activism
noun [ U ] POLITICS
US UK /ˈæk.tɪ.vɪ.zəm/
(Source: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/activism)
This word had varied definitions on different sites but mostly this was the gist.
When you use the word activism, you are immediately reminded of women's liberation movements, apartheid related activism or even human rights. I would like to add one more to it and hope that in time, this also captures people's imagination similarly.
So what is involved in Animal Rights Activism? Many activists and many organizations have adopted different methods to bring to fore the plight of mute, defenceless creatures. The choice is do you want to save one animal at a time through rescue work or do you want to save millions of creatures at a time through legislation.
Don't get me wrong - both are equally important and both have more than enough work to be done.
Introduction:
The 1975 publication of Australian philosopher Peter Singer's “Animal Liberation: A New Ethics for Our Treatment of Animals” is considered the catalyst for the modern American animal rights initiative.
So what triggered of the animal rights movement in India? In ancient India, as pointed out in my previous post, the major religions of that time - Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism had a core concept, ahimsa, or non-violence which made people prefer vegetarianism though there were still many meat-eaters even in those days. This continues to be the case even today with many Jains still conforming to strict vegetarianism. In 262 BC, Mauryan King, Ashoka converted to Buddhism and that was the beginning of a rudimentary animal welfare movement.
Moved by the suffering of Indian strays and draught animals, Colesworthey Grant founded the first Indian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in 1861 in Calcutta.
In the1800s, the northern part of the country witnessed a Cow Protection Movement. While SPCA was a Christian organization, the Cow Protection Movement was Hindu-led. It may however come as a surprise to many that the first cow protection societies were led by Kukas or Namdhari Sikhs in Punjab and not Hindu Brahmins of UP. Arya Samaj and its founder Dayananda Saraswati were one of the early supporters of the cow protection movement.
Mahatma Gandhi, an advocate of vegetarianism, argued for abstinence from meat and dairy due to ethical reasons in his book The Moral Basis of Vegetarianism.
The first animal welfare law was instituted in India in 1960. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1960), criminalizes cruelty to animals, though exceptions are made for the treatment of animals used for food and scientific experiments. The 1960 law also created the Animal Welfare Board of India to ensure the anti-cruelty provisions were enforced and promote the cause of animal welfare.
Post this, several other laws have been instituted to prevent or regulate the use of draught animals, use of performing animals, experimentation on animals, animal transport and animal slaughter.
People involved in bringing animal welfare to India:
King Ashoka, Mahatma Gandhi, Colesworthy Grant and Dayanand Saraswati were the pre-independence champions of animals.
(Source: https://www.dnaindia.com/lifestyle/report-modern-lessons-from-the-ancient-king-ashoka-2367127, https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/gandhi-and-the-paradoxes-of-cow-preservation/)
(Source: wikipedia.com) (Source: http://www.sadgurus-saints-sages.com/)
Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale was the author of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. An acclaimed dancer and animal lover, Ms. Arundale was also instrumental in setting up the Animal Welfare Board and was its first chair.
(Source: https://ivu.org/members/council/rukmini-devi-arundale.html)
While cow protection takes centre stage whenever we talk of animal welfare, one of the successes that we truly must celebrate if the rescue of the dancing bears.
Wildlife SOS co-founders, Mr. Kartick Satyanarayan and Ms. Geeta Seshamani first noticed the practice in full swing on the streets of India, more than 2 decades ago – being passionate animal lovers, they decided to take a stand to end it. Today, we are celebrating ten years since our last rescue of the vulnerable Indian sloth bear from the jaws of this barbaric practice. It took an innovative approach to ensure that the practice would end for good with many setbacks lining the path to victory. India’s last ‘dancing bear’ was taken off the streets in 2009 marking a major victory for conservationists pan India.
(Source: https://wildlifesos.org/animals/a-conservation-success-celebrating-10-years-of-indias-last-dancing-bear-rescue/)
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(https://www.business-standard.com/article/beyond-business/it-is-about-contributing-to-a-healthy-relationship-between-man-and-animal-geeta-seshamani-115090500850_1.html, https://wildlifesos.org/about-us/)
Smt. Maneka Gandhi, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha. founded People for Animals, India's largest animal rights organization as of now. Smt. Gandhi has been instrumental in setting up more than 35 shelters situated across India. Spurred by People For Animals’ success in courts, Ms. Gandhi directed the organization to engage in the strategy of training and sensitizing judicial magistrates and police personnel about animal welfare laws in India. This has resulted in a widening pool of law enforcers aware about the legal course of action to undertake in order to make animal welfare laws more effective on the ground. Through the efforts of the organization, the Bar Council of India has now introduced ‘animal law’ in the syllabuses of law colleges.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maneka_Gandhi)
Animal laws in India over the last century:
Let's see how some of them have shaped up!
The Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 is an Act of the Parliament of India enacted for protection of plants and animal species. Most wildlife species are covered under it and it is a comprehensive act that has enough teeth. This however, does not deter the poachers!
- The first such law was passed by the British Indian Government in 1887 called the Wild Birds Protection Act, 1887. The law sought to prohibit the possession and sale of specified wild birds that were either killed or captured during a breeding session.
- A second law was enacted in 1912 called the Wild Birds and Animals Protection Act. This was amended in 1935 when the Wild Birds and Animals Protection (Amendment) Act 1935 was passed.
- During the British Raj, wildlife protection was not accorded a priority. It was only in 1960 that the issue of protection of wildlife and the prevention of certain species from becoming extinct came into the fore.
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 is the legal basis of animal protection in India. Provision 11 states that it is illegal for 'any person... [to treat] any animal so as to subject it to unnecessary pain or suffering or causes, or being the owner permits, any animal to be so treated', and that such mistreatment is punishable with fines or prison sentences.
However, the maximum punishments are either a fine of Rs. 50, 3 months imprisonment or both, which is not enough to discourage animal cruelty. The imprisonment is rarely, if every, inflicted.
The law also states that the punishments do not apply 'to the preparation for destruction of any animal as food for mankind unless such destruction or preparation was accompanied by the infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering'.
Moreover, provision 28 states 'Nothing contained in this Act shall render it an offence to kill any animal in a manner required by the religion of any community. theoretically leaving open the option of unstunned ritual slaughter. On the other hand, stunning is required for animal slaughterhouses according to provision 6 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, and provision 3 states that slaughter is only permitted in recognised or licensed slaughterhouses.
The Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011 provides more precise stipulations surrounding the welfare of animals during the slaughter process, including that 'Animals are slaughtered by being first stunned and then exsanguinated (bled out). Stunning before slaughter should be mandatory. It further stipulates which three methods are legal (CO2 asphyxiation, mechanical concussion (gunshot or captive bolt pistol), and electronarcosis), the conditions in which these should be performed (such as separate spaces out of sight of other animals, with the proper equipment and the requirement that 'all operators involved are well trained and have a positive attitude towards the welfare of animals'), and explains why these are conducive to animal welfare. The regulation does not mention any exceptions or exemptions for religious or ritual slaughter.
In India, it is legal to confine calves in veal crates, pigs in gestation crates, hens in battery cages, and to remove farm animals' body parts without anesthesia.
(Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_welfare_and_rights_in_India)
Sad as these laws are to begin with, the implementation of punishments in case of infringements is even worse. Suffice to say that animals are surely treated as "children of a lesser God" in this country!
We need advocates on behalf of animals - and you can start by just avoiding animal products. No takers will mean no sellers.
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