The £5 note controversy continues to rage and the media is having a field day. Some papers are telling the story of Hindus temples refusing to take the notes with alleged Hindu atrocities on people caught selling beef in India. In the comments section of the papers disparaging remarks of Hindus are being made. The fact that the £5 notes had animal fat in it was found out by a vegetarian/vegan activist. A petition to stop using animal fat also was started by activists none of whom are Hindu. However the impression being created now is that it is the Hindus who are driving this campaign. The website of National Council of Hindu Temples says: "From the Hindu and Dharmic perspective, producing currency and casually incorporating substances which are derived from acts of violence upon vulnerable non-aggressive creatures is not the behaviour of civilised beings.''
Newspapers are quoting this statement. The strong language used invites a confrontational response from the ordinary public. Our preciously guarded tolerant outlook is being undermined. We also need to ask how often do we raise the issue of vegetarianism in our temples. How often do we raise the issue of leather, a product of animals slaughtered for meat? To the credit of the individual who exposed this, the authorities and the company producing the notes is already working on removing the animal fat from future notes. Meat eating, using leather products, milk consumption and use of milk in religious ceremonies ought to be brought up by temples and Hindu Gurus. Except for a few spiritual leaders no one talks about these issues.
If Hindu temples and Hindu priests want to be seen as progressive they should immediately stop the use of milk in temples and replace it with soya or almond milk. We need to let this matter rest! In matters like this N.C.H.T. should have acted quickly by contacting member temples and also called a meeting before putting out a statement on its website. Once again on the PR front we are found wanting!
Nitin Mehta
By email
