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| Dr Sahadeva Das |
I was born in India, in the west of the country, in the state of Rajasthan. I got a degree in economics and a doctorate. The last twenty-three years of my life I have been devoting monasticism and service to society.
Also, I write books and do music. In total, I've learned more than a dozen instruments, learning not only to play other people's work, but also to compose your own.
How did you become a vegetarian?
I have been a vegetarian since birth and had never eaten in my life of meat, fish or eggs. Vegetarians in India really should be called laktovegetariantsami as they get animal protein from milk.
The amazing fact is that not only my family and I stick to a vegetarian diet - all of my hometown is almost entirely composed of vegetarians. Almost none of us do not eat meat for ichklyucheniem, maybe people who have come here from other parts of the country.
A hundred years ago, to bring into the city limits any non-vegetarian food was a crime. Only the rulers (of the warrior caste) were allowed to deal with goat meat and even then only during special rituals several times a year.
Why did you decide to write a book about cow protection?
In traditional Vedic culture, cows have a special status. Dairy products - part of everyday life, and a very important part of it.
Cows are considered by our nurses, as we drink their milk, eat dairy products, as do cows play a big role in the whole agricultural process. Another important concept for any person adhering to the Vedic culture is the concept of gratitude. Therefore, it is believed that it is wrong and bad brutally kill a cow after you for so many years enjoyed her gifts.
Pay like for someone loyal service - extremely ungrateful. We have cows and bulls have always been perceived as part of the family. By bulls we treat as fathers to help grow corn in the fields.
Therefore, the bulls always deserve our side of the right to peaceful and calm way. After the death of their cremated with full honors and thanks for all they have done for us.
Unfortunately, the conditions in which animals are kept in the present system of production, far from such ideals - that is what prompted me to start writing the book. We treat animals with amazing, unprecedented cruelty.
From early childhood, I am left with memories of what a caring and loving animals are treated our family. I remember that we had two granaries with food - one for us and one for the animals. Not just for cows or bulls, but to all living beings. And every morning, my father fed cows, dogs, birds, and even ants that lived next to us.
Until now, the first bread that gets the family is not used for food, and set aside for cows. It is a sign of gratitude for their service to us. How could we do without milk, yogurt, cheese, butter? To live in mutual respect and harmony with cows - is to live in harmony with all of nature.
Are you doing something concrete to help the cows in India? Or is this theme so widely discussed in your country and do not need to pick it up there?
Today, meat production poses a serious threat to the entire planet. For forests, water resources, for fertile land. If we already did not significantly reduce the production of meat (especially beef), the Earth could hardly survive until 2100.
Each burger made from meat animals raised on the spot where once were tropical forests cover approximately 55 square feet of uprooted trees. This is a huge figure.
In India, a dairy product made over 160 drugs. To create them, and used cow urine and dung. Demand for such products is very high, and many doctors often recommend them to my patsietntam. Among the patients there are many of those who came to India from other countries. It helps people around the world to learn more about the important role and importance of cows for people of Indian culture. Across the country, there are thousands of cow shelters, but still many ancient species of these wonderful creatures are now under threat of extinction.
Unfortunately, India has become one of the largest exporters of beef in the world. Our government is very generously funded the opening of more and more meat factories. Therefore it is very important to pay attention to the issue of cow protection at the hands of meat. It is too late to do it, can still be saved from extinction and disappearance of entire species.
What would you like to say to your readers in Russia?
I really appreciate the Russian culture. In Russian culture has amazing similarities which united it with the culture of the Indian civilization. The two countries - Russia and India - are multi-ethnic countries, both see themselves as a kind of elected and entrusted with a mission on this earth. Both countries are great, full of energy and creative power. And in Russia and in India, people always say directly, openly and honestly, always friendly and hospitable to foreigners.
In your country, just as we are strong agricultural traditions of the municipality, because strong collective principle. Russia has a lot of ground. There are excellent conditions in order to keep the cows - good grass, fields, rivers and hills. I am confident that the cooperation between our two countries can bring all future world a huge favor.
I think that the Russian people have a lot of potential in terms of non-meat. The only question is how to best disseminate information about the benefits of such a refusal.
Do you think that the situation with the protection of animals in general becomes progressively better? Do you see a positive change that is happening in the world? Now the topic of protection of animal rights is becoming more and more popular, more people are turning away from meat, more and more people realize that the rejection of the killing of animals - a natural fit for a civilized and humane society.
In countries such as Germany and Bolivia have already passed laws prohibiting murder and scientific experiments on primates. In Europe, prohibited the use of cells and pens for keeping animals in factories and farms. Around the world, at the same time, thousands of young people refuse to use the meat for food.
I know that right now in the West there are farms that sell dairy products are slightly more expensive than the rest, but the money they send to ensure the cows living conditions. All this is a very positive change, I think. I think the fact that we are now so actively interested in the protection of cows, says the imminent start of a new era in the world.
