees in our domestic leather
manufacture and trade. The high decibel 'Make in India' campaign may like to
consider these numbers as this industry is being choked, for votes.
Those who really love the cow could begin by taking good care of aged cattle, after
giving the farmers their dues. Finally, could not the preachers take up immediately,
through their shakhas and bhakts, a campaign not to touch leather shoes, bags and
belts, as these come from cows?
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