Rennet in Cheese

I feel pretty surprised that most Hindus are unaware of "Rennet", and that it is used in cheese production.

The Gujrati Jains/Hindus I knew in Kenya were very particular about avoiding such cheese, and sought vegetarian alternatives. But here in USA, I see most people around me are unaware of this fact, I have this feeling that Telugu people don't care as much about culture. I can't think of any other explanation, because Gujarati Hindus are never like this, they are much more aware, and enterprising.

It is a sin for Hindus to consume beef, and Rennet is extracted from baby cows, now what further 'पाप' can a Hindu do?

I belong to the Brahman community where we shouldn't be consuming eggs/meat, milk & milk products are the only animal derived food that we are allowed. So I try to avoid cheese here, since I know most restaurants use rennet cheese.

But I am surprised that most Telugus I come across are unaware of this fact, and unaffected by it even if they come to know. ALL adherents of the Dharmic religions (Jain, Sanatana, Buddha, Sikh) are supposed to avoid beef, even if they consume other meats. Eating beef is like losing one's faith.

The deep respect for "Cow" has a reason. Most people around me are even unaware of this, probably that's why they can't understand the need to hold onto one's culture.

Before the medical/health-care revolution, infant & mother mortality rates during childbirths were staggeringly high. Many a times, the mother would pass on leaving an orphaned new born. Cow milk was the closest to mother's mlik, a source of digestible nourishment that a new born can consume. Cows gave life to newborns. They were respected for this reason. Cow dung is a disinfectant, an excellent fertilizer, a source of fuel for the stove. A cow is a totally docile animal with so many uses in an agrarian society. These were the reasons that the cow was respected and not killed for consumption. We are not animals, animals are ready to eat anything as food, they don't spare a source of food out of compassion. Human beings are capable of exhibiting finer complex emotions, society decided to honour cows in this way. This respect for cow is reserved today in many agrarian societies not just in India, but even Sri Lanka, China.

In a world where so many people are embracing vegetarianism, Dharmic religions are the only ones who first thought of vegetarianism, some Jains & Hindu maharshis have taken it to the extremes of Vegan diet & further restrictions out of pure compassion & respect for life.

When mom went to Innsbruck to attend a conference in 2007, she was skeptical about what kind of diet she would have access to, she carried pickles with her. But once there, she was pleasantly surprised to notice that most of the locals are strict vegans! So somewhere in small European towns & villages, thrives a vegan movement, whereas India's Hindus increasingly consume rennet without batting an eyelid!

But one must always look at the positive side of things, so I hope some Gujjus continue to preserve our culture while the majority of the Telugus turn a blind eye to such things.

If a Telugu reads this blog and gets really angry at me, I only write what I experience.