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| Colonel Sanders of KFC |
I lived and worked in a strictly vegetarian school in
Delhi for 14 years. Maggie and I, like all other staff from principal to
sweeper, lived on the campus. All the students too lived on the campus. It was
an exclusively residential school. We were all given food in the school’s
‘mess’. Most teachers preferred to take dinner at home with family though the
school did provide that too. The ‘pure vegetarian’ food was absolutely
delicious. I loved it as much as the students did. All reputed schools in Delhi
and many other North Indian cities provide quality food to students and staff.
I visited a number of those schools in order to take students for various
competitions such as debates and declamations. The standards maintained by them
are remarkably good.
When we went out of the campus for
personal needs, we had food of our choice. Both students and the staff could be
seen in restaurants that served what is known in India as non-veg food. KFC was
a favourite eatery of many of us, including Maggie and me. I think a sizeable
section of the staff and students ate non-veg food when they got the
opportunity. The question that arises then is: Was vegetarianism being forced
on people in institutions such as my school?
Well, it was not forced really
because we had the choice to join the school or not to. We could have chosen
Punjab Public School instead of Sawan Public School if we wanted non-veg food. We
had choice.
That possibility of choice is vital
to any democracy. Isn’t India losing that possibility now? Aren’t many things
like food, language, culture, history, and so on, being imposed on Indians now?
Will KFC and McDonalds be asked to leave India or turn vegetarian?
I remember presenting ‘Colonel’
Harland David Sanders, founder of KFC, to my students of Sawan School in a
speech in the morning assembly. His life, especially his success with KFC when
he had been passing through a hard phase in life, was inspirational in many
ways. The “strictly vegetarian” school sat down and listened without any moral
or dietary indignation. The principal, vice principal and headmaster were all
strict vegetarians. But none of them had any problem with my speech on fried
chicken’s inspiring example. Today, would such a speech be allowed in a school
like that? I doubt.
I now live in Kerala where non-veg is
the norm. [I often feel nostalgic for Delhi’s veg food.] Kerala is the other
extreme of North India. Here people eat too much non-veg food. The number of
animals killed every day in Kerala for human consumption is scandalising. This has
often made me ask myself: isn’t vegetarianism preferable? Should we be so cruel
to animals?
This morning’s Malayala Manorama
newspaper brought me a report about the vegetables and fruits available in
Kerala. They are all highly contaminated with insecticides and pesticides of
all sorts. They are more dangerous than the non-veg foods available in the
state. We are cruel not only to animals but also to fellow human beings. We
feed them with poison.
We do such atrocious things in order
to achieve success, I guess. Colonel Sanders of KFC can, perhaps, teach us
something about success.
Sanders was rejected 1009 times
before he successfully selling his KFC recipe. Well, was he counting those
times so meticulously? I don’t know. Perhaps, it just means that he failed too
many times. Thomas Edison is said to have failed 10,000 times before making the
bulb successfully. Sanders had a tough life most of the time. He failed
miserably at all the careers he tried between the ages of 10 and 40. He did all
sorts of things: farming, streetcar conductor, lawyer, insurance agent, and
railroad fireman. He was 75 years old and pretty desperate when he finally sold
KFC for $2 million. Not many people would have carried on tirelessly to the age
of 75 as Sanders did. His life also teaches us that our past doesn’t define our
future. You can succeed at any time. Giving up is the only sure way to fail.
And, finally, even KFC has a lesson (many lessons, in fact) to teach. Anything can teach us great lessons – even fried chicken!
PS. This post is part of #BlogchatterA2Z 2023
Previous Post: Jurassic
World
Coming up tomorrow: Leader
That was an interesting read. Although I knew about Sanders, I had no idea that he was 75 when he sold KFC! Veg food in North India can be a delight. I am a Bengali married to a strict vegetarian North Indian family. So I can feel you when you were in Sawan Public school.
ReplyDeletewww.docdivatraveller.com
The business wasn't a success initially. Sanders had a tough time for long.
DeleteVeg food is so gentle on the stomach. That's why I love it. I'm also beginning to feel bad about killing of animals.
Knew about Sanders and your post makes an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteGlad you find it interesting.
DeleteYou know I am 56 and I am trying my hand at writing now. I started my blog when I was 51. Articles such as these inspire me a lot. As far as vegetarianism is concerned you are absolutely correct that it is being slowly but subtly being imposed upon us. Not only vegetarianism language, culture and as you say so many other things are also being imposed. History is being rewritten to suit certain agenda.
ReplyDeleteWhat we have today is not a leader but a military strategist who thinks that running a country is like leading a Mahabharata war. I'm writing about leadership tomorrow.
DeleteSo much to think about nowadays. So much to reflect upon. Even food demands a battle of conscience these days...I just try to do my bit. tend my own garden, as they say, maybe eat less non-veg, but no way could i give up freid chicken! i'll draw the line there :)
ReplyDeleteThat's the best too. I do the same. There's a small vegetable garden. Fish is easily available nearby. Some KFC once in a while. And there's a longing to be vegetarian.
DeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteWell, I have been vegetarian for most of my adult life - by choice. Meat simply didn't sit well in my digestion. I've never tried KFC - and had neither been in a McDonalds until, unbelievably, in Mumbai on a day out of the ashram my young friend wanted to go there. I nearly fainted at the thought, but he reassured me that their Paneer McBurger was beyond delicious. He was right! So Maccas, at least, caters for the vegos among us. In India. Wish it could be had here. YAM xx
Yes, McD does provide veg burger in Delhi though I never cared to taste it. I wasn't and am still not fond of burgers. I have no problem with any kind of food. My problem is about the cruelty we perpetrate on animals. I can tell myself that preying is not killing. Still... the heart has reasons that reason doesn't understand.
Delete...in the '60s I studied agriculture at the University of Georgia. Colonel Sanders came and gave a talk, I found him very interesting. The fried chicken may not be the healthiest food, but it sure is tasty. Thanks for stopping by my blog, take care and have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Sanders must have been interesting. Yes, his kind of chicken is not the healthiest food you can get. It's good on the palate.
DeleteUnfortunately food has become a tool with politicians to divide and rule,
ReplyDeleteThe debate between non veg and veg food will run on forever. I agree with what you said... there are lessons to be learnt from everything, even KFC Chicken. I do hope food choices will continue to reign in our country.
ReplyDeleteI share your hope but have deep reservations. We are skating on thin ice.
Delete