Meenakshi Reddy Madhavan's Blog, page 141
October 5, 2015
Today in Photo
I've discovered green tea as a mid morning pick me up. It's a bit of an acquired taste, I've got to say, but it's meant to kill smoking cravings so I'll try any port in the storm. My dad gave me a set of two cups and saucers which are so pretty that I want to drink all the tea! All the time!
via Instagram
October 4, 2015
Today in Photo
Ending the long weekend with lunch and Pimms on the balcony. If we look happy, it's because we are.
via Instagram
October 3, 2015
On the Dadri Lynching & Why Some Cows Are Holier Than Others
The ancient Egyptians worshipped the cat. If you killed one—even accidentally—you got the death penalty.
Several hundred years later, the puritans in America decided that cats were the familiar animal of the witch, and cats were killed in masses. In fact, it’s kind of amazing how many black cats there still are, considering the genocide on their species.
Now, cats are the world’s number one most popular pet. (Take that, dogs!) However, killing one—while it makes you a bad person—will not get you killed, personally.
My cook is Muslim. She loves our three cats—but that’s something that’s part of Islam as well. The Prophet loved cats, he even had a favourite one called Muezza. Cats are considered cleaner than other animals, and allowed to enter homes, plus food tasted by them is halal. However, my cook extends her compassion to all animals—so much so, that I’m not sure how much of this is her religion and how much is her general love for other beings. The dog downstairs gets bones when she can manage them, and leftover chappatis go to the cows in the cow shed next door.
Which is where the problem steps neatly from being an animal-lover to something that’s polarized by religion. Next door to my house is a temple. It’s a Shiva temple, which basically means the main temple guy (I’m not going to call him a priest, because I’m not sure he is) takes it as an excuse to be stoned and drunk a lot. Entering his maze-like complex, you see several rooms and in front of the rooms a large open yard surrounded by trees; which is also where the cowshed is. There are different families in each room, but it’s still a big enough space that it never looks crowded. And also, everyone seems to have a pet. From Romeo the obese pug, to a small kitten that they asked me for help with because she wasn’t eating, to a white mouse that they kept in a cage. And three cows that occasionally break the boundary wall and walk on through with impunity, knowing that no one can touch them. Occasionally, I’ll be driving past and I’ll see someone tossing “offerings” to the cows, and then standing there, hands folded in front of them. “It’s just a cow,” I want to say, “Four legs, udders, has horns? There is nothing more holy about this animal than any other one.”
I think of Dadri, a teeny tiny town a little outside Delhi, where a man was killed on suspicion of having beef in his fridge. When the meat you eat is tied up to someone else’s holy beliefs, you know there’s a problem. When modern India behaves no differently than ancient Egypt or Puritan America, again, you know you have a problem.
What is it about food and the things we eat? What makes some food such a trigger? Think back to the revolt of 1857, when the final straw for Indian soldiers wasn’t that they were under a foreign rule—oh no, that was totally fine—but that their guns were greased with pig fat. Just that one fact and mass slaughter of the Brits across the country.
But then, just a few short weeks ago, people threw meat in front of Jain temple, irritated that there was a ban on meat sales in slaughterhouses. Goats with their beady little eyes and long cocker spaniel ears are not sacred (also they’re delicious), no one would think of worshipping a chicken (mmm tandoori), even buffalos, the cow’s less attractive cousin, get eaten without much of a fuss.
You would think that we’d have more respect for life if we’re that upset about an animal being killed. A man died. A man was beaten to death, just because there was a rumour that the meat in his fridge was beef. The family begged for mercy. They were the only Muslim family in the village and they asked the mob how they could have smuggled in a cow and killed it without anyone noticing. They swore the meat was mutton. The mob roared in and smashed the skull of Mohammed Akhlaq, a 50-year-old farm worker, who was already asleep in the next room.
They killed a man whose family had been living in that village for generations because he might have eaten a meat they didn’t think should be eaten.
Several hundred years later, the puritans in America decided that cats were the familiar animal of the witch, and cats were killed in masses. In fact, it’s kind of amazing how many black cats there still are, considering the genocide on their species.
Now, cats are the world’s number one most popular pet. (Take that, dogs!) However, killing one—while it makes you a bad person—will not get you killed, personally.
My cook is Muslim. She loves our three cats—but that’s something that’s part of Islam as well. The Prophet loved cats, he even had a favourite one called Muezza. Cats are considered cleaner than other animals, and allowed to enter homes, plus food tasted by them is halal. However, my cook extends her compassion to all animals—so much so, that I’m not sure how much of this is her religion and how much is her general love for other beings. The dog downstairs gets bones when she can manage them, and leftover chappatis go to the cows in the cow shed next door.
Which is where the problem steps neatly from being an animal-lover to something that’s polarized by religion. Next door to my house is a temple. It’s a Shiva temple, which basically means the main temple guy (I’m not going to call him a priest, because I’m not sure he is) takes it as an excuse to be stoned and drunk a lot. Entering his maze-like complex, you see several rooms and in front of the rooms a large open yard surrounded by trees; which is also where the cowshed is. There are different families in each room, but it’s still a big enough space that it never looks crowded. And also, everyone seems to have a pet. From Romeo the obese pug, to a small kitten that they asked me for help with because she wasn’t eating, to a white mouse that they kept in a cage. And three cows that occasionally break the boundary wall and walk on through with impunity, knowing that no one can touch them. Occasionally, I’ll be driving past and I’ll see someone tossing “offerings” to the cows, and then standing there, hands folded in front of them. “It’s just a cow,” I want to say, “Four legs, udders, has horns? There is nothing more holy about this animal than any other one.”
I think of Dadri, a teeny tiny town a little outside Delhi, where a man was killed on suspicion of having beef in his fridge. When the meat you eat is tied up to someone else’s holy beliefs, you know there’s a problem. When modern India behaves no differently than ancient Egypt or Puritan America, again, you know you have a problem.
What is it about food and the things we eat? What makes some food such a trigger? Think back to the revolt of 1857, when the final straw for Indian soldiers wasn’t that they were under a foreign rule—oh no, that was totally fine—but that their guns were greased with pig fat. Just that one fact and mass slaughter of the Brits across the country.
But then, just a few short weeks ago, people threw meat in front of Jain temple, irritated that there was a ban on meat sales in slaughterhouses. Goats with their beady little eyes and long cocker spaniel ears are not sacred (also they’re delicious), no one would think of worshipping a chicken (mmm tandoori), even buffalos, the cow’s less attractive cousin, get eaten without much of a fuss.
You would think that we’d have more respect for life if we’re that upset about an animal being killed. A man died. A man was beaten to death, just because there was a rumour that the meat in his fridge was beef. The family begged for mercy. They were the only Muslim family in the village and they asked the mob how they could have smuggled in a cow and killed it without anyone noticing. They swore the meat was mutton. The mob roared in and smashed the skull of Mohammed Akhlaq, a 50-year-old farm worker, who was already asleep in the next room.
They killed a man whose family had been living in that village for generations because he might have eaten a meat they didn’t think should be eaten.
Today in Photo
Went to give all my Jaipur fabric to the tailor at Shankar Market today. On the way in, I noticed all this pretty graffiti on the terrace in a strip around the market. Amazing. My dresses are going to be really pretty too. #delhidiary
via Instagram
October 2, 2015
Today in Photo
Mornings at my desk. One of my favorite spots in my house. I keep the curtains drawn all the time because I'm basically a vampire, but I do like the way the sunshine filters in.
via Instagram
Today in Photo
My laptop is not turning on AGAIN *takes deep breaths* and the repair man (who has not only wasted a chunk of my time, but also has taken a lot of my money) is off today *deep breath deep breath* I need to start writing again *counts to ten* All in all, a shitty way to start a morning. However, cleaning out my bookshelves to refrain from a full on meltdown has once more led to a book I didn't realise I had. I love Pather Panchali (the book, I haven't seen the film) and I just begun this collection of short stories by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. Plus the new Caravan arrived yesterday and it's VERY good. Especially the gay India 1990s story (Google it). #nowreading #bookstagram
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September 30, 2015
Today in Photo
Feeling kinda fierce in my new feathered wrap around earrings so took a zillion selfies. Then couldn't pick one mood so I decided to out them all together. #ootd
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September 29, 2015
Today in Photo
Meet Piccolo. He's pretty much the cutest puppy on the block. My friend has recently acquired a pug puppy after years of wanting one ("way before that ad!") and he is just the cutest thing! I went over today to PUPPEHHHH. (I need to find another word for "cute," this post has too many in it. ADORABLE! ITSY BITSY! I WANT TO STUFF IT IN A DIMSUM AND EAT IT!)
via Instagram
September 27, 2015
Today in Photo
Scenes from last night's Shatabdi. It's so nice to travel with people who get that when you're tired you don't want to talk necessarily. I read in companionable silence the four hours back to Delhi, I think that makes us true friends. #traveldiary #journey #indianrailways
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Today in Photo
More #Jaipur purchases from this afternoon. Feather wrap around ear cuffs, thick silver bead bracelet and cat wooden bead earrings because cats. Also a blue pottery soap dish which is wrapped up too well to Instagram. #traveldiary #jewelry
via Instagram
