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Streaming out of the conference hall, Maya noticed Ruby on a sofa, working on her laptop. She checked a few missed calls on her mobile, but when she tried to call up Naga to give him the news, there was no response.
Must be busy in a meeting.
‘Hi Ruby. I'm sorry I missed your calls. Hope you did not wait too long?’
‘Hey no problem, I had some work nearby and finished early. We just rescued a badly injured puppy.’
Ruby was a volunteer-leader at the 'Blue Cross', a non-governmental organization dedicated to preventing cruelty towards animals. Her boss, Captain Sundaram had started the organization a few years ago, and mostly relied on volunteers to help him out. With the help of his wife and children he ran the organization on meager resources. A staunch crusader against cruelty to animals, the former pilot managed to attract many educated young women like Ruby to spread awareness on animal welfare.
‘It is so sad how some people treat animals.’
‘Yes it is. The puppy that we rescued had been badly beaten and left to die. I hope he survives. We have evidence of the culprit on close circuit camera, the cops will be dealing with him soon.’
‘What will happen?’
‘He will get a two year prison term.’
‘Amazing. No one cares for animals in my country.’
‘We have very stringent rules for animal abusers. Our second President NTR loved animals and introduced some very tough laws,’ Ruby said closing her laptop.
‘In my country, there are no stray or abandoned dogs. If one is found on the roads, it is immediately taken home.’
‘That is good, but you said no one cares.’
‘Yes, they end up on the dining table.’
‘Oh my God!’
‘Dog soup is a traditional food in Corea for centuries. We call it bosingtan.’
‘How can people eat dogs?’
‘Not the pets, but dogs specially bred for their meat, although abandoned or lost pets are never spared. Actually many of the younger generation is against dog meat, but the older generation doesn't care. We are still a poor country and the income inequality is high, so free meat is always welcome.’
‘Have you ever tasted dog meat?’
‘I did as a child, but not any more. I cannot bear the thought as I have two Schnauzers at home. Coreans and Chinese believe that bosintang has medicinal properties and also increases stamina. Dog meat keeps ones body cool during the summer.’
‘I know it is rude to comment on other cultures, but don't you think it should be banned?’
‘I understand your feelings, especially since you work for animal welfare, but older Coreans don't differentiate between dogs, cows or pigs. We cannot ban dog meat without banning other meat. In any case, this concept of keeping pets for entertainment is a western concept, the Asian society has always kept animals for their food.’
‘Not any longer, but you are right, we tend to get upset with the dog eating cultures without realizing that cows, pigs and goats are also thinking animals. Why not ban animal killing altogether?’
‘Are you a vegetarian?’
‘No, I am not.’
‘Now isn't that a paradox? Many people who fight for animal rights are non-vegetarians. They do not mind eating animals for their own food. I think each individual should be free to decide what she wants to eat. The government has no role to play, and certainly the western society should not tell us which meat can be eaten and which not.’
‘You are right, the people who object to dog meat mostly come from countries where beef and pork are a standard diet. I don't mind vegetarians protesting against killing animals for food, but non-vegetarians complaining about dog meat are just hypocrites.’
‘You know Ruby, there is an argument that whales should not be killed because of their high intelligence, so the western world wants to ban whale hunting, without considering that it has been food for Northern European and the East Asian countries for generations. If that is the case, pigs also possess high intelligence, but they are routinely butchered and eaten. Why don't they demand a ban on eating pork?’
‘You may be right, but the western lobby is more powerful, that is how they got whale hunting banned in 1986. Moreover the issue is not as simple as you mentioned. Most whale species are getting extinct.’
‘Dogs are not extinct. I am sure they will succeed in imposing a global ban on dog meat, while continuing with beef and pork.’
‘Maya, I know it is an emotional issue. By the way, do you know that beef is banned in Hindustan because Hindu's worship the cow, but pork is allowed although Muslims consider it dirty.’
‘I heard there are a lot of Muslims and Christians in Hindustan, don't they protest?’
‘They did, but it is a Hindu nation, and no one cares for the minorities, especially Muslims, because the greatest enemy is Pakistan. Not so in Dravida, which is secular.’
‘So although you have majority Hindu's, you can eat beef here?’
‘Sure. We allow all types of meat, but their killing is heavily regulated. No one eats dogs or snakes, so they are not included in the laws.’
‘What exactly is the proportion of minorities in Dravida and Hindustan?’
‘Dravida has a population of 223 million, of which the Hindu population is roughly 83 percent, Muslims 11 percent and Christians 6 percent.’
‘What about Hindustan?’
‘Hindustan has almost four times our population, around 805 million. Hindus are 80 percent, Muslims 14 percent and Christians 2 percent. They also have other minor religions like Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists.’
‘So you mean to say that Hindustan has more number of Muslims and Christians in absolute terms?’
‘Yes, non-Hindus in Hindustan are around 165 million, which is almost equal to our total Hindu population.’
‘Yet they banned beef?’
‘That is the difference between a secular democracy and a dictatorship. By the way, want to taste beef curry tonight?’
‘Sure, Naga never told me. I always thought it was banned here because of the Hindus.’
‘I have an idea, why don't we go to a good beef restaurant run by a Keralite.’
‘From your province?’
‘Kerala is known for its beef dishes, we call it nadan curry, you will love it. First let’s take a taxi and do some shopping at Spencers'. We can wait for Naga, and Mathew said he would join us.’
‘Sounds like a good idea to me.’
The mobile suddenly buzzed in her handbag.
‘Sorry, I couldn't take your calls. I was in the library. Where are you now?’ Naga said.
‘At the conference, on the way to Spencers Plaza. I have some good news for you. Guess who I met?’
‘Ruby?’
‘Hey don't joke, you know she was supposed to pick me up and is here now. Professor Ganapathy!’
‘So the old man did not die?’
‘Of course not, I am meeting him again tomorrow.’
‘ I will be there soon, we can discuss it later, don't want to get fined for talking while driving.’
‘Just one more thing. Did you know that Coreans originally came from Dravida?’
‘Impossible, we are a completely different race.’
‘Wait till you hear what I just heard. Don't be late.’
‘I too have some interesting news to share.’