Food: The Nectar of Life
Food is one of the necessities of life. We need food for nutrients, energy, growth and overall healthy living.
In most cultures around the world, food is considered sacred and wastage of food is considered a sin.
According to one data, “the average person in India wastes 137 grams of food every single day. That’s 0.96 kg per week or 50 kg per year. In India, 40% of the food is wasted which is equivalent to Rs 92,000 crores a year.”
I’ve been brought up in a household where food wastage was strictly admonished. Excess food was always distributed amongst the household helpers and their families. I being a picky eater, always found ways to clear my plate of unwanted food scrapings through the nearest window. Expectantly, it was not a very pleasant situation the day I was caught red-handed in the act! However, to my utter relief, the crows nesting in the nearby trees had saved my face to a certain extent! They were happily feasting on the scrapings and feeding their young ones! No wastage!!! From that day onwards, I was given extra food to feed the crows. However, I was under firm vigilance till I finished every morsel on my plate.
Feeding the hungry whether it’s human beings, animals or birds is not only a part of our socio-cultural system but is also considered to be a part of our spiritual progression.
From Hunter Gatherers to Stray-Hunters?!
A few days ago, in a very shocking incident in the building complex where I live, the residing stray dogs were mercilessly beaten and chased out of the building in an illegal and unauthorized evacuation attempt!
Thankfully, a few pro-animal residents and local animal activists with the help of the local authorities intervened and the matter was resolved for the time being.
However, this incident unfolded a completely different façade of the whole situation. Amid all the heated altercations, the animal lovers of the building were continuously targeted and accused with verbal darts for feeding and creating a “dog menace” within the residential society.
If you think this is the most debated, unresolved issue of the modern time then you are completely wrong!
I remember, way back in the 80s an elderly man, living in the vicinity of my parental home in Kolkata. He used to distribute homemade leftovers amongst the stray cats and dogs at a secluded corner of the lane. He ignored daily jibes and snide remarks and silently carried on this selfless routine much to the annoyance of most households in the area. Everybody complained that he was solely responsible for creating a mess and littering the lane. I visited my home just a few months back, this year in February. The lane is in the same messy condition but there are no stray feeders! Hideous civic sense stark out in the open!
Overfilled, exposed garbage dumping and careless littering of public areas are not uncommon sights in our country and these appalling habits not just invite strays and scavengers like crows but the disease-bearing menace of rodents as well!
In recent times there are various ongoing legal cases and outrageous allegations are made against those feeding the strays. Feeders are constantly bullied, abused, and threatened in broad daylight by several segments of the community! The overall demand is to permanently get rid of the strays even if it means slaughtering them!
Are We Just Confused or Sheer Hypocrites?
I am baffled at this complete hypocrisy! Indian cities and towns have pigeon feeding points at several places and people freely feed these birds despite being scientifically termed as health hazards and a menace to two-wheeler riders! Such is the extent of obsession with creating good karma through “Anna Daan.”
According to a study, half a million people in India are professional beggars and we gladly promote them because as per certain religious guidelines, feeding the hungry is the easiest way to wash off our sins. We wholeheartedly donate food to human mendicants in the streets, at traffic signals and at places of religious worship.
People flock to zoos and exotic locations to feed the wild birds, fish and animals because they find it a great source of entertainment!
Most rituals and festivities in Indian culture are incomplete without feeding animals. Feeding certain species of birds and animals are considered auspicious in our culture. The non-vegetarians in the community are frowned upon and subjected to lectures on non-violence and karma by the followers of “Religious Ahimsa.”
Then why the discrepancy in attitude when it comes to strays? After all, they are not wild animals. Dogs and cats have been domesticated much like cows and buffaloes over the evolution of mankind. They are a part of the urban and rural society whether one accepts it or not.
Act Human to be Human
Compassion and rational thinking are what make us human beings. The feeders are not only working for a noble cause but also working towards curbing the hunger-bred aggressions of these helpless street animals.
Every living being is entitled to Food. Feeding a homeless, voiceless animal cannot be termed as a criminal activity! Stray dogs and cats are not aggressive naturally unless provoked or feel threatened. On the contrary, they remember kindness more than we humans, and that too throughout their short life.
Not everyone is an animal lover which is completely understandable but does that entitle us to be ruthless towards the ones who are? After all, we are rationally tolerating political mafias, religious fanaticism, domestic violence, and child abuse!
Most importantly, the problem of overpopulation is not limited to the stray animal community alone in our country! However, unlike the human population, at least, there is ample scope to get the stray population under control by getting them neutered and rehabilitated within society with the help of local Government Agencies and Animal Protection groups. This is the only solution to this problem.
Rising incidents of “Stray Menace” in different parts of the country is a serious matter! It should be taken up within the legal limits with immediate effect. If we can arrange huge public donations for organizing local festivities then why not take the initiative to resolve this major issue by the same means?
I am not going to go into the intricacies of any Legal Facts and Acts. Most of us are already aware of those and if not, one can easily Google it online.
My only request to my readers is to enjoy and be grateful for the food on your plate and feed the hungry whenever possible if not, at least let the others eradicate hunger in peace.
