Jain Shwetambar Conference Herald 1910 Book 06

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Jain Shwetambar Conference

Page 115

1910)
Vegetarian Prize Essay.
other similar hard substances. If we are to believe what the expert say we shall have to admit that man is the direct descendant of th inonkey and belongs therefore to the class of the herb-eaters and fi uit-eaters. In fact these tendencies are remarkably exhibited by the ch Id. If we take a child to a herd of sheep and kids, we shall find th innocent being fondling and caressing the kids while he displays a inclination to eat any fruit or vegetable which may be placed in his way
One argument against vegetarianism is that stronger creatures fee upon weaker ones and consequently man has every right to kill these an mals which are weaker than he. Benjamin Franklin had once given ur fiesh-eating but he resumed it on finding a small fish in the belly of large one, saying that when animals of the same species eat one anothe there is no reason as to why man should show mercy to them. The learne doctor perhaps did not care to know that man is endowed with reaso wbich enables him to produce his food in many other ways and that it is n cogent argument that A should do a thing becanse B has done it.
Another objection against vegetarianism which apparently appe ars to be weighty and sound is that if man were not to eat the fles of animals, they would multiply and become a curse to mankind. Natur will control and check the growth of these animals as it does in the cas of others. Nobody butchers man for food and yet the total num ber of the world's population does not rise much. The Malthusian theor has been refuted and it is no use taking shelter under it. Now, the lioi the panther, the horses and the asses are not used as food and get the never over-run the earth. These animals have in fact been reduced i number owing to the unnatural pleasure which man takes in killin them and the Government has therefore been obliged to pass game-law for their preservation ( Vide Girnar forest-act passed to preserve th lions therein ). The carcasses of beasts who have died a natural death wi provide leather and bones sufficient for the use of man.
These are the arguments that I can adduce in favonra vegetarianism which I hope will be sufficient for the purpose of cor vincing any reasonable man that a nonflesh-diet is the natural an proper food for man.