 Mega Vegetarian Expo in Chennai
The Indian Vegetarian Congress organised a two-day 'Mega Vegetarian Food Expo 2007' in Chennai. The event was inaugurated by Tamil Nadu
Governor Surjit Singh Barnala. The expo was held to mark the golden jubilee of the Indian Vegetarian Congress and in an effort to make vegetarian
food the preferred choice in India.
An exhibition was also held as part of the expo.
The Governor said time and again it had been proved that there was scientific justification for being vegetarian. Not only on religious or moral
grounds, but also on scientific grounds, vegetarianism was the most suitable diet for human beings, he said, adding that it was a myth to state that
consumption of meat would make one strong.
It is also wrongly believed that non-vegetarian food has more nutritive value. In fact, in the US and many other Western countries more and more
people are adopting vegetarianism not only on humanitarian grounds but also on medical grounds. On the contrary, in India it was an unfortunate
fact that some of the traditional vegetarians were turning towards a non-vegetarian diet, he said.
Coronary heart diseases were previously seen only in old people. Now, due to the fast changing environment in the country, the young lead more
stressful lives and heart diseases affect them also. The most important bio-chemical abnormality which can be correlated with the heart disease is
the level of blood cholesterol. In the case of vegetarians, their intake of cholesterol is much less compared to non-vegetarians. Moreover, clotting of
a blood vessel depends on blood fluidity and possibly vegetarians have a better than average blood fluidity and this puts them at a lower risk of
suffering coronary artery disease, Governor Barnala
said.
It is a fact that a sound mind leads to a sound body and vice-versa. Now the question arises before us as to whether there is a food which can
correlate physical and mental health? It is true that many of the different saints, sages and other masters who have come at different times, in
different parts of the world and spoken in various languages, have suggested that vegetarian diet is good for a peaceful mind. A wise sage said in
Mahabharata, "Those to possess good memory, beauty, long life with perfect health, and physical, moral and spiritual strength should abstain from
animal food," Barnala said.
"There is a spiritual side to vegetarianism as well. For, every creature in this world is holy. All children of God should be treated with reverence and
love. One has no right to harm any other creature. After all, we have been born in this world to serve others in deep humility. By others, I mean all
forms of life whether they are human beings or not. Modern civilisation should not only be rational and think it from the head, but should also think
through its heart."
The Governor pointed out there was an economic element in becoming a vegetarian. "Overpopulated countries such as China and India are managing
to feed their hungry hundreds of millions only because of a largely vegetarian diet. If all Indians eat meat every day, even the resources of the whole
planet will not be enough to support us."
The Governor said he had become a strict vegetarian from 1974, and this was helpful in maintaining good health.
Tarachand Dugar, president, The Indian Vegetarian Congress, said, "The event is a great beginning. Through these two days of this Mega Vegetarian
Food Expo 2007, The Indian Vegetarian Congress (IVC) will pursue the objectives of promoting vegetarianism and to propagate and promote the
principles of the natural, healthy, vegetarian way of life. We have taken upon ourselves the responsibility to undertake and support all efforts to
promote vegetarianism through possible and permissible means."
The Indian Vegetarian Congress is a pioneer in the movement of vegetarianism in India, he said, pointing out that Rukmini Devi Arundale founded the
movement in 1959 as a non-political charitable society and also served the organisation as the charter president.
The IVC is a non-political, non-religious, non-profit organisation dedicated to spreading the message of vegetarianism, across the globe. It is
affiliated to the International Vegetarian Union, UK. IVC is headquartered in Chennai with centres all over India and has about 2,000 members spread
across the globe. It conducts several programmes and also evolved the 'WorId Vegetarian Week' in the first week of October every year.
R Rangaraj
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