I watched with amusement as many Indian “Digital Entrepreneurs” took snaps and selfies with PM Narendra Modi at a Nasscom sponsored event in New Delhi last Sunday.
I skipped going.
Next I recoiled in HORROR to read that the next day, the Govt. of Maharashtra had BANNED the sale, consumption of Beef in the state and imposed several fines, including jail time, etc for consuming Beef!!
Funny isn’t it? On Sunday the govt. toasts the spirit of enterprise and on Monday destroys the livelihood of thousands of Entrepreneurs!
Growing up and living up in India for the past 46 years had taught me something very SCARY:
You can get arrested and jailed for ALMOST anything. And here when I mean anything, I mean the bizarre (not the usual items of murder, theft, etc).
Examples?
– If you are the CEO of a 200 man software Company and just one management trainee in your Company downloads a single piece of software that is not licensed, a complaint of that Software Company to the Police can land you, the CEO in Jail. (I’m not kidding)
– A woman can sleep with a man for years and years (I read a case of 30+ years) but when she gets offended or upset, she can simply go and file a case of Rape and get the man behind bars for a long time.
– I am sure we can crowdsource 100+ examples.
BUT NEVER EVER HAD I HEARD OF GOING TO JAIL FOR EATING SOMETHING!
Is this the INDIA that is going to conquer the world? Is this the India that will beat China and everything they do and become a Superpower? Is this the India whose Internet economy will make others look like midgets?
Are we going to attract VCs and Entrepreneurs and Global leaders and then tell them what they can and can’t EAT??????
Before people start wondering about my intentions, let me clarify something:
I am a DEVOUT, DEEPLY RELIGIOUS and DEEPLY SPIRITUAL person. I have never eaten a morsel of non-vegetarian food and NEVER will. I love all things living and VOCIFEROUSLY ARGUE against eating animals and creatures.
I PROPOSE, I ARGUE, I DEBATE, I HIT HARD – BUT DO I IMPOSE?????
The events of this week have shattered not just innocent folks whose business, way of life and freedom has been destroyed but also the BELIEF system of Freedom in India that I had never ever questioned before.
What is Freedom?
The ability to DO without hurting others.
Is eating a Crime?
Sure, if you turn into a Cannibal and start eating your neighbours and office folks, but eating animals like the world has been eating for years?
Hell… I’m wondering… If I make software or cups or supply security guards for McDonald’s – the largest Beef server in the world, will I be jailed?
Do I need to worry of the color of my clothes next?
Can I smile at a Married Lady?
If if don’t bow down to a deity in a temple, will I be fined?
My name is Alok. Yes Alok. Is that legal???
Errr.. Can I pose this selfie of a girl with a Cow?
Is this the stuff that you signed up for?!
*****
Rachel Gojer
Unlike you Alok I am a meat lover and non vegetarian till I die. ( Wondering if I may get jailed for writing that :-O)
While Im glad I did relocate to Bangalore from Mumbai and can hold on to my beef burger for the moment this does take me back to something that has existed in another state for I believe forever. I grew up in Kashmir and in the state of J&K beef is banned in the Jammu Province as it is primarily a Hindu majority and pork is banned in Kashmir due to a majority muslim population. And this has been there long before the militancy started in valley. Actually glad I relocated from there too 😛
shreyansh baid
its not much relevant here and you must be aware of this. beef sold in india is not of cow but buffalo . cow slaughter in banned in 26 states in india fully or partially and in begaluru too you are either  eating beef of an bullock or buffalo .Â
Puneet Nirogam Aggarwal
Shit ! I saw that selfie of the girl with the cow !!!
But is only eating banned, or is drinking also ? For example – What about BEEF RASAM 🙂
Dhwaj Shah
It’s such a pity, that talks about freedom, employment, and modern India start trending when something like a #BeefBan is implemented. All of a sudden you see urban people, who want to be perceived as the ‘thinking class’ start caring about farmers and job losses. Have you’ll ever spoken to a farmer who sells a cow to a butcher? Have you’ll been or seen a video (in full length) of cows, buffaloes or bullocks being slaughtered? How can anyone who supports the protection of human women turn a blind eye to such horrific treatment of women of a different species? Isn’t this sheer hypocrisy?
Alok Rodinhood Kejriwal
Dhwaj,
You have confused 2 issues!
– The INNOCENT slaughter of Animals
– Banning people from eating what they like
I completely support stopping killing Animals. Do you know that in Geneva, a Top Lawyer FILED A LAWSUIT against another lawyer ON BAHALF OF A SINGLE FISH he has seen him fishing?!
Why only cows? Why not Shrimp farming? the Chicken harvesters etc
Don’t mix up freedom of life with animal rights
satish Bhatia
Dear Alok
Could you please tell me a link between ban on eating beef and attracting VCs and Entrepreneurs and Global leaders for business in India, they will only invest money when they will find it lucrative and profitable and will be least bothered on what is banned in India to eat, second I think they should follow a laws prevailing in the country in which they are coming to make profits. When you talk about CHINA, they also have certain kind of bans which is much more against freedom:
Reincarnation without prior consent (China): This sounds crazy, but this was China’s attempt to control the Tibetan Buddhists.
High Ranking websites including Google blocked in china:
Â
Have look at some more
Fortified foods (Denmark): There is a fear in this country of consuming too many vitamins. It has led to the banning of many popular products, such as Ovaltine and certain cereals.
Chewing gum (Singapore): Since 1992, the import and sale of gum has been illegal in the city in order to keep public places clean.
Haggis (USA): Traditional Scottish haggis are made with sheep’s lung, which is an illegal food product in the United States (and had been for 40 years).
Why we always criticize our own county for having laws for something good(although Maharashtra gov. decision is more political). When ever Indians go to other countries they follow their  laws, why cant others when in India. One cant mix laws with freedom, some one will like it some will not like it and argue in the name of freedom and will give unusual arguments.If a law is for good (at least it will stop slaughtering of innocent animals, even in Maharashtra only) then we should support it.
Your Question: Do I need to worry of the color of my clothes next?
Yellow clothing (Malaysia): In 2011, the government decided that it was illegal to wear yellow, as it was the color of a certain group of activists.
Your Question: My name is Alok. Yes Alok. Is that legal?
Most baby names (Denmark): There are 24,000 approved government names that parents can choose from. If they want a different name, they have to apply for permission.
Thank god you are in India and your name is legal.
Your question :Â I PROPOSE, I ARGUE, I DEBATE, I HIT HARD –Â BUT DO I IMPOSE?????
It is human nature that till they do not have fear to loose something they will not follow so if it is for good it should be imposed.
Finally let me clear Alok that, my intentions are not getting personal.
Amien Kapadia
Pretty sure that the underlying message here is that something that someone may be considering as a potential business opportunity could find their time and investment rendered useless by a random ban.
India isn’t the only country with problems in this area, however, so long as laws and bans are passed as part of a political/religious power play without considering the decision’s impact on the economy, industry and people’s livelihood, it’s going to be hard for any balanced person to be okay with.
swet shah
Mr. Alok Kejriwal, this is the most stupid post you have written. i have loved lot of your previous posts and i admire you for your passion in whatever you do. India is probably the few countries where you get so much of freedom. When you say being a cannibal is a crime but eating animal is not. you have a very narrow worldview. whereas we hindus( i am a jain) who are against eating beef have a wider circle of generosity. we don;t consider cows or for that matter any animal inferior to us. governments all over the world proudly safeguard their country’s culture. so when our government passes such a law against eating beef which is considered sacred by at least 100 crore people. and considering cow sacred is now a part of India’s culture. the foreigners will not mind it at all. your foreign investors have a much larger mind and are not narrow minded. they would happily accept and respect the decision which India’s government has taken in banning the beef. If the economy is booming and they see a potential of profits which they will see then foreign investors are going to rush to invest here irrespective of the ban. because economics trumps everything.
Amien Kapadia
“because economics trumps everything.”
But not “religion” and “culture”. Which is not really religion and culture. I think part of the problem with this is the motive behind the decision.
satish Bhatia
Dear Amien
What do you think what is motive behind the decision, is the motive to hurt economy? Here the question is what is the link between ban on eating beef and attracting investors to invest money in India. Will they not invest if they will not get beef to eat.
Where is the question of freedom here, even if it is then I would like to say freedom not only gives us rights and ability to do something without hurting others but it also expects some duties (which is not generally debated ) to be discharged by us. Duties towards our country, duties towards our society, duties towards our religion and culture. None of the religion and culture in India promotes eating animals just to satisfy our taste buds.
Dhwaj Shah
So what if tomorrow, somebody wants to sell human foetus, like the way it’s done in China for food consumption, would we all still be ok with it? Will we be proud about the freedom of choice and life? Country is not governed like the way internet functions (I browse what I want to). When it’s the matter of national interest, laws and regulations are certainly required.Â
swet shah
well said!!!
Sandeep Agrawal
What’s wrong if modern India wants to take its traditions along with it. Cows are revered in our country since ages. How do we allow someone to slaughter them just because they want to eat them.