Ahimsa Times 2007 09 SrNo 87

SR No.: 523587
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Ahimsa Times
Publisher: Ahimsa Times
Publication Year: 2007
Total Pages: 14
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Ahimsa Times, & India
File Size: 309 KB

Page 9

AHIMSA TIMES - SEPTEMBER 2007 ISSUE - www.jainsamaj.org
Page 9 of 14
a crisp writing style and a balanced and scholarly approach. Courtesy: Yashodhar Modi.
READER'S NOTES IS VARAKH (Silver foil) VEGETARIAN? -Sandeep Shah - A couple of years ago, Indian Airlines, the domestic aircarrier of India had issued instructions to its suppliers to supply sweet without silver foil called VARAKH. Do you know why? This is what, I would like to bring to your notice. If you keenly observe this VARAKH under a microscope don't be perturbed if you happen to see traces of blood, stools and saliva of a cattle or ox. VARAKH is a silver foil and we have no second questions on this, but to prepare this VARAKH important parts of the CATTLE/OX is made use of Intestines of Cattle / OX are obtained from the slaughterhouse. This is obtained after butchering to death the cattle/ox for beef and the part, which cannot be consumed: the intestines are pulled out of the animal and handed over to the manufacturers of VARAKH. Before handing over the intestines, they are washed in the slaughterhouse to get rid of the blood and other remains on these intestines in the limited facility that is present in the Slaughterhouse. We are not sure how neatly this job is carried out. Intestines are cut into small pieces and then are bound together as pages in a notebook.
A silver block is placed in the middle of these bound intestines, and the whole thing is placed in a leather bag and sealed. Experts, who know how to make VARAKH, pound the bag with wooden sticks, till the entire bag flattens out. The silver block would by this time be turned into silver foil. This Silver foil would now be separated from the intestine pack and will be placed on paper. This is VARAKH, which reaches the market ready for use. Even staunch vegetarians, who shyl away from egg, unknowingly consume this as a part of sweet, pan and aeronaut. Some unknowingly consume this because of the additional taste that VARAKH provides. Now the question is "Why the intestines of the cattle/ox? Why not something else?" The reason behind using the intestines of the cattle/ox for preparing the VARAKH is because of the elasticity of the intestines. They do not get cut even after a severe pounding. In India, on an average an estimate indicates that 2,75,000 kilos of "VARAKH" is consumed. Can you estimate how many cattle / ox are sacrificed for just a bit of taste? Courtesy: Sandeep Shah, Mahavir path, Baramati, 413102 E-Mail: sandeep_369@yahoo.com
Editor's Comments - According to an article written by Mrs. Maneka Gandhi and published in Rajasthan Patrika dated: 25th September, 2007, it would be alarming to know that in order to produce 1 kg. of varakh, 12,500 animals are required to be killed, every year, 30,000 (30 tons) varakh is required every year for sweets alone, leave apart its use in other ways like, pasting on idols, using for wrapping pan, vegetables and fruits. It has been well-established that there is no material available so far which can be utilised to make varakh except fresh intestines of animals, like oxen, cows and camels. Companies and individuals proclaiming that varakh is now being made by machines is a hoax and commercial propaganda to mislead people. Industrial Toxicology research Centre has carried out a lot of studies on the microconstituents found in varakh and they have established that varakh commonly available in the market contains small amounts of metals, like lead, chromium, nickel and cadmium which are not only poisonous but these can even lead to illness like Cancer. It is therefore high time that people, specially in India, who are so fond of consuming sweets in large quantities should think about the possible consequences and stop buying varakh and sweets which are covered with varakh. P. L. JAIN, E-Mail : pljain2006@gmail.com
Kesariyaji Tirth - Why cannot we maintain our own private army to protect Jain Temples of Heritage and Spiritual values? Are we coward or infighting only? Instead of building and constructing new temples and spending billions of rupees why cannot we utilize these money to protect our ancient temples? The other day I read news in Gujarat Samachar, a gujarati daily published from Ahmedabad that some Maharaj Sahebs are advocating for Golden Jain Temple at Palitana and 1.5 kgs of Gold was collected within one hour as well as crores of rupees were registered in BOLI. Have we gone mad in building only temples just to satisfy someone's whims? These money can certainly be utilized to save and protect our ancient temples. But we lack will power either to combat our own internal guiding forces or external forces like governments.
Unless we are united this is going to happen. We should take weapons in our hands to fight against evil forces like what Muslims, Sikhs, Christians are going. Do not go on fast. Nothing will happen. To protect Ahimsa one has to carry out Himsa and that is allowed in Jain Philosophy. There are examples in Jain History where monks have also pull down their white clothes and fought war against kingdoms. The present Bania community is not true Jains. They are not Kshatriya. They lack killing instinct. Micchami Dukkadam if I have said in bitter wording. Chandra Prakash Shah UK , E-Mail
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8/11/2009