Vegetarian canteens for IITs: Here's why Smriti Irani's ministry is wrong to push for them

While the students may not have asked for it, the Union Human Resources Development Ministry has asked the Indian Institutes of Technology to explore the possibility of having separate canteens for its vegetarian students based on the possibility of non-vegetarian food creating tamas (dark thoughts) in students. The ministry’s letter to the institutions came after it reportedly received a letter written by SSK Jain, a grain trader in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni, seeking that a separate canteen be set up for vegetarian students. Jain, incidentally, isn’t known to be a alumnus of any of the IITs but is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. [caption id=“attachment_1779427” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image of IIT Bombay. AFP image[/caption] The letter, which was reportedly received by the ministry over a month ago was forwarded to the institutions on 15 October for them to take necessary action. The HRD ministry has directed the institutes to tell the government about what action it decides to take. The Deccan Herald reports that the letter states: “Many vegetarian students follow them and bring sorrow to their parents. Non-vegetarian food leaves an adverse impact on the person consuming it. It leads to development of ‘Tamas’ (dark and unrighteous) nature.” “It is the call of the parents of India that IITs and other institutions segregate their dining halls for vegetarians,” the letter noted, according to a Hindu report . Jain was quoted in the Telegraph defending his beliefs blaming non-vegetarian food for violence and ‘anti-social’ activities in society like inter-religious and caste marriages. “Non-vegetarian food is not part of Indian culture. It affects our value system and enhances aggression. The crime rate is increasing because of such tamasic food,” he was quoted as saying. While some institutions like IIT-Madras already have a separate hall for vegetarians on the campus, IIT-Bombay reportedly has a separate kitchen for non-vegetarians and they’re not exactly upset with the current situation, according to this report . However, other reports quoted some students as saying that they wouldn’t mind a separate eating area for vegetarians. While the demand for a separate cooking area or even eating area for vegetarians isn’t absurd, what is disturbing is the fact that the Union Human Resources Development Ministry took the letter from Jain so seriously despite the fact that he has no background either in education or in studying in any of these institutes. The institutes should by all means ask their students whether the letter merits consideration and action, but it should be an internal process that comes out of the students’ demand and not out of external pressure, least of all the government. The encouragement of ideas from citizenry has led to a glut of ideas (remember the railways pondering over using wind from moving trains to power windmills?) , but the government would do well to perhaps apply its mind on which ones are worth pursuing further and enforcing with an iron fist.