MY TAKE ON NON VEGETERIANISM

Earlier last month, I had gone to the fish market with an Uncle in order to understand the kind of fishes available. I am an eggeterian by birth and on my way to become a vegetarian. I generally consume eggs rarely once in 4-5 months. But then, I am supposed to clean and make different kinds of meat – fish included.


I do know how to make non vegetarian dishes but it is not without a shudder. As a child I used to be fascinated by the way people used to show their excitement and salivation whenever there was description of non vegetarian dishes. Also, I used to stare how family members (so sober in their behaviour) and friends tear the meat with their incisors and chew with relish, forgetting to eat my own plate of curd rice and papadams.


To show my disgusted feelings, I started commenting on the dining table – “Oh is that a leg that you are eating.. then that must be the leg of the baby chicken”, OR “, which body part are you eating currently –oh liver!!! How does it taste”, OR “ Why do you suck the bone marrow – is it the same in the human body??” OR “I recently learnt in the school that many body parts of the hen and the human is the same. Is it true?” AND so on.... :)


I was banished - permanently from the dining table, whenever there were non vegetarian dishes to my room, where I could enjoy my food and the rest at the dining table!! :) Still, at times, I couldn’t stop myself. I could and can never understand the deep desire of humans to be carnivores in a civil manner!!


At the fish market, I saw different varieties and sizes of fishes. All with their tender mouths torn open and wide eyed dazzled death look. I saw the fish monger and his assistants don plastic overalls and clean the fish by removing scales, gills, internal organs, eyes / head with cleaver knives, having an expression of “Its purely business”!! And then it happened.


A 2 feet long catfish lying in the icebox with its other friends was still wiggling with great energy. It wanted to live and so was trashing around to find water and jump for its escape. I felt sad. The passion to live and survive ahead was so strong.


I asked Uncle whether there was any water body nearby so that I can buy it and release it. He was amused with my feelings. To pacify me, he asked the fish monger the price of that catfish. He refused by saying in kannada, that its already booked by a hotel and they had paid in advance. Uncle translated the statement and said that if you start having pity, you won’t be able to eat anything on earth. Hmmmmm ---- a very debatable logic!


& tonight I was watching the documentary “South Pacific” on BBC Entertainment, when I remembered my visit to the fish market. I saw the fishing of various kinds of fishes – especially of the Pacific Tuna. I saw the trembling moments of the fish when it is taken out of the water & the wide eyed caught look. The fishes still kept trembling until they are transferred to the ice box where then they are frozen to death. As the documentary continued, all I could feel is disgust for the insatiable appetite of humans for fishes and any other ‘’EATABLE” living creatures!!!!


And I couldn’t help myself saying: “, Khao, khao......aur khao....you would all understand only when Aliens from outer space would develop a taste for human flesh, convert the earth into some kind of farm and then would enjoy hunting us down”!!!!!!!