Dr. Sulekh Chand Jain
There was a time when we as Jains could not ever imagine or talk about this. But not anymore. When I was growing up in Delhi, for me it was extremely painful even to walk past a meat shop. Normally, I would turn my face and walk by it quickly. Now, greed and the desire to get rich quickly have motivated some Jains to go into trading and selling meat and meat-based products. Today for many, money (Lakshmi) is the only GOD that matters and that is what they toil and worship all day long for. I know a few Jains in the US who own Subway, Quizno, and so many other fast food shops that make and sell predominantly meat products. I may not be surprised if some Jains own McDonalds Franchises, too (I personally don’t know any because I don’t ever go there). All these fast food stores make and sell products (right in the store) that contain animal flesh. Nearly ninety percent of their inventory is of meat of various kinds. It is a very profitable and cash sale business and more and more Jains are either expanding or going into this.
Here are some examples of business desires overcoming ahimsa.
- I personally know several Jains who own liquor stores, 7-11stores, gas stations, and convenience stores with meat shops within. Practically most of them sell meat, fish, and egg-based products. Even to confess that such things are happening within the Jain community puts us to shame. Is this ahimsa in practice? Surely there is a major disconnect here.
- About fifteen years ago, I was at a social gathering of Indians (desis) in a town in US. When I was meeting the participants, I went to one lady and asked her name. She said, “You don’t know me but my husband who is a Jain did athaayee [eight days continuous fast] during paryushana last year.” Earlier I had come to know that this very person owned at least five to six Subway fast food stores (and I am sure he owns many more now) at that time. I have also come to know that this very person became a role model and as a result more Jains have followed suit and gone into this business.
- One of the Subway stores owned by a Jain used to donate (and probably still does) free veggie sandwiches to the Jain Pathshala kids at one of the Jain Centers here in the US. Earlier in those days, two kids I knew used to go to that pathshala. Once these kids came to know where these free sandwiches were coming from, they refused to eat those sandwiches and since then they never did. What a contrast and what a celebration of ahimsa, so much more than a mere slogan or a lifestyle! You can imagine how I felt. Even the young kids saw the difference between talk and walk.
- In one town in the US, one prominent Jain used to own an Indian grocery store. One year, he was elected to be the president of the Jain center there. One day, during shopping at his shop, I noticed several items for sale in his shop freezer that contained beef and fish. I was stunned. That same day, I consulted another prominent member of the Jain center there and the next day we went to see the store owner and talked him out of selling such items—if not permanently at least during his term as the president of the Jain center there. He agreed and stopped such items, but only as long as he was president. Soon after, he resumed his trade.
- A few years ago, I went to see a relative of mine in the US. There, he took me to see several of his convenience stores. Right away I noticed meat, salami, hot dogs, and liquor being sold. This man (about fifty years old then) comes from a highly religious and moralistic Jain family. Needless to say, I was shocked. I have never gone to his house since then. Honestly, it still bothers me a lot.
Mahavir Sanglikar, a Jain activist in India, recently wrote a satirical blog entitled, “Jains of Butcher Land.” I reproduce that blog here. It is an eye opener. When people read his blog, many people searched on the Internet to find out where “Butcher Land” is, but no one found it as it does not exist. Many people missed the theme of his message. He used fiction to make his point. I see that there are many such Butcher Lands all around us within the Jain community and more are being created. Please read on; his message touches upon so many issues and gives compelling images of some of the things happening within the community. It appears that “sub chalta hai,” or all is okay.
