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MICHHAMI DUKKADAM
Friends,
Michhami Dukkadam i.e. seeking forgiveness of each other. This is a very special feature of the Jain Religion, though it has its counter parts in other religions also; such as the 'Holi festival of the Hindu religion, the Id festival of the Muslims and 29th of September is celebrated throughout the world as 'The World Forgiveness Day'.
The idea behind this concept is to seek forgiveness for having hurt anyone by any of the three means i.e. Man, Vachan and Karma (i.e. by thought, words and deeds).
I say Michhami Dukkadam not only on my own behalf, but on behalf of many other who have not been able to make it to this place today.
I say Michhami Dukkadam on behalf of the Development Maniacs, to all the victims of the process of Development - the environment, the polluted rivers, the disappearing mountains, the depleting mineral resources, the uprooted tribals, the submerged mother earth, and that vast multitude of marginalised human beings who are struck by the awe of Development and are awaiting their turn to be sacrificed at the altar of Development.
say Michhami Dukkadam on behalf of mankind whom God Almighty created as vegetarians, to all those dumb and mute animals, birds etc. who have laid down their lives to satisfy the taste of tongue of the mankind.
I say Michhami Dukkadam on behalf of the planners of this country to various species of living creatures, for whose slaughter and death mega abattoirs are planned in the country and for making plans after plans removing the precious cattle wealth as nucleus of the economy and replacing them with giant machinery, which survives only on violence and exploitation.
I say Michhami Dukkadam on behalf of the managers of the nation's finances, for whom it does not matter if the foreign exchange sought by them is soaked in the blood and flesh of innocent living beings.
I say Michhami Dukkadam on behalf of the legislators of the country, who make laws providing legitimacy to the pernicious activity of killing living beings and recognise it as a fundamental right.
I say Michhami Dukkadam on behalf of the judiciary of this nation to the living creatures for branding such creatures 'uneconomic', 'useless' etc. and sentencing them to death despite having constitutional obligations and duty to have compassion.
I say Michhami Dukkadam on behalf of the print media which publishes on its glossy pages recipes for delicacies taking toll of innocent and dumb creatures.
I say Michhami Dukkadam on behalf of the educationists, scientists, nutritionists who teach our young children the virtues of animal protein and deliberately conceal from them the food values of the Satwik Indian food.
I say Michhami Dukkadam on behalf of the so-called Animal Husbandry Scientists of the country for being instrumental in extinction of the great Indian breeds of milch and other animals.
And finally, I say Michhami Dukkadam on my own behalf for not being able to successfully stand up against all the above.
From:
Courtesy: VINIYOG PARIVAR TRUST .B-2/104, "Vaibhav', Jambli Gali,
Borivli (West), MUMBA400 092.
Tel. 807 7781 Telfax. 022-802 0749
