Acharya Tulsi
"The longer the treatment, the graver does the malady grow. In the absence of a proper diagnosis, treatment and diet, the disease is likely to increase. If the diagnosis, the treatment and the diet are all correct, and still the illness grows, it is a matter of grave anxiety. Each one of the problems with which the country is faced, is a kind of disease. If the problem is openly discussed, a solution found, and yet the problem continues, we must acknowledge that it is far more deep-rooted.
Take, for instance, the problem of violence. It is not a new problem, but whenever it has raised its ugly head, a solution has been sought at the highest level. At present, not only India, but the whole world is afflicted with violence. Even the most powerful countries are not free from it. All are impatient to overcome this terror. The evolution of atomic power has only increased mutual suspicion and fear. The possibility of a Space War is alarming indeed. To avoid this horror, an agreement was signed between Russia and America on the limitation of medium—range nuclear weapons. This agreement was widely welcomed all over the world. The status of none—violence has gone up. It has become the burning topic of the day.
As non-violence is being actively discussed, it is gradually finding acceptance as the only solution to our problems. Meanwhile, however, new dimensions of violence are being opened. A novel form of violence came to light in the Hindustan Times dated 7th June, 1988. On the first page of that edition appeared a news item with three pictures and the caption, "Not Funny for Bunny". We give here the gist of the news story. An entertainment programme was organised last week at a place near Phagwara (Punjab). Thousands of people witnessed that programme, which was entitled "Bloody—Flake Tournament". It started with the letting loose of a rabbit. Two hounds chased it. At some point in the course, the hounds swooped down upon the helpless rabbit. What a brutal and the poor creature must have had! Thousands of people witnessed that tragic scene and found in it a great deal of entertainment, and all the time the poor rabbit writhed in agony! How could so many people stand it? How would they be an indifferent witness to that pathetic scene? It was reported that during the 3-day tournament, 250 rabbits were done to death.
The savagery of this crude violence is horripilation. To what end all this violence? One asks. The causes of violence have been analysed in the scriptures, and it has been observed that some people take to violence because they are actuated by a feeling of revenge; some others turn violent out of a feeling of insecurity; still others use violence to defend themselves. Revenge, insecurity or self—defence—which of these causes was responsible for the organisation of that rabbit-violence?
In the old days, people used to go hunting. They hunted for two reasons—for recreation and meat. Did the above-mentioned tournament offer a new form of hunting, in which man got the heinous crime of killing done by his pet dogs, instead of doing it himseIf? The newspaper report said that the tournament was organised for entertainment. Is there no other way of entertainment left for man? Science has provided innumerable means of entertainment, and yet man continues to seek pleasure in perpetrating cruelties on animals! It all appears to be so irrational.
There was a time when man sought entertainment in Organising animal fights. The animals or birds participating in those fights were of the same kind. The cocks the sheep and the buffalos fought among themselves and man witnessed their fight from a distance, and was hugely entertained. But in the present instance, a rabbit was made to confront not another rabbit, but two hounds. What ruthless exploitation of animals is this!
This is India. Non-violence occupies the highest place in the culture of our country. Is it not a mockery of Indian culture to organise such a bloody tournament as mentioned above? In a country where the ancient scriptures like the Vedas, the Upanishadas, the Pitakas and the Agamas, all uphold non-violence as the greatest value, where it is proclaimed that "All beings have a soul" and "All life is sacred“—that in such a country innocent animals should be brutally done to death, with no one raising their finger against such savagery, is a dreadful situation indeed. Dare not our journalists comment freely on such happenings?
All living beings want to live. No one wishes to die. This being so, the purposeless killing of a living being is a dire calamity, a terrible crime.
For years together, a campaign has been going on in the country for the protection of cows. The cow of course is a useful animal. But what harm has the rabbit done anybody? What is important here is not whether a cow or some other animal is killed, but man's beastly nature. As long as the mentality of meaningless violence does not change, man will continue to sacrifice dumb and innocent animals for the sake of momentary entertainment or to fuIfil his seIfish desires. It is time man should recognise his own humanity and refrain from such abominable acts.
