Abp Abraham Viruthakulangara, Nagpur
The Central government has promulgated an ordinance that prohibits selling of animals for slaughter. How do you see it?
I don’t think it is in the interest of the people who eat beef. For many, beef is a part of their diet. Secondly, I don’t think the government should be interfering in people’s food habits. What I should eat, what I should wear and what language I should speak etc are things that should be left to my free choice. The ordinance is too much of an interference in people’s personal life, irrespective of religion or caste. I think they are going beyond the limits of their mandate. I don’t subscribe to such governmental actions. It is not fare for the government to interfere in the daily life of people.
Do you think that the upper castes are imposing laws of their kitchen on others?
I do very much think so. The upper castes are imposing their life style on medium and lower strata of our population. In reality, the food habits of many upper caste people are different from the kind of impression they give about it to the others. This is a way of forcing upper caste life style and ethos on the lower castes. Unfortunately, not many of those who are affected are even willing to raise their voice against it. There is a kind of gradual silencing of the people happening.
Do you think the media is also being silenced?
The media is already silenced. Even when people are vociferous about such issues, the media keeps silent. Nobody wants to court trouble by speaking out, because, once caught, there is no way out. There is tremendous pressure on people who like to speak out. In a few cases, the print media boldly writes on these issues, but the electronic media are greatly silent. There is so much information which they are hiding from the people.
There are more than two hundred and fifty lakhs of people engaged in the beef industry. Are they mostly Muslims and low caste people?
Many of them are hight caste Hindus also. Probably, they may not eat beef, but they are engaged in this business.
Even some of the exporters of beef are Brahmins, aren’t they?
There are many such people in Gujarat. They will benefit from the ban, because they have ways of procuring animals without going to markets.
But bulk of our people are Muslims, OBCs and dalits. Do you think this law is intended to destroy the economic power of the weaker sections?
Yes, there is no doubt about that. They are focusing on destroying the economic power of weaker sections, be they Muslims or low caste people. But, when they are deprived of normal ways of earning livelihood, they will take to illegal ways for making a living. People have to somehow earn their daily bread and survive. In that sense, the ban on sale of cattle for slaughter will open the doors for unhealthy practices. As we say, thieves are thieves, but this will make thieves of otherwise good people.
The Hindutva movement is in general promoting Ghar Vapsi, which is returning to the past. Don’t you think that we are going back from the humanism that is enshrined in the Constitution where everyone is equal and free to some sort of a clannish and casteist community that was existing before Independence?
Definitely, it is a planned way of going back. As far as I know, the Vedas don’t prohibit eating of meat. This is actually part of a ploy by the high castes to steal power from ordinary people. We are going backward faster by the day, and I wonder what will happen.
Is Hindutva destroying Hinduism itself, which has so much of lofty ideals, enlightened way of life and doctrines?
The very same people who should be encouraging openness, freedom and patriotism knowingly or unknowingly become destroyers of these values. They are not conscious of its consequences. We can see here and there some enlightened Hindu people who openly say this is not what we believe in and what we practise. It is some radical members of the Hindu religion who are destroying the future of our country.
Do you agree with the statement that they are trying to slowly make India a Hindu Pakistan?
They point out that there are many countries in the world known as Islamic countries. They also argue that India is the only country that can possibly become a Hindu nation. I fervently hope they will not succeed. We have tremendous power of tolerance to resist it.
But don’t we have to fear that a generation of people who do not think will easily become silenced and domesticated. Do the youth realise that democracy is at stake?
Here and there we find some of them protesting, but their number is comparatively small. I think we need do awaken and conscientise people to think of the future and understand the danger it represents for the fabric of civil society and secular thinking. Sometime back, a great advocate told me that our Constitution was framed in the way it is by a large number of generous Hindus. Now their brethren are trying to undo it. I hope better sense will prevail. Even as I am involved in various apostolates and ministries, I feel scared and frightened about what might happen. I place my trust in the good Lord. He will find some ways of setting things right. This hope is also implied in the slogan of our country “satyamev jayate,” meaning truth shall prevail. We will overcome these difficult situations and pass on to something better with the help of our leaders and the younger generation. That is my wish and prayer. We are not doomed to be destroyed, and it is also not christian to think so. Enlightened people should come forward and work together. I shall hold the Bible in one hand and the Constitution in the other. In fact, our Constitution is very a unique and beautiful document.
