IIT-B’s ‘vegetarian tables’ policy

Source: The post is based on the article “IIT-B’s ‘vegetarian tables’ policy: Vegetarianism of purity promotes segregation, hierarchy and even violence” published in Indian Express on 11th October 2023.

UPSC Syllabus: GS1- Society- Salient features of Indian Society.

News: The article discusses the ongoing tension and changes in India regarding vegetarianism, particularly rooted in caste and religious beliefs. It talks about how traditional strict segregation in dining and living based on vegetarianism is slowly changing, especially in urban areas. However, there’s still a visible divide and instances of discrimination based on food choices, even resulting in social and institutional incidents.

How is vegetarianism evolving in India?

Urban Evolution: In urban areas, there’s a growing trend of vegetarians and non-vegetarians dining together, indicating a softening of strict vegetarian norms.

Chicken’s Acceptance: Chicken has become a middle-ground meat. It’s now more acceptable in traditionally vegetarian spaces.

Caste Influence: Historically, dietary choices were deeply influenced by caste, emphasizing purity. This is slowly eroding, though remnants still persist.

Public Spaces: Examples like IIT Mandi show institutions promoting mixed dining, breaking past segregations.

Incidents of Divide: Situations like the denial of office space to Trupti Devrukhkar in Mumbai and a student fined at IIT Bombay for violating dietary rules highlight the lingering divides.

What are the issues associated with Indian dietary choices?

Shame Culture: Meat and sanitary pads are hidden and packaged similarly, reflecting an ingrained shame associated with these items in certain societal sections.

Militant Vegetarianism: Extreme adherence and promotion of strict vegetarian practices sometimes escalate into social aggression and even violence, rooted in caste-based and hierarchical beliefs.

Societal Segregation: Militant vegetarians uphold a persistent segregational attitude, sometimes even leveraging arguments about environmental and animal welfare to substantiate their stance.

Academic Conservatism: Some academic spaces, exemplified by incidents at IITs, manifest conservative and superstitious dietary politics, such as the Director of IIT Mandi linking landslides to meat consumption, reflecting a resistance to embracing inclusive and rational practices.