Al Akhbar supplement, p.7, (6-1-2007)

Maharaja McDonalds: vegetable and mutton meals

By: Diaa Al Hagri

At Moti Bagh market neighbouring the Indian high-class quarter Shanti in the Indian capital, I found two workers fixing a large board written in English. On the board was drawn a cow calling on those thinking of slaughtering it for food to stop this “bad” habit. The cow was pleading: “I am a living being like you. Did you think about the pains I feel when slaughtered? Do you know the great bodily harm entailed by eating meat?”

Under the call, the signature of the Animal Welfare Group was put. It is an active group led by MP Menka Ghandi, the widow of Nehru’s grandson Sanjay. It calls for stopping the $365,000,000 meat exports pursuant to the principles of animal welfare. Indian meat exports comprise mutton and buffalo meat only. Slaughtering cows is officially banned as they are considered sacred. Cows are slaughtered secretly in Muslim quarters, especially during Eid ul-Adha. If discovered, such slaughters would create clashes between Hindus and Muslims. The most famous quarter where buffalo meat is sold in New Delhi is Nezamu-e-Din. It is a Muslim quarter with Muslim-style clothing, shops, mosques and restaurants, the most celebrated of which is Karim restaurant. This restaurant attracts Muslims and tourists who come to eat fish, chickens and lamb as the government bans the slaughter of cows. Buffalo meat is slaughtered secretly. The Indian police overlook such actions. One kilogram of buffalo meat can be bought for less than one dollar.

The majority of Indians are vegetarians. They think that a vegetarian is healthier and lives longer. Yet, economic and cultural liberalization made some Hindu categories change their elementary habits and eat meat, mainly poultry and mutton.

There are Indian sects that forbid killing any living being, even the harmful ones. Believers of Jainism, for example, wear face veils to prevent insects from getting into their mouths and dying. This act is based on their belief in reincarnation and the return of souls to live in new bodies, be it human or animal. Cows are given special care. They would wonder wherever they like or sit down in the middle of the street. Once, I saw a cow walking in a department store and another eating toast at my neighbour’s hand.

I was surprised to know that the US famous chain restaurant McDonalds was going to open a new branch in New Delhi, for I knew that they served beef in their meals. How can they serve beef meat in India?

But the surprise disappeared when I read an advertisement in an Indian newspaper saying that McDonalds’ branch in New Delhi would serve the Maharaja sandwich – a sandwich with vegetables and cheese for vegetarians – and another sandwich having mutton for non-vegetarians.

I attended the inauguration ceremony of McDonalds’ new branch in the area of Vasnet Vihar. While attending the ceremony, I remembered the shop which was set on fire in Karnataka for selling pizza. The public reject fast food as they have concerns that fast food would replace the Indian traditional meals, which play a role in uniting family members, preserving the Indian identity and establishing links between generations. Another case showing Indian rejection of food and beverages by international companies was a few years ago when former defence minister George Fernandes led a movement and succeeded in dismissing Coca Cola out of India giving place to local beverage companies.

I watched the ceremony amazed at the large number of youth lining up waiting for sandwiches, young boys and girls wearing jeans, short skirts and tight blouses. It is the American culture finally invading one of the largest fortresses of heritage in the world.

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