The Non Vegetarian Food Issue In IITs – A letter was written to the HRD ministry by a group of concerned citizens, most of whom belonged to the RSS, which expressed their dismay at non-vegetarian food is causing in students’ life.
It was a sultry afternoon.
I was sulking at my workplace after having a lip smacking lunch with my colleagues, when surfing through the internet I came across an article that talked about the Ministry of Human Resource Development writing to the Directors of all 16 Indian Institutes of Technology over an issue that concerned consumption of non vegetarian food in messes of the institutions.
Though the students may not have asked for it, the Human Resources Development Ministry has asked the Indian Institutes of Technology to explore the possibility of having separate canteens for its vegetarian students based on the possibility that non-vegetarian food continues to create tamas (dark thoughts) in students.
Apparently, a letter was written to the HRD ministry by a group of concerned citizens, most of whom belonged to the RSS, which expressed their dismay at the influence non-vegetarian food is causing in the life of students belonging to the most prestigious institutions in the country.
The only thing that I could think of at that very moment was Are we really taking this seriously? The letter deceives the insignificant intolerance that is ridiculously creeping and intensifying its foundations all across the nation. The claims of non-vegetarian food being a symbol of western culture, is taken into consideration by a body who stands for the welfare of the nation.
Well, even if that was true, let’s see, all of our vegetarian folks would be highly tolerant and respectful, because they have always consumed Sattvic food.
The disturbing thing about the news is not that few “concerned” citizens thought about the future of the country, but that the HRD ministry approved of it, and is taking into account the necessary changes that needs to be made.
Though a decision is yet to be concluded, we hope that the Ministry ponders over how few caste-ist and communal choices are being made in explicit ways, and forced upon students who belong to the largest democracy in the world.
We also hope that they work over other relevant issues that’s affecting the overall growth of the country.
