Mahatma Gandhi fondly known as the ‘Father of the Nation’ in India was not just a political leader. He was a thought leader as well, his non-violent ways of protesting against British rule are still noteworthy. Apart from this wherever he travelled during his pursuit to make India a free country he also educated the locals about cleanliness, proper sanitation facilities & ways of living a sustainable healthy life.
This account from the life of Mahatama Gandhi happened around 1919 which sparked the debate. Was Mahatma Gandhi vegan or not? Read on..
M.K. Gandhi was a vegetarian who adopted veganism, later on in his life. His ability to observe & question the finer processes of life at the grass-root level was commendable. After being in Calcutta (now Kolkatta) and seeing the atrocities cow had to face for milk extraction he had said, “I had before me a picture of the wicked processes like Phooka, the govals in Calcutta adopted to extract the last drop of milk from their cows and buffaloes. I also had the feeling that, just as meat was not man’s food, even animal’s milk could not be man’s food.”
When G.K. Gokhale himself urged on having milk citing his deteriorating health, Gandhi had said, “I am willing to yield on all points except the one about which I beg you not to press me. I will not take milk, milk products or meat. If not taking these things should mean my death, I feel I’d rather face it.” Thereafter the doctor was sought and his diet was modified accordingly.
At another instance in 1919 related to his health condition, the then doctor, Dr. Dalal, again requested him to consume milk but he had declined it saying that he had vowed against consuming it. The doctor then asked him what the vow exactly was and the reason behind it. Gandhiji narrated his experience in Kolkata. Hearing this, the doctor suggested to him that since he had thought about ‘she’ buffalo and cow then he could probably consume goat’s milk. This is when Mahatma Gandhi started consuming goat’s milk. Leaving veganism.
However, at the conscience level, he was aware that he had gone back on a vow done to him. As mentioned in his autobiography book, ‘My Experiments with Truth’, he had written,
I succumbed. My intense eagerness to take up the Satyagraha fight had created in me a strong desire to live, and so I contented myself with adhering to the letter of my vow only and sacrificed its spirit. For although I had only the milk of the cow and she buffalo in mind when I took the vow, by natural implication it covered the milk of all animals. Nor could it be right for me to use milk at all, so long as I held that milk is not the natural diet of man. Yet knowing all this I agreed to take goat’s milk.
The will to live proved stronger than the devotion to truth, and for once the votary of truth compromised his sacred ideal by his eagerness to take up the Satyagraha fight. The memory of this action even now rankles in my breast and fills me with remorse, and I am constantly thinking how to give up goat’s milk. But I cannot yet free myself from that subtlest of temptations, the desire to serve, which still holds me.
My experience in dietetics are dear to me as a part of my researches in Ahimsa. They give me recreation and joy. But my use of goat’s milk today troubles me not from the view-point of dietetic Ahimsa so much as from that of truth, being no less than a breach of pledge. It seems to me that I understand the ideal of truth better than that of Ahimsa, and my experience tells me that, if I let go my hold of truth, I shall never be able to solve the riddle of Ahimsa.
The ideal of truth requires that vows taken should be fulfilled in the spirit as well as in the letter. In the present case I killed the spirit – the soul of my vow – by adhering to its outer form only, and that is what galls me. But in spite of this clear knowledge I cannot see my way straight before me. In other words, perhaps, I have not the courage to follow the straight course. Both at bottom mean one and the same thing, for doubt is invariably the result of want or weakness of faith. ‘Lord, give me faith’ is, therefore, my prayer day and night. – (Excerpt from M.K. Gandhi’s autobiography)
Moreover, the acknowledgement that his desire to live and serve the country overpowered his vow speaks volume. In his mind at the conscious & conscience level, thee repentance and guilt always stayed with him till he was alive. One can say in his practice of non-violence he found some solace and the zeal for a sustainable living continued.
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Very interesting. I didn’t know about this part. I only know what we studied in school and then I forgot about it. I like the zeal of sustainable living.
Though I had read a lot about Gandhi’s lifestyle and other things during academic years. But never heard about this incidence before. It was an interesting read thanks for sharing.
Glad you liked it.
These are some lesser known facts. I wasn’t aware, so thanks for sharing such an informative post . There is some much to learn from this great man.
Yes great man become great because of the life they live.
I didn’t know about this side of Gandhiji. Being vegetarian or vegan is a personal choice but if our health demands it we must so what’s necessary. He repented consuming goat milk, shows how pure his heart was.
Loved your post. Learnt new things and incidents about mahatma. I have read his my experiments with truth and its eye opener for bapu haters.
Yes though I dont exactly hate him but I am unable to agree with his ideologies.. I resonate views of Bhagat Singh and Ram Prasad Bismil. But this account certainly was worth sharing.
After reading the post I must say the doctor was smart to give Gandhiji a diet that is requirement and still retained the view in a sense.
Oh yes because Gandhiji as we hear it was very strict about his views and pledges.
I feel the Mahatma was much ahead of his times and thoughts whether it was Satyagraha , Ahimsa or Veganism. I have myself struggled with taking up veganism .
True I am actually not a big fan of his but this particular account is worth sharing.
I knew about Gandhiji being a vegetarian but wasn’t aware of his turning vegan. What a great story to teach children about vegetarianism and vegansim.
Yes actually…
There are few learning I really like and this article you shared some really unknown facts!! Thanks for sharing this!
Love this detailed information about Mahatma Gandhi ji . There are so much to know about him all the time . Thanks for the post.
Thanks1
This is not something I was aware of . Also didn’t know that people were aware of this way back then.
Oh yes even I didnt know that people of those times too practised Veganism. When I first got to know about it I thought I should write about it.
That’s well written post dear, we have so much to learn from everyone and it’s really nice way to understand why they choose that living
Turning vegan should come from personal choice as then only we can stay loyal to this change. I read about mahatma gandhi change to being vegan when i wrote a book for his biography
Yes agree completely turning Vegan is a big choice.