Non Non-Veggie
8 days had passed since the new year set in and I still did not have any resolutions. I sat down on that Monday and listed down some areas of improvement. These were some of the regular things that I had thought of in the previous year.
However one thing which I wanted to do since long was haunting me. It happened something like this:
I used to see it many times & visualize the fate the chickens undergo when they are crammed up in the truck. I could see the fear in the eyes of those dumb animals. But I liked to eat them too much to give them up. I used to see goats being dragged by emaciated and thin boys. But I convinced myself that these creatures are bred to be killed for food. I saw the desperation of fish to breathe when they are pulled out of water but I thought “Man is the superior in the race of survival. He has every right to kill animals for food”. This made me callous to death of these beings.
I had a wild thought, why not stop eating non-veg for a while and see what impact it has on my life? But I feared the opposition from my dad and relatives; I feared the mockery by my peers; I feared being a sissy. I hence started turning a blind eye to this cruelty.
One fine day, in this new year I saw some chicken & lamb in their predicament and I thought the “what-if’s” -- I thought, what if I am in a situation where I cannot have freedom to move; what if my death is decided by somebody else; what if I was not in control of my own life? This is the worst punishment any living creature can face. This is when I was scared out of my wits. I decided not to support this cause ever. I decided to kill this craving for good. I decided to think on my actions. I decided to fight the system; I decided to be strong; I decided to be a veggie. I decided to give up eating meat for pleasure. However if I had to survive by eating these creatures, I will eat them only enough to keep my breath going.
When I announced this, I got a mixed reaction. Most of the people took it as if someone from their party has joined the opposition. The veggies were just happy that one more has joined their team and the non-veggies were angry because my action had doubted their foundation of enjoyment.
First to discourage me was dad. He went to the length of announcing that non–veg will be prepared at home on a weekly basis so that I can succumb to the temptation at least once. Sid, Aks & Bisu argued that since we eat plants by killing them, cruelty cannot be stoped. Mek was amazed at my decision. I appreciated that she did not discourage me. Sharmi even urged that I give up alcohol, egg, and al culinary pleasures. Arch wondered whether I wud not even kill an attacking poisonous snake if I confront one.
Thru all this, I learnt many ways of argument and I have just one argument to support my decision:
I gave up eating meat for pleasure. It is not butchery that bothers me but the life these animals lead before they are slaughtered.
I am a non non-veggie and it’ll be a boring life. But at least I am supporting the idea that one should be in control of one’s life… at least of one’s death!!
However one thing which I wanted to do since long was haunting me. It happened something like this:
I used to see it many times & visualize the fate the chickens undergo when they are crammed up in the truck. I could see the fear in the eyes of those dumb animals. But I liked to eat them too much to give them up. I used to see goats being dragged by emaciated and thin boys. But I convinced myself that these creatures are bred to be killed for food. I saw the desperation of fish to breathe when they are pulled out of water but I thought “Man is the superior in the race of survival. He has every right to kill animals for food”. This made me callous to death of these beings.
I had a wild thought, why not stop eating non-veg for a while and see what impact it has on my life? But I feared the opposition from my dad and relatives; I feared the mockery by my peers; I feared being a sissy. I hence started turning a blind eye to this cruelty.
One fine day, in this new year I saw some chicken & lamb in their predicament and I thought the “what-if’s” -- I thought, what if I am in a situation where I cannot have freedom to move; what if my death is decided by somebody else; what if I was not in control of my own life? This is the worst punishment any living creature can face. This is when I was scared out of my wits. I decided not to support this cause ever. I decided to kill this craving for good. I decided to think on my actions. I decided to fight the system; I decided to be strong; I decided to be a veggie. I decided to give up eating meat for pleasure. However if I had to survive by eating these creatures, I will eat them only enough to keep my breath going.
When I announced this, I got a mixed reaction. Most of the people took it as if someone from their party has joined the opposition. The veggies were just happy that one more has joined their team and the non-veggies were angry because my action had doubted their foundation of enjoyment.
First to discourage me was dad. He went to the length of announcing that non–veg will be prepared at home on a weekly basis so that I can succumb to the temptation at least once. Sid, Aks & Bisu argued that since we eat plants by killing them, cruelty cannot be stoped. Mek was amazed at my decision. I appreciated that she did not discourage me. Sharmi even urged that I give up alcohol, egg, and al culinary pleasures. Arch wondered whether I wud not even kill an attacking poisonous snake if I confront one.
Thru all this, I learnt many ways of argument and I have just one argument to support my decision:
I gave up eating meat for pleasure. It is not butchery that bothers me but the life these animals lead before they are slaughtered.
I am a non non-veggie and it’ll be a boring life. But at least I am supporting the idea that one should be in control of one’s life… at least of one’s death!!
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