Why Should We NOT Feel Proud About the World's First Vegetarian City?
By Sumit Paul, New Age
Islam
19 July
2024
Jainism Believes in
Pluralism (Anekaantvaad or Syaadvaad in Prakrit). In Fact, Pluralism Is
Jainism's Greatest Contribution to A Conflict-Ridden World. According to
Anekaantvaad, Everyone Is Right from His or Her Perspective and No Ideology Is
Absolute.
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This pertains
to the news that Palitana, a city in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, has
made history by becoming the first city in the world to ban the sale and
consumption of non-vegetarian food. This landmark decision reflects the strong
influence of Jainism and its principles in the region. Non-veg food is now
illegal in Palitana, emphasizing the city's commitment to vegetarianism and
reverence for life.
What an
irony! Jainism believes in Pluralism (Anekaantvaad or Syaadvaad in Prakrit). In
fact, Pluralism is Jainism's greatest contribution to a conflict-ridden world.
According
to Anekaantvaad, everyone is right from his or her perspective and no ideology
is absolute. Even Truth is relative. Going by this, even those who have been
eating non-veg are also right.
So, why
should Jains insist on a blanket ban on non-vegetarian food? What will happen
to those whose livelihood hinges on the slaughtering and skinning of animals?
How'll they survive? Who has given Jains and their monks the right to deprive
people of their palate, plate and profession?
This
overzealous edict to ban non-vegetarian food will have far-reaching (negative)
ramifications in the days to come. Jains may argue that every life being
precious, they have a moral right to protect animals and Pluralism or Syaadvaad
doesn't apply here. Very true. But they must also know that Emperor
Chandragupta Maurya, who embraced Jainism in his later years and became a
follower of Bhadrabahu, a monk of the Digambara order of Jainism, never
condemned those who were non-vegetarians because it was pristine Jainism that
understood and practised the all-encompassing and most liberal (social)
philosophy of ' Each to his/their own.'
One has a
right to one's personal preferences, even harmless idiosyncrasies. What one
eats is one's personal as well as private choice. Terapanthi Jain Acharya Tulsi
refused to join Jain 'crusaders' seeking total ban on non-veg at Ladnun and
nearby district Nagaur in western Rajasthan in 1967. It's worthwhile to mention
that Ladnun is the centre of Terapanth sect of Jainism as Acharya Tulsi was
born at Ladnun and it also has Jain Vishva Bharati University. Yet, 'modern'
Jains have a proclivity to make a fetish of their dietary idiosyncrasies and
they stretch things a trifle too far. This food fanaticism, rather, belligerent
vegetarianism must be condemned by all.
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A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in
comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed
articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including
Persian.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/proud-world-vegetarian-anekaantvaad/d/132739
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