284 Part 1 of 10 articles series, ybrao-a-donkey's musings on Vegetarianism, 1000 years bondage of India, and above all Covid 19.

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2. Part 1 of total 10 series, of Musings on Covid 19 Pandemic, viewed from the angle of Ancient Indian Philosophical and Sanskrit Literature.


3. What I am writing here is not final. These are only musings, in the context of about 150,000 deaths as at 20th April 2020, which have taken place, mostly in Europe and USA, as a result of the widespread pandemic Covid-19.


4. We shall start with our Honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. By his reputation our Honorable Prime Minister is a vegetarian . His role-model swami Vivekananda was not only a non-vegetarian but also a staunch supporter of Meat-eating. Our Honorable Prime Minister's Guru's Guru Ramakrishna Parama Hamsa was a vegetarian , but if he was given meat offered to the Goddess, he used to hold it up to his head.


5. Here is a quote from the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda, Volume 4, page 486.



6. '...About vegetarian diet I have to say this - first, my Master was a vegetarian; but if he was given meat offered to the Goddess, he used to hold it up to his head. The taking of life is undoubtedly sinful; but so long as vegetable food is not made suitable to the human system through progress in chemistry, there is no other alternative but meat-eating. So long as man shall have to live a Rajasika (active) life under circumstances like the present, there is no other way except through meat-eating. It is true that the Emperor Asoka saved the lives of millions of animals, by the threat of the sword; but is not the slavery of a thousand years more dreadful than that? Taking the life of a few goats as against the inability to protect the honour of one’s own wife and daughter, and to save the morsels for one’s children from robbing hands - which of these is more sinful? Rather let those belonging to the upper ten, who do not earn their livelihood by manual labour, not take meat; but the forcing of vegetarianism upon those who have to earn their bread by labouring day and night is one of the causes of the loss of our national freedom. Japan is an example of what good and nourishing food can do....'.



7. ybmad contd.: Swami Vivekananda, in my view, seems to have skewed views. He seems to justify non-vegetarianism on interpretations convenient to his food habits.


8. "...but so long as vegetable food is not made suitable to the human system through progress in chemistry, there is no other alternative but meat-eating. ..." : what does this mean? Did he believe that vegetarian food is not suitable for human system? Did he want Scientists to modify vegetarian food genetically? Till then, would he not touch veg? He ought to have justified food choices of individuals, according to their family backgrounds .


9. '...So long as man shall have to live a Rajasika (active) life under circumstances like the present, there is no other way except through meat-eating. ': Swamiji seems to believe that 'rAjasika' and 'active' words are inter-substitutable, whereas they are not. 'RAjasika' means 'like-a-king, pertaining-to-a-king'. A king may be a couche potato, and yet be a tyrant, enforcing his edicts through his courtiers. On the other hand , a detached hermetic can yet be 'active' without being 'king-like, royal'.


10. The word 'RAjasika' indicates more of 'arrogance' rather than 'active'. This arrogance of kings may stem from unconditional blind support extended by their courtiers and forces (police, military and other forces). This arrogance need not limit itself to the Ancient, Medieval, European Rulers of Indian history . Even during 21st Century , Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers can be as rAjasika (arrogant) as the ancient and medieval Emperors, Sultans, Badshas, Governor Generals and Viceroys. The word 'active' seems to relate more to 'satva' (energy) than 'rAjasa' (arrogance).


11. '... It is true that the Emperor Asoka saved the lives of millions of animals, by the threat of the sword; but is not the slavery of a thousand years more dreadful than that?... ': ybmad's view: Thousand years of slavery of Indians was not caused by their non-violence. But, it was caused by their disunity and indifferent attitudes.


12. ybmad contg.: For example, Vijayanagara Kings went to fight Bahamany Sultans on elephants together with their wives and cooks as if they were going to picnics. Even for this , they used to consult astrologers . There were instances where astrologers were bribed by invaders to persuade kings to postpone their defences and offences. To have a live look of how Astrologers tried to mislead Indian Kings, one can see the Telugu movie Tenali Ramakrishna.


13. Vivekananda passed away in 1902. Subsequent events upto 1947 indicate that India is the only country which could get its freedom through non-violent means. It is a different thing that the post-independent brown Indian rulers had tried to prove that their past white masters were better.


14. ybmad contg. : Another reason which is attributed to the success of Islamic Invaders on Indian Kings is that Islamic soldiers were highly motivated to fight because they could get shares in the booties captured both on the battle-fields (e.g. gold and diamond ornaments found on the dead bodies of Kings, Princess and Commanders), and during the ransacking of castles. On the other hand , the Indian native kings, whenever they won battles, did not share the booties with their soldiers. A few valiant soldiers might have been honoured with some medals and necklaces, but they were not powerful motivators for crews to risk their lives on battle-fields .



15. Proof

    Canto 10, Chapter 50, Verse 4 of Mahabhagavata
    Ayodhana-gatam vittam
    anantam vIrabhUshaNam
    yadu-rAjAya tat sarvam
    Ahrritam prAdiSat prabhuḥ.



16. Gist Krishna presented to UgrasEna (the Yadu king) all the wealth that had fallen on the battlefield (aayoodhana-gatam) - ornaments worn by the slain soldiers and knights.



17. Another Example

    Queen Abbakka was one of the Hindu Rulers on the West Coast of India, near Mangalore. During 15th Century, after Vasco Da Gama landed on the Calicut coast, Portuguese started occupying the West Coast, and harassing Indian Rulers on the West Coast. Queen Abbakka resisted the Portuguese colonisers with all her might. Did the Vijayanagara Kings who were ruling South India at that time help Queen Abbakka? Ans: No. Why? Because, Vijayanagara Rulers were buying horses from the Portuguese. They wanted to buy horses cheap from Portuguese and so as to fight the Bahamany Sultans of Ahmednagar, Bijapur on the West Coast. Hence, Vijayanagara kings encouraged Portuguese to colonise the Mangalore and Goa Coast, Bijapur.


18. What was the consequence? Queen Abbakka lost her battle and her life. Inter alia, there may be other reasons for her defeat and her martyrdom. But what was the role of Vijayanagara Kings vis-a-vis Portuguese? Now, as far as possible, Vivekananda's comment of non-violence being the cause of our 1000 years bondage is concerned, it becomes untenable. Neither Queen Abbakka nor Vijayanagara kings were vegetarians, nor were they wedded to non-violence.


19. 
    ybmad contg. : Similarly, the Officials of East India Company who came to work in India, they came with wants to make some quick bucks of gold, diamonds and jewelley, and return to England without succumbing to tropical dreaded diseases like cholera, leprosy, malaria, and small pox. On the other hand Indian native rulers vied with each other to please the European Governors , Collectors and Judges . Our swami Vivekananda tried to secure patronages from these native Rulers. Thus, it can be seen that we did not lose our freedom to our invaders because we went non-violent or because our Rulers did not eat meat , but because our native Rulers preferred to receive some Annual maintenance allowance, a medal, and a title. In exchange for those favors , they were prepared to prostrate before the Kings, Queens, Governor Generals and Viceroys.



20. BONDAGE OF 1000 YEARS NOT BECAUSE OF VEGETARIANISM OR NON-VIOLENCE, BUT BECAUSE OF PSEUDO-HINDUIST BELIEFS IN MAGICAL CHANTS (mantras)



21. Like our present leaders of India , who believe in test-tube babies of Gandhari, transplantation of Vinayaka's (GaNapati) head with an elephant's head as Susruta's Surgical Prowess, kings through out Centuries and Millennia believed in arrows powered by miraculous magical chants called 'astras', such as BrahmAstra (Arrow of Creator), VaishNavAstra (Arrow of VishNu), pAsupatAstra (Arrow of Lord Shiva), AgnEyastra (Arrow of Power), vAruNastra (Arrow of Tempests), nAgAstra (Arrow of Serpant), garuDAstra (Arrow of Eagle), sammOhanAstra (Arrow of Hypnotic and Mesmeric Power). These were all just darts which can not go beyond a few hundred metres.


22. Arjuna of the Warrior of Mahabharata fame, with his 'astras' and gAnDIva bow, could not overcome Abhiras, when he was under his guard taking along with him Yadava Women from Dwaraka to Hastinapur i.e. on the way between Gujarat and Western UP, after Krishna 's demise. Our learned Governor of West Bengal Shri Jagdeep Dhankar, on 15th January 2020 said at a Science Fair, that:--



23. '...Sanjaya narrated the entire war of Mahabharata (to Dhritarashtra) not from TV. The arrows of Arjuna in Mahabharata had atomic power in it. ...'. Proof: Ref.2 link below.

    .


24. But why this atomic power of Arjuna could not beat or control Abiharas [may be today's Ahirs] in Gujarat and Rajasthan ?



25. Vyasa Mahabharata Verse No. 15/08/055/97148. tatO arjunO dhanur divyam
    gAnDIvam ajaram mahat
    kArOpayitumArEbhE
    yatnAd iva katham cana.
    K.M. Ganguli's translation: Then Arjuna endeavoured to string his large, indestructible, celestial bow [gAnDIva] with some effort. He succeeded with great difficulty in stringing it, when the battle had become furious.




26. Sanskrit Mahabharata verse 15/008/056 97150.: ca kAra sajyam krichchENi
    sambhramE tumulE sati
    cintayAmAsa SastrANi
    na ca sasmAra tAn api.
    English: He then began to think of his celestial weapons but they would not come to his mind. Beholding that furious battle, the loss of the might of his arm, and the non-appearance of his celestial weapons, Arjuna became greatly ashamed.




27. Sanskrit Mahabharata verse: 15/008/057 97151. vaikritam tan mahat drishTvA
    bhuja vIrya tathA yudhi
    divyAnAm ca mahAstrANAm
    vinASAt vIDitO abhavat.
    English: Arjuna understood that he lost all his Great weapons.




28. Sanskrit Mahabharata verse: 15/008/058 97152.
    vrishNi yOdhAs cha tE sarvE
    gaja aSva ratha yOdhinaha
    na sEkur Avartayitum
    hriyamANam svakam dhanam.
    English: The Vrishni warriors including the foot-soldiers, the elephant-warriors, and the car-men, failed to rescue those Vrishni women that were being snatched away by the robbers.




29. Sanskrit Mahabharata verse: 15/008/066 97159
    astrANam ca praNASEna
    bAhu vIryas ca kshayAt
    dhanuS ca vidhEyatva
    carANAm samkshayENa ca.
    English gist:

    Sanskrit Mahabharata verse: 15/008/068 97160.
    babhUva vimanAha pArthO
    daivam iti anucintayan nya vartata tatO rAjannEdam
    asti iti cintayan.
    Approx. Engl: Arjuna got deeply distraught . He thought everything to be the work of destiny.



30. Even if we assume that Mahabharata is mythological, even if we assume that it was history, the real question which arises is why Indians did not try to update their arms? Why did they continue with their primitive arms such as bows and arrows? Why did not they go for explosives, and gun-powder? Why did they continue to depend on elephants for battles, instead of acquiring large number of horses?


31. During vAlmIki Ramayana days, there were indications of use of stone throwing machines from Indian Forts in defence. These might have continued during the periods of Mauryas, KushANs, Guptas and Harsha. This might have continued even upto Kakatiya-Khilji-Tuglak battles of 1300-1323 CE.


32. Invaders of India from 1000 CE --Turks (Ghajni, Ghori), Taimur, Moghuls (Babar), all have used some sort of explosive tools and equipment such as artillery mortars, simple wheel-cart mounted mortars, shoulder-mounted mortars. Both the Islamic invaders and the European invaders have used these explosives and guns. All these tools and weapons when used from horses and ships made big difference when attacking Indian forts, particularly mud and brick forts.


33. Medieval Indians appear to be slow in learning, importing and innovating fire weapons . This seems not to be because there was shortage of gold, gems and diamonds to pay for the weaponry. In fact it is the abundance and immensity of these gold and precious stones, the beauty of the Kashmiri, Punjabi, Rajasthani and Gujarati women which have tempted the Islamic invaders from the North and Northwest. It is the love for the celebration and mirth of the native Rulers which has made them neglect the defence of borders.


34. Examples:-- In the first invasion by Mohammed Ghori in 1191 at the First Battle of Tarain, Indians led by Prithviraj Chauhan-3, defeated him. Then the Prithviraj's soldiers went into celebrations. Next year 1192, Ghori came back again, won the Second Battle of Tarain over Prithviraj, took him prisoner, and looted India .


35. Similarly, in the first siege of Orugallu (Warangal) Kakatiya Fort by Ulug Khan (Juna Khan -aka- Mohd. Bin Tughlack) during 1323, Kakatiyas had an upper hand for various reasons and they repelled the invaders to Devgiri. Then, the Kakatiya forces went into celebrations and later to their native villages . Within four months , Ulug Khan re-invaded with reinforced armies and captured Pratapa Rudra II, took him prisoner, and looted Warangal. It must also be noted that Pratapa Rudra 2 accompanied and helped Allauddin Khilji's forces in their conquests upto Srirangapatnam. Pratapa Rudra 2 spent a lot of his time engaging himself in battles with his neighbors on all the four sides of his kingdom, instead of modernising his weaponry. According to one chronicle, Pratapa Rudra had 900,000 archers, which may be a hyperbole, but how can archers fight with explosives?


36. 


37. Human muscle power or archery skills alone cannot defeat gun-power and cannon/mortar-power. In the Queen Abbakka's battle (Mangalore, Karnataka coast, 16th Century CE) with Portuguese, her army used arrows carrying burning squibs which were directed against the cannons/mortars in the Portuguese ships, and when the arrows struck the cannons/mortars in the ship, the mortars exploded and damaged the ships. It is an innovation, which Kakatiyas could not accomplish.



38. ' Vivekananda's Comment: ...Rather let those belonging to the upper ten, who do not earn their livelihood by manual labour, not take meat; but the forcing of vegetarianism upon those who have to earn their bread by labouring day and night is one of the causes of the loss of our national freedom.... '

    :--


39. ybmad contg.: Who imposed vegetarianism on Daily laborers? Nobody. In my view, it is indeed, their Poverty which imposed vegetarianism on them, not as a 'creed of non-violence' but as a 'survival instinct'. Feudalism and greed of Traders are the main causes for the poverty of the manual laborers.


40. ybmad contg. : In my last incarnation as a Bank manager , whenever I went to inspect agricultural farms, dairy farms, irrigation wells, fish and poultry farms, I used to find laborers and their children at noons in burning Sun, eating their annam (this cannot strictly be called lunch) i.e. boiled rice with just two or three green chillies and a bit of onion. They used to look frail , but they used to have stamina to endure their hard lives .


41. Unwillingness to do manual labour is a trait reserved to Landlords, big traders and Industrialists . But, it gives an impression that this trait is caste-based. But it is not. Unwillingness to do manual labor is inherited along with inherited properties. Inherited properties provide security for all needs and wants such as food , clothing , not just shelter but a luxurious life in palaces, super speciality hospitals etc. Not only that, inherited properties provide waiting power to wait for sinecures.



42. WHAT SWAMI VIVEKANANDA HAS TOTALLY IGNORED, IN IDENTIFYING CAUSES FOR 1000 YEAR BONDAGE

    Indian mythological warriors of vAlmiki rAmAyana, vyAsa mahAbhArata etc. epics were mostly Aryans (some may be Iranian Aryans, and some others Baltic Aryans). They had followed some practices of Battle and War Ethics, with some sets of Rules. Historical Warriors and Soldiers of India inherited them and by-and-large followed them, even when Brown, Black, Hybrid Indians became Kings and Commanders.


43. One or two examples can clarify this idea. When two knights fight with maces, neither of them should not hit the other below the belt or thigh. Bhima hit Duryodhana on his thighs. (Of course, he has a pledge to break the thighs of Duryodhana). Similarly, when a knight's chariot's wheel got sunk in battle-field, the other knight has to wait. Arjuna ignored this, and killed Karna. (Of course, there may be curses to that effect from some Brahmin etc.). Similarly an unarmed person should not be killed. Likewise Rama killed Vanara King Vali, from behind a tree. But, we must keep in mind that these are all exceptions. Ordinarily, Indian warriors expected that their (Indian) rules are to be followed by others.


44. But the Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Moghuls, European colonialists and slave traders did not have such Battle-ethics to follow even if not meticulously, at least broadly . They follow only barbarism and savageousness. Without knowing this , some Indian Victors released the losing commanders and sultans thinking that they sought 'saraNAgati' (=that they surrendered and sought pardon). The losing Commanders and Sultans later came back and ransacked the Forts of the Indian Victors and abducted their wives.


45. Even today, there are some conventions such as Geneva Conventions etc. to be followed in respect of war-prisoners. Some countries follow them and some countries deliberately violate them.



46. 21st Century India and Indian States

    Today, in India battles and wars do take place, but at Polling and Counting States. There are what are called Election Codes of Ethics which Ruling Parties never follow, while the opposition parties clamor for their compliance. There is a Telugu proverb 'karra gala vADidE barrE'. English: Whoever has the stick, becomes the owner of the buffalo.


47. So what is the essence of all this discussion about this 1000 years bondage? Ans: 'karra gala vADidE barre.'. The person who has the stick, will own the buffalo. Bondage of 1000 years has got nothing to do with the vegetarianism or non-violation.



48. Some quotes of Swami Vivekananda

    '... "This is our best season for eating turtles, but they are all black. The green [ones] can only be found in America. Alas! I am prevented from the taste of meat. ... ". ...'.




49. '...How I wish you were here to taste our SHADS — one of the most delicate fish in the world. ... I would not take any supper tonight, as I ate rather heartily of the aforesaid shad! ...'.




50. How I wish you were here to taste our shads — one of the most delicate fish in the world. It is raining outside — pouring. But the moment this downpour ceases, I rain through every pore — it is so hot yet. My whole body is covered by big patches of prickly heat. Thank goodness there are no ladies about! If I had to cover myself in this state of things, I surely would go crazy. I have also my theme, but I am not despondent. I am sure very soon to pan it out into a beautiful ecstasy [excision]. I am half crazy by nature; then my overtaxed nerves make me outrageous now and then. As a result I don't find anybody who would patiently bear with me! I am trying my best to make myself gentle as a lamb. I hope I shall succeed in some birth. You are so gentle. Sometimes I did frighten you very much, did I not, Christina? I wish I were as gentle as you are. Mother knows which is best.




51. '...I have had two classes already — they will go on for four or five months and after that to India I go. But it is to Amerique — there where the heart is. I love the Yankee land. I like to see new things. I do not care a fig to loaf about old ruins and mope a life out about old histories and keep sighing about the ancients. I have too much vigour in my blood for that. In America is the place, the people, the opportunity for everything. I have become horribly radical. I am just going to India to see what I can do in that awful mass of conservative jelly-fish, ...'.



52. ybmad contg. : If meat and fish were such great health-givers, strength-givers, why should nearly three million people in Europe and United States get affected with Covid 19 Corona virus? Where has all the health and strength gone before a nano sized virus? Now, isn't United States a jelly fish with 1.2 million confirmed cases! And how many unreported, unconfirmed cases? Nobody knows.

    Question: You seem to be trying to impose Vegetarianism on your gullible readers?

    Ans: No such thing. To take vegetarian food or non-vegetarian food is a question of individual choices. No impositions can be made by others in this regard. Sometimes, National compulsions and needs may require their citizens to cultivate some vegetarianism for economic and environmental reasons. For example, India has a population of 1.3 billion . Its arable land is not adequate for growing food crops. Today it is importing edible oils . Will its arable land be sufficient to grow fodder and feed for the animals bred for culling? Today , fortunately , India is not totally carnivorous. If all Indians turn carnivorous, and if there are no Foreign Exchange Reserves to pay for imports, imagine the scenarios. This is not a hypothetical question. Establishment of, and hygienic maintenance of abattoirs, in spite of numerous conditions, i.e. abattoir sanitation is not going to be easy . For example, the following Guardian News Report dated 21st Feb. 2018 shows the position prevailing in U.S.A. (Reference 12 below).



53. '...Shocking hygiene failings have been discovered in some of the US’s biggest meat plants, as a new analysis reveals that as many as 15% (one in seven) of the US population suffers from foodborne illnesses annually.
    A joint investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) and the Guardian found that hygiene incidents are at numbers that experts described as 'deeply worrying'. ... .




54. TRIGGER For this particular blog post

    I have come to a near-conclusion that it will not be reasonable to continue this Vivekanandayb blog indefinitely because most Indians seem to me to have a tendency to worship people rather blindly and to look at critics of their role models, whether biased or unbiased, as their own enemies, or as National enemies . They tend to forget that critics can, sometimes serve as mirrors. As long as mirrors are clean or unbroken or their silver coatings are in tact, they will reflect a factual and faithful picture of events and situations.



55. Question: What is the relevance of this blog post of yours, about Vivekananda's views on Meat-Eating, to the present Covid 19 Crisis?

    Ans: I am not competent to say that vegetarianism or non-vegetarianism protects or does not protect people from Covid 19. It is not my job to pass value judgements on Vegetarianism and non-vegetarianism . When I started this Vivekanandayb blog some time in 2007, during my searches, I recall finding a web-page which contained a quote of his which seemed to assert that "Vegetarians suffer from digestive problems. Non-vegetarians suffer from respiratory problems ."


56. After googling nearly for 25 days, including the deleted archived pages, I have come to a conclusion that those pages are not traceable . As on the date of uploading of this blog post, I get an impression that India seems to be lagging behind in exposure to Corona cases, vis-a-vis its population of 1.3 billion; may be due to its hot climate. India: Corona confirmed cases: 67,152. India's population 2020 estimate: 1380 million (1.38 billion). No. of cases, per million population: 49 cases. China: Corona confmd cases: 83,000. Population of China, 2020 estimate: 1439 million. No. of cases, per million population : 58 cases. USA: Corona confirmed cases: 1.37 million. Population of USA, 2020 estimate: 331 million. No. of cases, per million population : 4139 cases. UK: Corona confirmed cases: 223,000. Population of UK, 2020 estimate: 68 million. No. of cases, per million population : 3279 cases. France: Corona confirmed cases: 139,000. Population of UK, 2020 estimate: 65 million. No. of cases, per million population : 2138 cases. Italy: Corona confirmed cases: 219,000. Population of Italy, 2020 estimate: 60 million. No. of cases, per million population : 3650 cases. Russia: Corona confirmed cases: 221,000. Population of Russia, 2020 estimate: 146 million. No. of cases, per million population : 1513 cases. Spain: Corona confirmed cases: 227,000. Population of Spain, 2020 estimate: 47 million. No. of cases, per million population : 4829 cases. Of course, statistics may be deceptive. They may even be damn lies. There is some comparability between INdia's 49 cases per million, and China's 58 cases per million. But China is a country of temperate climate, whereas India is a hot country . News reports indicate that Corona virus can survive even in extreme heat . About India, itmb Both India and China claim that control their Corona expansion through Strict Lockdowns. Though, India and China have some Inward International Tourism, their Tourism Orientations are not as expansive or as intensive as Euranzca Countries. We cannot say that Euranzca countries have not at all implemented their LockDown programs with required seriousness. All the Euranzca countries have well-developed HealthCare Systems. And yet, they could not really resist the onslaught of the Corona virus. Then, there must be something which they could not themselves trace out, which might have raised their vulnerabilities to the Virus. What is that something which might have exacerbated their vulnerabilities? Non-vegetarianism? Pub culture? Week-end alcoholic binges? Addiction to Narcotics? Excess use of antibiotics?

    What is the problem with the Modern Medicine?

    With the exception of one week somewhere in 2011 when I suffered from Chikun Gunya, and I self-medicated Paracetamol one tablet per day for 7 days after reading a Newspaper article by one allopathic Doctor by name Dr. Patibanda Dakshina Murthy, Tenali, for the last 16-17 years I have been avoiding going to Doctors (all systems, including allopathy). Though I am a campaigner and canvasser for Herbal-Ayurveda (vrikshAyurveda devoid of Mercury, sulphur, gold, silver etc.), during these 16 years I have not used even herbal medicines. I have tried some Ayurvedic remedies made by Companies such as Baidynath etc. with my family members with their consent, and with reasonable success, --but only after they failed with the modern medicines prescribed by MBBS, MD, MS Doctors and Hospitals after carrying out their very cumbersome expensive diagnostic tests. I have prepared about 10,000 mcqs (multiple choice questions) on modern medical subjects like Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Patho-physiology, Pharmacology, etc. etc. Some of these questions can be seen at my Health blog Ref. No.10 linked below.


57. Part 2 of this 10 parts article Series will appear at my another blog Click here to go to problemsoftelugus.blogspot.com. . PDFs of some of these mcqs can be downloaded at my subdomain-blog a href='http://ayyo.x10.mx. As this is a free domain, the free-hosts may remove it at their discretion, even without notice. Then, I have to give a new link.



58. By writing all this, what is that you are upto?

    Ans: While thinking about herbal-Ayurveda, I always used to wonder, most of these remedies have been made and tested by traditional Indian Doctors during the last 3000-4000 years all over India, both in Kings' Courts and residences of big Merchants (SAUDHAs of SETHjis) and landlords in villages, apart from millions of poor patients in villages . I am used to get distressed with musings like had all these traditional physicians maintained clinical records, though may not be double-blind tests with placebos, we would have had a strong record of Clinical Test Proofs. In spite of this tension building within me, what has kept me happy is , they have tried to pass on to us through generations, their experiences through treatises such as AshTAnga sangraha, parahita samhita, charaka samhita, susruta samhita, SArngna samhita, bhaishjya ratnAkaram, etc. These treatises contained detailed methods of making the herbal medicines, including the weights of the ingredients , their proportions of the ingredients , methods of heating, methods of fermenting, methods of pounding etc. We cannot say that all the ayurvedic medicines are totally unscientific concoctions.



59. WHAT ARE THE MEDICINES WHICH THE MODERN MEDICAL SYSTEM IS OFFERING FOR COVID 19?

    What WHO (World Health Organisation) said on 31st March 2020 about medicines for Covid 19 [See Ref. 19 below] are noteworthy:



60. '...No pharmaceutical products have yet been shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of COVID-19. However, a number of medicines have been suggested as potential investigational therapies, many of which are now being or will soon be studied in clinical trials, including the SOLIDARITY trial co-sponsored by WHO and participating countries.
    In many countries, doctors are giving COVID-19 patients medicines that have not been approved for this disease. The use of licensed medicines for indications that have not been approved by a national medicines regulatory authority is considered 'off-label' use. The prescription of medicines for off-label use by doctors may be subject to national laws and regulations. All health care workers should be aware of and comply with the laws and regulations governing their practice. Further, such prescribing should be done on a case-by-case basis. Unnecessary stockpiling and the creation of shortages of approved medicines that are required to treat other diseases should be avoided.
    It can be ethically appropriate to offer individual patients experimental interventions on an emergency basis outside clinical trials, provided that no proven effective treatment exists; it is not possible to initiate clinical studies immediately; the patient or his or her legal representative has given informed consent; and the emergency use of the intervention is monitored, and the results are documented and shared in a timely manner with the wider medical and scientific community.
    The decision to offer a patient an unproven or experimental treatment is between the doctor and the patient but must comply with national law. Where it is possible and feasible for the treatment to be given as part of a clinical trial, this should be done unless the patient declines to participate in the trial.


If it is not possible to give the treatment as part of a clinical trial, appropriate records of the use of the medicine must be kept, in compliance with national law, and outcomes for patients should be monitored and recorded.
If early results from an unproven or experimental treatment are promising, the treatment should be studied in the context of a formal clinical trial to establish its safety, efficacy, risks, and benefits. ...'.



61. Question: What are the implications of the above purport from WHO, for the Indian Herbal medicines ?

    Ans: Ayush Department of Government of India can take up the task of treating some Corona Patients with Traditional Herbal ayurvedic medicines using Qualified Ayurvedic Medical Doctors, obtaining consent of patients and their relatives wherever and whenever needed, and meticulously following the Government Laws and procedures , seeking prior approvals wherever required .



62. IMPORTANT NOTE

    Part 2 of this 10 parts article Series will appear at my another blog Click here to go to problemsoftelugus.blogspot.com. . PDFs of some of these mcqs can be downloaded at my subdomain-blog a href='http://ayyo.x10.mx. As this is a free domain, the free-hosts may remove it at their discretion, even without notice. Then, I have to give a new link.



63. References

    1. https://www.vivekananda.net/ByTopic/MeatEating.html


64. 2. https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/in-mahabharata-arjunas-arrow-had-atomic-power-west-bengal-governor-jagdeep-dhankhar-794727.html


65. 3. https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/10/modis-india-isnt-prepared-for-the-coronavirus/


66. 4. http://vivekanandayb.blogspot.com/search/label/221


67. 5. https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Complete_Works_of_Swami_Vivekananda/Volume_5/Writings:_Prose_and_Poems/The_East_and_The_West/Food_and_Cooking


68. 6. https://www.mkgandhi.org/ebks/moralbasis_vegetarianism.pdf, opening paragraph.


69. 7. https://blog.sarvajna.in/2012/01/25/swami-vivekananda-the-monk-as-man


70. 8. http://www.millenniumpost.in/sundaypost/beacon/swami-vivekanandas-food-fetishes-220551


71. 9. 94 comments relating to reference 7 above i.e. https://blog.sarvajna.in/2012/01/25/swami-vivekananda-the-monk-as-man. These 94 comments are very important.


72. 10. http://healthyb.blogspot.com.


73. 11. https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/off-label-use-of-medicines-for-covid-19


74. 12. https://www.theguardian.com/animals-farmed/2018/feb/21/dirty-meat-shocking-hygiene-failings-discovered-in-us-pig-and-chicken-plants

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